Who is the Youngest YouTuber in History?
The current record holder for the youngest ever YouTube star is Ryan Kaji, who launched his massively popular channel "Ryan‘s ToysReview" in March 2015 at the incredible age of just 3 years old.
The Rise of Young YouTube Stars
While YouTube‘s official rules require creators to be at least 13 years old, Ryan Kaji‘s success has spearheaded a trend of increasingly younger kids starring in videos made with parental supervision.
According to data from Pew Research Center, videos with minor children have become hugely popular on YouTube – earning billions of views:
| Year | Children-Focused YouTube Videos Published | Estimated Views |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ~48,486 | Between 6 – 8 billion |
| 2018 | ~63,678 | Between 9 – 15 billion |
Videos of "kidfluencers" reviewing toys, telling stories, or doing science experiments can provide great entertainment for young viewers.
However, while parental management of YouTube channels is legally permitted, we must consider whether the intensity of fame and public attention is appropriate for very young children.
Responsibilities Around Child YouTube Stars
As passionate gaming fans and content creators ourselves, we appreciate the creativity displayed by young YouTube personalities. However, protecting the welfare of children should always come first when exposing them to the public eye at such a young age.
According to ChildNet International, risks for children under 13 having public social media profiles include:
- Loss of privacy and control over personal information
- Cyberbullying and trolling in comments/messages
- Damage to child‘s physical health or emotional wellbeing
For teenagers aged 13-16, similar guidance recommends parental oversight and clear boundaries around using sites like YouTube.
While wanting to develop their talents is understandable, parents must provide guidance and try to avoid pushing children too far too young when it comes to internet fame. Patience is key – starting a successful YouTube channel can often be better achieved after focus on education, development and maturity in teenage years.
Ryan Kaji and Healthy YouTube Success
Ryan Kaji‘s parents have emphasised that his safety and wellbeing are their top priority despite his YouTube fame. Steps they take include:
- Careful watch over his channel and video content
- Ensuring an emphasis on positive themes like education
- Help balancing YouTube with a healthy mix of schoolwork and playtime with family/friends
At 10 years old now, Ryan himself says that while making videos is fun, his parents make sure it doesn‘t take over everything else. This balance will hopefully help him continue to thrive in the years ahead as one of YouTube‘s biggest young celebrities.
For our final section, let‘s take a data-focused look at YouTube‘s 10 highest earning stars under the age of 18…
Top 10 Highest-Paid Young YouTubers
Acccording to Forbes‘ 2022 Top-Earning YouTube Stars under 18 list, below are the current highest-paid kid influencers on the platform:
| # | Young YouTuber | Age | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Kaji | 10 | $27 million |
| 2 | MrBeast | 19 | $54 million |
| 3 | Nastya | 7 | $28 million |
| 4 | Rhett and Link | N/A | $20 million |
| 5 | Unspeakable | 20 | $16 million |
| 6 | Jojo Siwa | 19 | $14 million |
| 7 | Kid Behind The Camera | 17 | $13 million |
| 8 | Vlad and Nikita | 8 | $13 million |
| 9 | CaptainSparklez | 30 | $13 million |
| 10 | EvanTubeHD | 15 | $12 million |
With an estimated 2022 income of over $27 million, 10 year-old Ryan Kaji tops the list – proving that massive financial success on YouTube is indeed possible even for very young creators.
However, chasing fame and riches should never come before considering what is truly best for a child‘s safety, privacy and wellbeing. For the sake of happy, healthy kids – that is what must always come first!
