Deep Look – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Deep Look

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

YouTube2014

85%

WISE Score

2.4M

Subscribers

PBS-quality macro nature videos that turn bugs, mushrooms, and sea creatures into absolutely mesmerizing 4K science lessons.

Deep Look

YouTube

2014

85%

WISE Score

2.4M

Subscribers

PBS-quality macro nature videos that turn bugs, mushrooms, and sea creatures into absolutely mesmerizing 4K science lessons.

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2.4M

Screenwise Verdict

Deep Look is what YouTube should be: short, focused, genuinely educational videos that make you see the world differently. The macro photography is legitimately stunning—you'll watch a video about sea otter fur or morpho butterfly wings and think 'holy crap, I had no idea.'

This is PBS/KQED quality, which means real science with real vocabulary, taught clearly without talking down to kids. Each video is 3-5 minutes, so it's perfect for a quick science break or stringing a few together for a mini-lesson.

The only caveats: nature up close can be intense. Spiders have a lot of eyes. Beetles eat things. Mushrooms kill people. If your kid is squeamish about bugs or predator-prey stuff, preview first. And remember it's still YouTube—great content, but the platform wants your kid to keep watching, so don't just set them loose with autoplay.

For families wanting screen time that actually teaches something? This is gold. Add it to your approved list and feel good about it.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-14, though nature-loving kids as young as 4-5 will be captivated by the visuals even if they don't follow all the science. Teenagers and adults genuinely enjoy this too—it's not dumbed down.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Deep Look presents nature and science with genuine wonder and respect, avoiding sensationalism or anthropomorphizing. The tone is calm, educational, and age-appropriate. Videos celebrate the natural world without manufactured drama or chaotic pacing. The channel models curiosity and careful observation as virtues.

Imaginative

Exceptional macro photography and microscopy reveal hidden worlds that spark genuine curiosity. The channel takes familiar creatures (butterflies, turtles, mushrooms) and shows them in ways kids have never seen before. Each video is a mini-investigation that models scientific thinking and invites viewers to look more closely at the world around them. The 4K cinematography is genuinely stunning and original.

Safe

Content is inherently educational and non-violent, though some videos show predator-prey relationships (owls hunting, beetles eating mealybugs) and potentially unsettling close-ups of insects. The death cap mushroom video discusses lethal poisoning. No inappropriate content, ads are standard YouTube pre-roll (not targeted at kids), and comments are moderated. Docked slightly because nature can be intense up close, and younger kids might find extreme macro shots of insects or spiders disturbing.

Enriching

This is PBS-quality science education at its finest. Each 3-5 minute video teaches real biology, ecology, and natural history concepts with accuracy and depth. Kids learn about structural color in butterfly wings, electroreception in sharks, waterproof silk production in caddisflies. The channel builds scientific literacy, vocabulary, and observational skills. With 451 videos and nearly 600M views, it's a proven educational resource that delivers consistent value.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely gorgeous cinematography that reveals nature in ways you've never seen—butterfly wing scales, owl feather structures, caddisfly silk production
Each 3-5 minute video is a focused science lesson with real depth, teaching concepts like structural color, electroreception, and biological adaptations
Calm, educational tone from KQED/PBS that models curiosity and careful observation without manufactured drama or clickbait
451 videos covering everything from stick insects to sea otters means endless exploration for curious kids
Parents consistently recommend this in 'safe YouTube for kids' threads—it's the real deal

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What to Watch For

Some videos show predator-prey relationships (owls hunting, beetles eating bugs) that might bother sensitive kids
Extreme close-ups of spiders, insects, and other creepy-crawlies can be intense for younger viewers who are squeamish
The death cap mushroom video discusses lethal poisoning—nature isn't always cute
It's still YouTube, so autoplay can lead anywhere if you're not supervising

Conversation Starters

"What was the coolest thing you saw in that video? Want to go outside and see if we can find one?"
"Why do you think that butterfly's wings are blue if there's no blue pigment? What else have you seen that works like that?"
"That owl's feathers are designed to be silent—what other animals have special features that help them hunt or hide?"
"Should we get a magnifying glass so we can look at stuff up close like they do in these videos?"