As more streamers emerge and attract viewers worldwide, their influence reshapes the entertainment industry. Whether scrolling through your timeline or watching a Twitch stream, social media is flooded with viral clips from these creators. Content spans comedy, gaming, and casual moments, making it hard not to be drawn to niche influencers. They have impacted the industry so much that even children can name their top five streamers before their favorite cartoon shows. For Millennial parents, this streaming craze is the newest obsession among kids.
While kids idolizing streamers isn’t problematic, a shift has occurred toward what truly entertains children. For Millennial parents, this form of fun is unlike their childhood moments. Watching the newest cartoon episode now feels as ancient as hieroglyphics and AOL mail. The phrase “out with the old and in with the new” fits here: television shows are becoming a thing of the past, and streaming is now the main way to entertain kids.
Some influencers’ content is harmless, but others teach improper principles for kids. Streamers share adult content with humor and conflict scenarios that range from witty banter to severe crash-out moments, which kids might treat as real and imitate. Their developing brains may skew their understanding. Children see real people handle conflicts and may adopt exaggerated or inappropriate responses. While parents are often blamed, society needs to ask one honest question: Can parents truly prevent their children from being influenced by social media?
Even with current age limits on streaming and social media, it’s no longer possible to completely stop kids from accessing influencers through friends or relatives, given the inevitable open access to the internet. This leaves Millennial parents searching for new ways to limit harmful influences, as simple parental controls are tossed aside and deemed prehistoric. The internet dominates kids’ interests today. Kids are no longer just dressing up as their favorite cartoon or movie character; they’re also opting to resemble their favorite streamer. Still, the kids are going to be alright. Many parents are getting creative, sharing how they’ve introduced children to nostalgic shows from the 1980s and 1990s, like “Arthur,” “Winnie the Pooh,” and “Little Bear,” even using VCRs and VHS tapes to avoid modern content.
Who knew that changing parental supervision tactics to prevent minors from being exposed to uncensored adult content on social media would require parents to unlock their deep appreciation for the classics? With this new nostalgic approach to entertainment, parents have noticed their children become less dependent on screen time after introducing pre-social media shows. These low-stimulation programs prevent meltdowns, as many platforms are designed to be addictive, making kids struggle with missing online content.
Consequently, nostalgic childhood shows can mitigate psychological distress because they are less stimulating than modern TV, including beloved Gen Z shows like “Bluey” and “Ms. Rachel.” This shift from adult content to classics helps parents protect their children. Such parenting methods provide a gentle way to help kids process information better, imitate behaviors, and develop skills. Using retro programming, projectors reducing blue light, and low-frequency sounds positively affect sleep and manage screen time.
As many Millennial parents go to great lengths to restrict their children’s access to inappropriate content, the question is raised: When do we stop blaming parents and start implementing protective measures to prevent children from accessing these platforms? Streamers aren’t to blame as their content targets adults, but entertainment executives could embed more streamers in mainstream media to connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha and foster loyalty, potentially transforming these appearances into a source of nostalgic memories. The bigger problem is children’s exposure to unfiltered content due to lax censorship, exposing the need for stricter age restrictions and parental controls. Platforms like Instagram’s Teen Accounts offer safer environments; other streaming services should follow suit to protect younger viewers from inappropriate content.