New research reveals YouTube as the leading platform for kids education across Europe. The study, conducted by Livity on behalf of YouTube, explored how children aged 13-18 use different platforms for learning.
Video content plays a central role in the daily digital lives of teens across Europe, helping unlock creativity, discovery and learning. Livity’s research, part of the upcoming “Future Report” from Google and YouTube, asked over 7,000 children aged 13-18 in seven countries across Europe, including Ireland, how they use digital platforms to learn for both school and fun.
Of those surveyed, 72% of teens said they watch video content at least a couple of times a week to help with learning for school or fun.
In Ireland, 75% said they use YouTube to learn something new for school (significantly higher than TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or other platforms). 75% also use YouTube to learn something new for fun or outside of school – again, more than any other platform.
In qualitative research conducted by independent youth consultancy Livity, teens expressed the joy they found in discovering new interests and passions through video. Whether it’s exploring important topics around the world or looking up a video to help with algebra homework, YouTube is a place for them to learn, explore their passions and express themselves.
A separate study by Oxford Economics spoke to over 10,700 parents and 2,400 teachers across the EU27 and the UK about how they view and use YouTub. The research shows that parents and teachers also turn to YouTube to help kids learn, build creativity and understand the world around them:
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80% of parents who use YouTube agree that YouTube, or YouTube Kids, provides quality content for their children’s learning and/or entertainment
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71% feel confident in their ability to guide their child on how to use the platform responsibly
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84% of teachers who use YouTube report that they have used YouTube content in their lessons and/or assignments
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67% of teachers who use YouTube agree that YouTube helps increase student engagement.
Responding to the reports, Dr Garth Graham, Director and Global Head of Healthcare at YouTube said: “We recognise the important part we play in young people’s lives – so it’s great to see YouTube recognised as a place for young people to learn and explore their passions. We work closely and continuously with child development and digital wellbeing experts to make sure YouTube is an asset for kids – with their safety, privacy and wellbeing at the forefront”.
Pedro Pina, Head of YouTube Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Age-appropriate, enriching and engaging content is helping kids, parents and teachers across the EU: helping inspire curiosity, imagination and celebrate diverse perspectives. YouTube is one of the first platforms to offer experiences designed specifically for young people. Our products for youth, YouTube Kids and Supervised Experiences, are developed under guidance from independent experts and reach over 100 million active logged-in and logged-out users every month.
YouTube Kids is a separate app designed specifically for children, where age-appropriate content, smart filters and parental guidance come together to create an appropriate, enriching and more controlled experience for your child; while Supervised Experiences – made for tweens and teens – gives parents control to select content that limits the videos and music that children can play, including setting suggestions in line with their age, as well as to view and change the features your child can use, their default account settings, and the ads they see.
