Israeli Startup Totlol Offers A Kid-Safe Alternative To YouTube

Back in 2008, a startup called Totlol emerged, offering parents a kid-friendly collection of video clips pulled from the YouTube platform on a single destination site. But that company, a one-man show, eventually hit a dead-end and closed up shop. Today, it has returned with new founders who are reviving the brand as well as porting the experience to mobile.

The idea itself is solid enough, though the mobile execution is still a little lacking. As any parent can tell you, YouTube is not a destination you would want your young children to surf unsupervised. In a few clicks, they can go from watching Elmo teaching children about the world around them, to him cursing or ranting at kids in NYC’s Central Park.

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In its earlier incarnation, Totlol was trying to solve that problem, by curating a selection of YouTube videos that were more appropriate for younger viewers. But the business was affected by a YouTube Terms of Service change that prohibited the sale of advertising on sites that only provided YouTube videos without other content on the same page. The founder, Ron Ilan, eventually shut things down.

If you can’t find it – make it yourself

These days, the need for kid-friendly video content is largely met by a number of cable TV channels, many of which are available on demand, and Netflix. Totlol now hopes to insert itself into this mix with a new website and an affordable, mobile app which is free to use with in-app purchases.
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Via TechCrunch
Photo: Mother and Daughter having fun on a digital tablet in a home interior by Bigstock