TL;DR
- The Content: MrBeast is the king of "stunt philanthropy" and hyper-edited challenges. It’s high-octane, expensive, and designed to keep eyes glued to the screen.
- The Concern: The "retention editing" style (a cut every 1.5 seconds) can decimate a child's ability to focus on "slower" activities like reading Percy Jackson or playing a focused game of Minecraft.
- The Vibe: It’s not "bad" in the way some brain-rot content is, but it creates a warped perspective on wealth and charity.
- Better Alternatives: For kids who love builds and challenges but need more substance, try Mark Rober, Smarter Every Day, or Dude Perfect.
Check out our full guide on managing YouTube rabbit holes
If you’ve been living under a rock (or just have very strict screen time rules), Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, is the most subscribed individual creator on YouTube. He didn't get there by accident. He pioneered a specific genre of video: the massive-scale challenge mixed with eye-watering amounts of cash.
We’re talking "I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive" or "Last To Leave Circle Wins $500,000." He also does "philanthropy" videos where he builds 100 wells in Africa or pays for 1,000 people’s cataract surgeries.
On the surface, it looks like a win-win. He gets views, people get help, and your kid stays entertained. But there is a reason why watching three hours of MrBeast feels different than watching three hours of The Wild Robot.
MrBeast has mastered the dopamine loop. His videos use "retention editing," which is a fancy way of saying there is never a dull moment—literally. If there isn't a camera angle change, a loud sound effect, or a graphic popping up every two seconds, the data says kids will click away. So, he just... doesn't let them.
It’s exciting. It feels like an event. Every video is "the biggest thing ever." For a 10-year-old, it feels like they’re part of a global moment. Plus, there's the "it could be me" factor. MrBeast often features "subscribers" in his videos, fueling the fantasy that if you just watch enough and comment enough, you might be the next person handed the keys to a Lamborghini.
Here is the no-BS reality: MrBeast is digital candy. If you eat candy for dinner every night, a head of broccoli is going to taste like cardboard.
When kids get used to the hyper-fast pacing of MrBeast, "normal" life starts to feel boring. This is why you might see your kid struggling to sit through a movie like My Neighbor Totoro or getting frustrated with a board game like Catan. Their brains are literally wired to expect a reward or a visual shift every few seconds.
If your kid is finishing a MrBeast binge and then acting irritable, restless, or "bored" with everything else, they aren't being difficult—they're coming down from a massive hit of visual dopamine.
Ask our chatbot about the impact of fast-cut editing on ADHD
This is where the "stunt philanthropy" gets tricky. MrBeast does do good things, but those good things are products. The charity is the content.
For kids, this can create a weird worldview where:
- Problems are solved by one rich guy with a camera.
- Kindness is only valuable if it’s recorded and shared.
- Wealth is the ultimate goal because it gives you the power to "play god" with people’s lives.
It’s worth talking to your kids about whether giving someone $10,000 for staying in a circle is the same thing as volunteering at a local food bank. One is a spectacle; the other is community.
If your kid is obsessed with the "challenge" and "build" aspect of MrBeast, you don't have to go cold turkey. You can pivot them toward creators who use their budget to actually teach something or demonstrate a skill.
Mark is a former NASA engineer. His videos have the high production value kids crave, but they’re rooted in science and engineering. Instead of just giving money away, he’s building squirrel obstacle courses or glitter bombs to catch package thieves. It’s "smart" entertainment.
Destin Sandlin explores the world through a lens of genuine curiosity. The pacing is slower, but the payoff is a real understanding of how the world works. It's the perfect "palate cleanser" for a kid who has been watching too many stunts.
If your kid just wants to see people do "impossible" things, Dude Perfect is the gold standard. It’s sports-focused, wholesome, and emphasizes practice and persistence rather than just "who can sit in a box the longest."
For older kids (12+), this channel tackles complex scientific and philosophical questions with the same "big budget" feel as top-tier YouTubers, but with actual educational depth.
Check out our guide on the best educational YouTube channels for 10-year-olds
While MrBeast is generally "clean" (he avoids heavy profanity and sexual content), the intensity makes it a poor fit for younger kids.
- Ages 5-8: Avoid. Stick to YouTube Kids or shows like Wild Kratts. The pacing is just too much for developing brains.
- Ages 9-12: The "sweet spot" for MrBeast fans. This is the age to start having conversations about editing tricks and the "business" of being a YouTuber.
- Ages 13+: They likely already watch him. At this stage, the focus should be on media literacy and the recent controversies surrounding his production company.
In 2024 and 2025, the "MrBeast Brand" took some hits. There have been serious allegations regarding the safety of contestants in his upcoming Beast Games on Amazon, as well as criticisms of his workplace culture.
Also, watch out for the "Lunchly" marketing. MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI launched a pre-packaged lunch product to compete with Lunchables. It’s essentially a high-sodium, high-marketing play aimed directly at your kid's loyalty. It’s a great moment to talk about influencer marketing and how just because a YouTuber says a snack is "better" doesn't mean it’s not just processed junk in a bright box.
Don't just walk in and delete the app. That's a great way to make them watch it in secret at a friend's house. Instead, try these conversation starters:
- "I noticed the editing in that video is super fast. Do you find it hard to focus on your homework after watching a few of those?"
- "Why do you think he gives away so much money? Does he make more money from the video than he gives away?"
- "If you had $100,000 to help people, would you do it the way he does, or would you do it differently?"
Watching MrBeast is like eating a giant piece of chocolate cake. It’s fun, it’s a rush, and it’s okay once in a while. But it shouldn't be the whole diet.
If your child is spending hours a day in the "Beast-verse," it’s time to diversify. Introduce them to "slow media," encourage some Roblox building where they have to create rather than just consume, or grab a copy of The Wild Robot by Peter Brown to recalibrate their focus.
The goal isn't to ban the biggest creator on earth—it's to make sure your kid understands that the "Beast" style is a performance, not a blueprint for how the world actually works.
- Audit the Feed: Spend 15 minutes watching a recent MrBeast video with your kid. Don't judge, just observe.
- Introduce a "Palate Cleanser": Suggest a Mark Rober video for every two MrBeast videos.
- Check the Data: Take the Screenwise survey to see how your child's YouTube habits compare to other families in your community.