TL;DR
Kids aren't just playing games anymore; they're watching other people play them—and talk over them, and scream at them, and give away millions of dollars while doing it. If your kid is shouting about "Ohio," "Rizz," or "Sigma," they’ve likely fallen down the rabbit hole of gaming creators like MrBeast, CaseOh, or Kai Cenat.
The content ranges from harmlessly loud to hyper-consumerist and occasionally controversial. Here’s the quick list of what to watch out for:
- The Good: Mark Rober (Science/Engineering), Stampy (Minecraft classic), and Aphmau (Story-driven Minecraft).
- The "Watch Closely": MrBeast (High-octane consumerism), CaseOh (Loud but mostly clean), and Skibidi Toilet (Surrealist "brain rot").
- The Red Flags: Kai Cenat (Live stream chaos/swearing) and anything involving "mystery boxes" or gambling.
If you’ve heard the term "brain rot," it’s actually a self-aware label Gen Alpha (and the creators they follow) use for content that is nonsensical, fast-paced, and high-dopamine. Think of it as the digital equivalent of eating a giant bag of Sour Patch Kids for dinner. It’s colorful, it’s intense, and it leaves you feeling a little weird afterward.
The king of this is Skibidi Toilet. It started as a weird animation of a head coming out of a toilet and evolved into a complex (and surprisingly violent) war saga. It’s the ultimate "you had to be there" moment for kids today. While it's mostly absurd, it can be overstimulating and occasionally features scary imagery that might keep younger kids out of the bathroom at night.
Learn more about why your kid is obsessed with Skibidi Toilet
Ages: 8+ Jimmy Donaldson is the biggest creator on the planet. His videos are high-budget spectacles—think Squid Game but for real money, or "I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive."
- The Vibe: Extreme generosity mixed with extreme consumerism.
- The Parent Take: He’s generally clean (no swearing), but the content is designed to keep kids' eyes glued to the screen with a cut every 1.5 seconds. Recently, he’s faced more scrutiny over "fake" videos and the health profile of his Lunchly products. It's not "bad," but it does teach kids that everything—even charity—is a spectacle.
Ages: 10+ CaseOh is a streamer who has exploded in popularity recently. He plays a lot of Roblox and horror games like Five Nights at Freddy's.
- The Vibe: He’s known for being incredibly loud and "roasting" his audience (and letting them roast him back, mostly about his size).
- The Parent Take: Surprisingly, he’s one of the "cleaner" big streamers. He rarely swears and keeps the energy high and funny. The main concern here is the Live Chat—Twitch chats move fast and can be a cesspool of weirdness. If they're watching him on YouTube (edited highlights), it's much safer.
Ages: 13+ Kai is the face of current "streamer culture." He’s the guy who coined "Rizz" (charisma) and "Gyatt."
- The Vibe: High-energy, chaotic, and very adult.
- The Parent Take: This is where we need to be careful. Kai’s streams often feature heavy swearing, suggestive themes, and unpredictable guests. He’s been involved in literal riots in NYC over giveaways. This is "big kid" content that younger elementary kids definitely shouldn't be watching.
Ages: 6-10 If you have a younger kid who loves Minecraft, they probably know Aphmau.
- The Vibe: Story-driven, roleplay Minecraft videos. It’s like a digital Saturday morning cartoon.
- The Parent Take: It’s very safe, but it can be loud and high-pitched. It’s a great alternative to the more chaotic "brain rot" creators because it actually follows a narrative structure.
Why would a kid watch someone else play Fortnite for three hours? Because to them, these creators aren't "celebrities"—they’re "friends."
This is called a parasocial relationship. Because these creators talk directly into the camera, read chat names, and share their lives, kids feel a genuine connection to them. It’s why they’ll beg you for Feastables chocolate or a MrBeast hoodie. They aren't just buying a product; they’re supporting a "friend."
Check out our guide on parasocial relationships and kids
When vetting a new creator your kid is obsessed with, keep an eye out for these three things:
- The "Live" Factor: Live streaming (Twitch, YouTube Live) is inherently riskier than edited videos. Anything can happen, from a creator losing their temper to a guest saying something inappropriate.
- The Gambling Pipeline: Many gaming creators are sponsored by "skin gambling" sites or "mystery box" apps. If you see your kid’s favorite YouTuber opening digital crates to win prizes, that’s a major red flag. It’s training the brain for gambling.
- Hyper-Consumerism: If the creator’s entire brand is "I bought this $100,000 car and smashed it," it can skew a kid’s sense of value and gratitude.
Ask our chatbot for a safety check on a specific YouTuber
Instead of banning the "brain rot," try to understand it. Use these conversation starters:
- "I heard CaseOh is actually pretty funny. What’s the funniest thing he’s done lately?"
- "Do you think MrBeast actually gives all that money away, or is some of it just for the video?"
- "I keep hearing people say 'What the Sigma'—can you explain what that actually means so I don't sound like a 'boomer'?" (Warning: they will still think you sound like a boomer, but they'll appreciate the effort.)
Gaming creators are the new TV stars. Some are teaching your kids how to build incredible things in Minecraft, and some are just screaming into a microphone for views.
The goal isn't to block everything; it's to curate the noise. If they love the energy of MrBeast, maybe steer them toward Mark Rober for that same high-production value but with a side of physics.
- Check the "Subscriptions" tab: Sit down with your kid and look at who they actually follow on YouTube.
- Switch to YouTube Kids: For anyone under 10, the main YouTube app is a wild west. YouTube Kids filters out a lot of the "brain rot" automatically.
- Set a "No Live Stream" rule: If you're worried about unpredictable content, stick to edited videos rather than live Twitch streams.
Take our survey to see how your kid's YouTube habits compare to the community