By Dr. Garth Graham, Director and Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health Partnerships
Whether it’s researching other languages and cultures or looking up a video to help with algebra homework, YouTube is a place for young people to learn, explore their passions and find belonging.
Today, we’re sharing new research data that reveals how young people, their teachers, and parents use YouTube for education, community and creativity.
Young people use YouTube for education inside and outside the classroom
Video content plays a central role in the daily digital lives of teens across Europe. Research conducted by Livity, an independent youth consultancy, as part of the upcoming “Future Report”, asked over 7,000 young people aged 13-18 in seven countries across Europe how they use digital platforms to learn.
Of those surveyed, 74% said that they watched videos on YouTube to learn something new for school. 71% said they watched videos on YouTube to learn something new for fun or outside of school. 73% said they watch video content in general at least a couple of times a week to help with learning (for school or fun).
In focus groups conducted by Livity, teens expressed the joy they found in discovering new interests through video. As Fryni, 18, from Greece said: “I use (YouTube) a lot… purely for my homework and it is so interesting, it brings me joy.”
Teachers and parents turn to YouTube to help kids learn and build creativity
Research by Oxford Economics also reveals that parents and teachers across all EU27 countries and the UK use YouTube as a key resource to help children learn, develop creativity, and understand the world.
Across the EU, 84% of teachers surveyed used YouTube content in their lessons or assignments – while two-thirds (67%) agreed that YouTube helps increase student engagement.
Meanwhile, parents see YouTube and YouTube Kids’ value in helping children learn and explore. The research shows that 80% of parents who use YouTube believe the platform offers quality content for learning and entertainment. Additionally, 71% are confident in guiding their child on responsible use, and two-thirds (66%) feel it helps their children discover the world.
With YouTube used by kids, parents and teachers for education, we recognise the important part we play in young people’s lives. That’s why we’re 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.
(Source: YouTube)
