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09/19/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/19/2025 12:43

Celebrating 10 Years of YouTube Kids: A Look Back with Johanna Voolich

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Celebrating 10 Years of YouTube Kids: A Look Back with Johanna Voolich

By Katie Kurtz, Managing Director, Youth and Learning Partnerships, YouTube

Sep 19, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read

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Ten years ago, YouTube launched a dedicated space for families to explore. Since then, YouTube Kids has grown into a global destination for learning, creativity, and fun. To celebrate this incredible milestone, we sat down with YouTube Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich, who was instrumental in bringing the platform to life. Johanna takes us on a journey, sharing her favorite memories and how the platform has evolved.

It's hard to believe that YouTube Kids launched 10 years ago! What have been some of your standout memories over the years?

I have loved seeing the growth and creativity of our global community of kids' creators. They have been at the heart of so many fun, unifying moments for families over the years. Remember the slime phenomenon in 2017? It wasn't just a trend; it was a movement that started in a niche, DIY corner of YouTube and grew so big it caused a glue shortage in the U.S.! That perfectly captures how YouTube gives a voice to creators and can bring families together over a shared, simple creative passion.

The memories that truly stick with me are the personal ones. Like the time my daughter, a huge fan of NerdECrafter, sent in a drawing that the creator turned into a sculpture. She was so excited! That unique creator-to-audience connection is what makes YouTube special - it's not just a video, it's a community where kids feel seen and inspired.

Incredible to hear how YouTube Kids grew up right alongside your own kids! Looking back, what drove the initial vision for the product?

Our users! Even in the early days of YouTube, we noticed that a powerful, organic trend was taking hold: families were using the platform together to learn, discover unique voices, and engage with content you couldn't find in traditional media. It became clear that we had a responsibility to serve this audience with a purpose-built experience. This led to the launch of the YouTube Kids app, a tremendous milestone - and the first Google product designed exclusively with kids in mind.

Katie and Johanna talking about the journey of YouTube Kids during a 10th anniversary celebration, hosted in New York City.

And how has that vision evolved over the years?

We've kept our core users - kids and their parents- at the heart of it all. Ensuring they have a safe experience is key, so parental controls have always been paramount. We have continued to invest in raising the bar on content quality, so parents feel confident about their kids' time on the platform.

As our users grew, so did our scope. We expanded beyond the dedicated kids app to introduce supervised experiences on YouTube for older kids and teens, acknowledging their growing independence. Most recently, we've focused on making YouTube Kids a more seamless and native experience in the Living Room, recognizing that families often watch together and deserve a great shared TV experience.

What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years of YouTube Kids?

We see YouTube Kids continuing to evolve into an even more vibrant, dynamic, and engaging space where curiosity is celebrated and kids around the world can explore their favorite stories, songs, and subjects in an age-appropriate way.

I can't wait to hear all of the future stories from the astronauts, coding prodigies and singing sensations whose incredible journeys all started with a single video on YouTube Kids.

Related Topics

  • YouTube Kids
  • Kids & Teens
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