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Russia’s Safe Internet League wants psychologists to participate in YouTube for kids

According to reports, YouTube has already approached video producers asking to create suitable content and videos, and it is thought this content would be available exclusively on the site

MOSCOW, March 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The Safe Internet League, Russia’s largest and most reputable organization fighting dangerous web content, considers it necessary to attract highly skilled psychologists and psychiatrists as the popular Google-owned video hosting and sharing service YouTube is developing a special version for kids, Safe Internet League CEO Denis Davydov was quoted as saying by the organization’s press service on Thursday.

“Leading psychologists and psychiatrists should participate in developing requirements for video content hosted on the so called child-friendly version of YouTube in order to eliminate the risk of ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’,” Davydov said. “Far from all videos that may seem harmless to us are necessarily suitable for children. And specialists’ opinion is absolutely essential in this regard.”

Davydov said the Safe Internet League hailed Google’s decision to create a version of its video site aimed specifically at children aged ten and under.

As envisioned by project developers, the site would only show videos deemed safe for this age group, and parents will control access to it. The site would also filter out comments that contain explicit language, or other references to adult content.

“It is very laudable that Google has started demonstrating its willingness to work in Russia, showing respect for the rights of our citizens and taking care of the younger generation of Russians,” Davydov said.

Last September, the Safe Internet League published the results of a full-scale investigation by the League into Google’s activities in Russia. The organization accused Google of “ignoring Russian legal requirements” and “deliberately trying to influence Russian domestic policy in order to promote its services among Russian citizens and officials, in order to undermine digital sovereignty”.

According to reports, YouTube has already approached video producers asking to create suitable content and videos, and it is thought this content would be available exclusively on the site.

The Safe Internet League is a non-commercial organization launched by several major internet providers and a Christian charity. The declared aim of the group is ridding the Internet of dangerous content through self-regulation in order to prevent government censorship.