Kids and Viral Videos

I was recently asked if I had seen the video of the 2-year-old Chinese girl being run over by two different vehicles while passerby's walked past doing nothing., "Yes, I've heard of it" I responded., "What happened to the little girl?!" my daughter asked. Even if you don't watch viral videos...they come into the home...and what's a parent to do?

Now first - I haven't watched that video. I won't watch that video. The link above is to the Yahoo news page noting that the girl died from the hit and run. I direct you to the reporting of her death - despite the fact that Yahoo decided to run the video on the same page. I ask you not to click it. Let's not spread voyeurism.

Secondly, my daughter - as mentioned above - overheard about the video and the 2-year-old. And what did she say next? "Gaddafi dies - that's ok - but why should a 2-year-old die?" Bad on me. I was watching CNN last night as Anderson Cooper was reporting of Muammar Gaddafi's death (and repeatedly looped the video of his beat and then dead body). Apparently, my 15 minutes of nightly news watching - spreads voyeurism in my own home.

How do you protect your kids from "if it bleeds it leads" viral videos when they become part of news (or pop culture).

I was mortified, at a play date, when my daughters started YouTube-ing killer Koolaid videos (the kool aid guy goes on a rampage murdering anyone who doesn't drink Koolaid). The play date friend got scared. I got angry. "How do you know about killer Koolaid?!" I asked. "Kids on the school bus told me..." was the answer., Argh...even the school bus spreads morbid video these days.

Morbid viral videos should not get your precious viewing time.

Want a viral video to watch? Want to be part of something that is spreading like wildfire? Watch this viral video. With your kids. And then spread it on your Facebook status.

You have the power to chose which viral videos you watch (and which ones your kids overhear you talking about). Chose wisely. I, myself, will not be watching CNN while the kids are in the room any more. Sorry Anderson but it's a parenting choice.