Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Screenwise Verdict

Smosh is YouTube royalty from the platform's Wild West era, and that legacy comes with baggage. Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla (who left in 2017, then the channel was sold, then bought back—it's complicated) created genuinely influential content that shaped internet comedy. But let's be real: a huge chunk of their 2,186 videos relies on yelling, gross-out gags, sexual innuendo, and jokes that make you wince in 2025.

The channel has evolved into a larger sketch comedy operation with rotating cast members, which has improved diversity but hasn't fundamentally changed the humor style. Some series are relatively harmless (certain 'Try Not to Laugh' episodes, some food content), while others dive straight into inappropriate territory without warning.

For parents, the biggest challenge is the sheer inconsistency. You can't just say 'yes' or 'no' to Smosh—you're saying yes to a sprawling library where a Pokémon parody might be followed by a sketch with sexual content. And with comments enabled and minimal moderation across a 27-million-subscriber channel, the community aspect is a minefield.

If your teen is watching, it's worth having conversations about how humor evolves, why certain jokes don't land anymore, and what makes content actually clever versus just loud. Smosh isn't going to teach them much, but it might be a useful case study in internet culture—just don't expect enrichment, and definitely preview before you let younger kids anywhere near it.

Age Fit

Best for 13+ teens who can navigate crude humor critically and understand context. Younger kids will encounter content that's inappropriate, and honestly, much of it will just seem ancient and unfunny to them anyway.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

52

Smosh's comedy skews toward loud, sometimes crude humor with frequent yelling, physical gags, and immature jokes. While not malicious, the tone is chaotic and often relies on shock value, gross-out humor, and exaggerated reactions rather than modeling kindness or cooperation. The pacing is frenetic and designed for short attention spans.

Imaginative

58

Early Smosh pioneered YouTube sketch comedy and parody music videos, showing creativity in low-budget production. However, much content is derivative—gaming reactions, 'try not to laugh' challenges, and formulaic sketches. It invites passive consumption more than active creative expression, though it did inspire a generation of aspiring YouTubers.

Safe

48

Smosh content includes sexual innuendo, crude humor, occasional profanity (bleeped but obvious), and stereotypical portrayals that haven't aged well. Comments are enabled on a 27M subscriber channel with minimal apparent moderation. Content varies wildly across 2,186 videos spanning 20 years—some videos are relatively tame, others contain unexpected mature jokes or references inappropriate for younger viewers.

Enriching

35

Primarily entertainment-focused with minimal educational or developmental value. Most content is designed for quick laughs through repetitive formats (challenges, reactions, food battles). While it may provide stress relief and cultural touchpoints for teens, there's limited cognitive growth, skill-building, or meaningful takeaways. The entertainment value exists but is often shallow.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Cultural literacy: Smosh is YouTube history, and teens will encounter references to their iconic videos and memes
Massive content library means you can curate specific series (like 'Try Not to Laugh') that are relatively harmless
Shows the evolution of online content creation, which could spark discussions about media production
Some newer content features diverse cast members and occasionally tackles relatable teen experiences

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What to Watch For

Sexual innuendo and crude humor appear frequently, often unexpectedly—not every video is created equal
Early 2000s content includes stereotypes, homophobic jokes, and humor that hasn't aged well at all
The sheer volume (2,186 videos) makes it impossible to vet everything, and autoplay will take kids down random rabbit holes
Comments section is a free-for-all with 27 million subscribers—expect toxicity, spam, and inappropriate exchanges
Loud, chaotic energy and constant yelling can be genuinely grating for adults within earshot

Conversation Starters

"What makes something funny to you? Do you think the same jokes would work if this video came out today?"
"How has YouTube changed since Smosh started? What do you think is different about content creators now?"
"Some of their older videos have jokes that people find offensive now—why do you think that is?"
"If you were going to make a comedy sketch channel, what would you do differently from Smosh?"