Kids and Horror Content

Question: My 11-year-old son has discovered horror and serial killer content on YouTube and really likes it. Is this a sign that he's a sociopath? I try to uninstall YouTube but he finds a way around it. Should I just go ahead and let him watch it?

Answer: Some kids might accidentally come across scary or violent content online, while others look for it on purpose. Let’s explore why kids are curious about this stuff and what you can do about it.

Why are kids drawn to horror and scary content?

Research shows that people – adults and children – who enjoy scary content often have a trait called “sensation-seeking.” This means they enjoy things that are exciting or thrilling which can include horror content. There are 4 main reasons behind sensation-seeking: 

1. Wanting adventure and excitement
2. Looking for new experiences
3. Acting impulsively or wanting instant gratification
4. Getting bored easily

This research also found that men and boys tend to watch and enjoy scary content more than women and girls. 

Another reason people are interested in scary stuff is “morbid curiosity.” This is when someone wants to learn about dangerous or frightening things. People who are morbidly curious individuals often enjoy movies or TV shows with danger, like horror films. 

Also, popular scary movies and video games can become trends. When kids talk about them at school, other kids may want to check them out too. Examples include games and shows like 5 Nights at Freddies, Squid Game, or Hello Neighbor. 

This makes it easier for kids to end up watching or playing things that are violent or frightening.

Where do kids find scary and horror content online?

Most kids in the US find video content – scary or not – on YouTube. YouTube is easy to use on phones and computers without needing to log in. This means that YouTube may not know that it is a child watching, which can lead to violent or scary videos being recommended, even after searching for things like “Roblox” or “memes,” according to a recent study. Violent or frightening images often catch people’s attention, so they are used in video thumbnails to make people want to click on them.

If your child uses YouTube or another platform with a “feed,” take some time to look at the thumbnails that are being recommended. If you see shocking, violent, or scary images, talk to your child about how these images are used to grab attention. You can also reset your child’s YouTube feed or create a supervised account. 

Kids and teens also find scary content or otherwise consume horror content on TV, movies, and video games. Research shows that the average American child will see at least 40,000 simulated murders and 200,000 violent acts on TV alone. Violent content is also common in video games. A policy statement on media violence from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that kids in grades 4 to 8 often choose video games that reward violence against others. Around 7 out of 10 kids in grades 4-12 said they played M-rated (Mature) games. About 78% of boys owned M-rated popular games, and 21% of these games involved violence against women. 

What impact does violent or scary content have on kids?

A child’s understanding of violence in media and how it affects them depends on the type of content:

• The nature of the person causing the violence: According to social cognitive theory, kids are more likely to copy violent behavior if the person doing the violence is someone they find interesting, attractive, or similar to themselves.
• Use of weapons: When weapons are shown, it may make kids more likely to think about or act aggressively.
• Graphic or explicit violence: “Graphic” content includes scenes with blood or gore, and “explicit” content shows violence up close. Studies show that kids pay more attention to this type of violence.
• Violence is rewarded and not overtly punished: If violence leads to good things for the person using it, kids may think it’s okay to act aggressively.
• Showing the victim’s pain: When kids see the victim in pain, they may be less likely to act aggressively. This can make kids feel sorry for the victim and build empathy. 
• Humor and violence together: If humor is mixed with violence, it may make kids less sensitive to the harmful effects of violence.

One experimental study found that kids who watched violent videos regularly were more likely to think aggressively. This might be because they feel excited or stirred up when watching this content. The study also found that kids didn’t react in the same way to sad or funny videos, meaning they didn’t become aggressive from those. The results suggest that when children regularly watch violence, in comparison to other genres of film, they become desensitized to the content–an effect specific to violent content exposure. 

The AAP policy statement also found that media violence can lead to more aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (meaning kids get used to it), nightmares, and fear of being hurt. Reviews of research over the past 60 years show also that violent media is linked to anger, hostile feelings, and a decrease in helping others or feeling empathy.

What can caregivers do?

• Find alternatives to scary content that still satisfy your child’s need for excitement:
  • Try movies or videos that are sci-fi, fantasy, or action-packed but not gory or too violent.
  • Many kids who love excitement also enjoy moving their bodies in thrilling ways, like going to a trampoline park, navigating a ropes course, or learning to rock climb.
  • The Family Gaming Database website gives ideas for high-quality video games that are good alternatives to scary or violent ones. 
• Set boundaries using platform settings:
  
  • On YouTube, you can create a Supervised experience linked to your own account. This lets you choose what content your child can see, block channels, and set time limits with Google’s Family Link app. Learn more at Exploring YouTube Confidentiality: A family guide to supervised experiences. 
  • Make sure your child’s profile has their correct age listed. This can help YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms filter out graphic or scary content. Since no filter is perfect, it’s important to ask your child what they’ve been watching lately. 
  • To clear your child’s feed of scary videos, you can reset YouTube’s algorithm by clearing the search history. View our past portal question for instructions on Managing Content on Social Media Feed.
• Watch together:
  
  • If you like scary movies or thrillers, watch them with your child. Talk about what’s happening in the movie or video game. This will help your child understand the violence and give you a chance to teach them your values. 

Creating a Family Media Plan can help everyone understand which types of media are okay for your child to watch and what should be avoided.

References

• Alqahtani, S. I., Yafooz, W. M. S., Alsaeedi, A., Syed, L., & Alluhaibi, R. (2023). Children’s Safety on YouTube: A Systematic Review. Applied Sciences, 13(6), Article 6. 
• Anderson, C. A., Bushman, B. J., Bartholow, B. D., Cantor, J., Christakis, D., Coyne, S. M., Donnerstein, E., Brockmyer, J. F., Gentile, D. A., Green, C. S., Huesmann, R., Hummer, T., Krahé, B., Strasburger, V. C., Warburton, W., Wilson, B. J., & Ybarra, M. (2017). Screen Violence and Youth Behavior. Pediatrics, 140(Supplement_2), S142–S147.  
• Council on Communications and Media. (2009). Media Violence. Pediatrics, 124(5), 1495–1503. 
• Krahé, B., Möller, I., Huesmann, L. R., Kirwil, L., Felber, J., & Berger, A. (2011). Desensitization to Media Violence: Links With Habitual Media Violence Exposure, Aggressive Cognitions, and Aggressive Behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(4), 630–646. 
• Martin, G. N. (2019). (Why) Do You Like Scary Movies? A Review of the Empirical Research on Psychological Responses to Horror Films. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. 
• Martins, N., & Riddle, K. (2022). Reassessing the risks: An updated content analysis of violence on U.S. children’s primetime television. Journal of Children and Media, 16(3), 368–386. 
• Scrivner, C. (2021). The psychology of morbid curiosity: Development and initial validation of the morbid curiosity scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 183, 111139. 

Age: 10-17

Topics: Horror content and child health, horror movies, scary movies, YouTube, media violence, virtual violence, violent video gaming

Role: Parent