How to Reduce Screen Time for Kids Without Fights or Meltdowns
GOODTUBE: A VIDEO APP THAT PUTS YOU, THE PARENT, IN CONTROL
Most kids' video apps today are built algorithm-first. You’re expected to hand your child over to an AI machine system that prioritizes what’s popular — often loud, flashy, uncanny content that racks up watch time, not what's actually good for your kid.
GoodTube does the opposite.
It starts from a blank slate. You don’t get a feed filled with algorithmic noise. Instead, you choose exactly what shows up — by adding YouTube channels or playlists that you approve of.
No algorithm. No autoplay traps. No weird surprises.
TOTAL CONTROL, MADE SIMPLE
Want your kid’s video feed to only show things from “Ms. Rachel“, “Peekaboo Kids” or “National Geographic”? Great — just press the Add button on the sidebar and paste the link to that channel or playlist. GoodTube will pull in up to 100 of the latest videos. That’s it.
Add a few, and your feed is done. Nothing else sneaks in.
In our home, for example, my son is currently obsessed with Kraftwerk (the German electro pioneers) and a few other techno songs. So I just made a YouTube playlist of the ones he loves, pasted the link into GoodTube, and boom — a clean, safe space just for that music.
BLOCK OR REMOVE THE YOUTUBE APP
Before using GoodTube seriously, I recommend you:
- Remove the YouTube app from your kid’s device
- Or, if you lend your phone/tablet, use app blockers to restrict access
This way, your child won’t tap back into the chaotic world of algorithmic randomness.
WHY GOODTUBE WORKS DIFFERENTLY
GoodTube isn’t designed to hook your child to a screen. It’s designed to satisfy their screen curiosity, without feeding addiction.
There’s no autoplay. To watch the next video, they have to return to the feed manually — it adds a bit of friction, on purpose. That’s not a flaw, that’s a feature. The idea is to slow things down, not speed them up.
No, GoodTube won’t recommend the next viral clip. But when it comes to children, you don’t want surprises. Surprise content on YouTube can quickly turn into overstimulation or worse — dark, AI-generated slop that your child can’t stop watching.
GoodTube eliminates that.
COMING SOON: TIMED SESSIONS
I’m working on a “timed session” feature that will automatically stop the app after a set time. It's one more tool to help parents put healthy limits on screen time — with zero arguments.
YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS
Some of you have asked about donations (thank you!). If you'd like to support GoodTube or suggest features, please drop me an email at:
goodtubehelp@gmail.com
Tell me:
- What features you’d love to see
- Any bugs or limitations you’ve run into
- If a donation page would be useful
DON’T OVERCOMPLICATE PARENTING
To be a good parent doesn’t take perfection — just a few simple, powerful things: Love. Protection. And freedom.
We hold their hands with love. We shield them with protection. And when it comes to giving them the most precious gift — freedom — we must guard them from the one thing quietly stealing it away:
Screen addiction.
Because screens don’t just take time — they take attention, creativity, confidence, and connection. They steal not just freedom, but life itself.
So love your kids. Be present. Let them roam, play, and discover the world with wonder. And when screens are needed, make them intentional — not addictive.
That’s what GoodTube is here for.
– From one parent to another.