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Media Discernment Becomes More Important As Streamers’ Push For Children’s Content 

Photo from ZhenZhong Liu via Unsplash

Media Discernment Becomes More Important As Streamers’ Push For Children’s Content 

By Movieguide® Staff

As streamers compete in a hotly contested market, Children’s content is becoming a surefire way to attract and maintain viewership.

Disney+ benefits from a deep catalog of existing children’s content and IP, but other streamers like Netflix, HBO Max, and Paramount+ YouTube are keeping pace by pouring substantial monetary resources into their Children’s programming.

Read More: Netflix To Create More Family-Friendly Content To Compete With Disney

At first glance, this is a refreshing development in the media landscape for parents looking for more series and shows their child can enjoy—without fear of excessive, immoral content.

However, the need for discernment regarding what our children watch is at an all-time high.

Variety VIP reported:

In an environment in which streaming subscriber growth is slowing, lowering churn and focusing on retention is key. It’s one thing to attract adults to a platform, but if you can lure in the kids, you’ve likely secured that household’s loyalty for the long run.

Keeping adults engaged is far more difficult than children. While adults require constant release cycle, children often stick to their favorite shows for longer periods. According to United Talent Agency’s “The Kids’ Entertainment Evolution” report from August, recent data from Nielsen revealed that between 2019 and 2021,viewing hours for kids TV series surged 43% across Netix, Hulu, Disney+ andAmazon Prime Video.

According to new data from KidsKnowBest obtained by Variety VIP, over 3 out of every four parents said their children influence which streamers they choose to keep.

Movieguide® previously reported on the success of PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE, based on the popular children’s TV series:

While Disney+ and Netflix are the frontrunners for streaming, smaller streamers like Paramount Plus are carving out their audiences of their own in one of the fastest-growing markets in entertainment.

Paramount Plus’ early success mirrors Disney’s model of focussing on family-friendly content, which saw Disney+ skyrocket to compete with Netflix within a year after launch.

Paramount Plus has capitalized on young audiences with family content such as PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE, setting ViacomCBS’ streaming platform apart.

Movieguide® reported:

PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE has a strong moral worldview with light Christian imagery. It celebrates friendship, helping people in need and the idea of adoption. There are two politically correct cross dressing moments. In one, a dog says, “it’s not important how it looks; it’s how it makes you feel,” when a boy puppy accidentally dresses in girl’s clothes. Otherwise, however, PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE is a delightful animated feature of the popular TV program, with plenty of laughs and adventure.

While some Children’s content offers family entertainment free of any immoral content, other studios are using Children’s programming as an avenue for agenda-driven, inappropriate content.

Recent examples of content with subversive messages about sex and gender is Disney Pixar’s LIGHTYEAR, Disney+’s BAYMAX! series, Netflix’s JURASSIC WORLD: CAMP CRETACEOUS, and Warner Bros.’s TRICK OR TREAT SCOOBY-DOO! to name a few.

Movieguide® previously reported:

After Disney Pixar’s latest theatrical release, LIGHTYEAR, featured an on-screen kiss between two lesbian characters, the media giant fully rounded the corner in their promotion of sex over story with a new series, BAYMAX.

The new animated series launched on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 29, and is based on the 2014 animated movie BIG HERO 6.

However, parents should use discernment and avoid BAYMAX, which does not follow the family-friendly and heartfelt story of the original movie.

Instead, Disney over-sexualizes the beloved healthcare robot. Several of the problematic scenes were posted on Twitter and quickly went viral.

One video shows Baymax shopping for feminine hygiene products. A character wearing a transgender flag shirt insinuates that males also have periods like females.

“I always get the one with the wings,” the character, with a distinctly male voice, tells Baymax while handing the robot a box of feminine hygiene products.