Martin, who longed to speak truth into the dark world of cults, died in 1989. But his legacy of cult evangelism lives on in people like Pastor Jeff Durbin, the main person behind Apologia Studios.

Even if you aren’t familiar with Durbin, you may be aware of one of Apologia Studios’ many podcasts, the most prominent of which is Cultish, “a program that explores the impact of the cults from a theological, sociological, and psychological perspective,” according to the show’s website. From Jonestown to New Age theology, Cultish (whose episodes can likewise be found on the channel) covers a wide range of subjects to equip its viewers on how to understand and reject false teaching. Likewise, Durbin practices what he preaches, evangelizing to Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, atheists and more.

But information on sects and cults and evangelism directed at their members aren’t the only thing you’ll find on Apologia Studios. The channel likewise offers theological insights into “today’s postmodern society” through Apologia Radio clips. It also heavily advocates for Pro-Life causes.

In summary, Apologia Studios just might be the channel you need to help you learn how to effectively engage with the culture and defend and proclaim the gospel.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Apologia Studios provides lots of insight into how various cults have formed, what their beliefs are and how they differ from biblical Christianity. Oftentimes, the channel will bring in someone who was once a member of said cult to provide firsthand knowledge. Listeners will gain the wisdom they need to grow in their evangelism. For instance, Apologia Studios has a video which stands as a gospel explanation specifically for Mormon believers.

In 2 Timothy 2:25-26, Paul writes that “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”Durbin puts this into active practice through his evangelism and debate videos, often spending an hour or more speaking with someone who disagrees with him in that aforementioned hope.

Durbin’s advocacy for preborn children is admirable. He encourages viewers to stand up for the rights of these babies, and he stands strong in this Christian conviction even in the face of emotional opposition.

Most importantly, however, Apologia Studios has embedded a video explaining the gospel on its YouTube home page. Anyone who visits the channel will be first confronted with the world’s most important topic before they see anything else.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Some videos, typically tagged in the title with “warning,” include debates with people who disagree with Christian views and use emotional and heavy language, including the f-word and s-word. A militant atheist wears a shirt that uses “g-dd–n.” A pro-abortion man’s sign uses the p-word to describe female genitalia.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Durbin and the rest of the Apologia Studios team are chiefly concerned with the preaching of the gospel, whether it’s to someone who has never heard or someone who believes a false version of it. And as we, the viewers, watch Durbin engage in these necessary conversations, we may likewise grow in our confidence and ability to evangelize to a lost and broken world.

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Animators need to do more than simply draw compelling characters. They need to tell engaging stories with their drawings, ones that’ll captivate their audience and make them laugh (or cry) throughout. And Jaiden Dittfach, content creator behind JaidenAnimations, is able to do both.

In her work, Dittfach primarily uses things she’s personally experienced throughout her life, from going to the dentist to traveling to Japan. And while not every topic she speaks on may sound initially worth a 10-minute video, her nearly 13 million subscribers will testify to her ability to be funny and engaging on almost any topic.

POSITIVE CONTENT

As mentioned before, Dittfach is a wonderful storyteller, capable of weaving fun stories together that typically last 10 to 20 minutes. Whether she’s describing a trip to Japan or her multiple ventures in Pokémon Nuzlocke (a challenge which makes a Pokémon game much more difficult), Dittfach keeps viewers hooked until the very end.

For the most part, JaidenAnimations strives to be quite friendly to younger audiences. In the instances in which she does touch on topics that are more adult (such as when she describes confusing tetanus for AIDS), she tries to not go into too much detail for the sake of any potential watching children.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Nevertheless, some of Dittfach’s stories contain elements that families may find inappropriate. In one video, Dittfach recounts trying out five psychics, and the video includes references to tarot cards, palm readings and chakras. Likewise, another video gets into Dittfach learning about her sexuality, which she describes as “aromantic and asexual.” (Rarely does Dittfach’s sexuality come into play in her other videos.)

Other videos contain some light swearing, including words like “d–n,” “h—,” “p-ssed” and “crap.” God’s name is occasionally used in vain. And there was one instance in which an s-word is cut off.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

With some exceptions (particularly the aforementioned two video topics and occasional swearing), JaidenAnimations is an enjoyable watch. Younger audiences will certainly be drawn in by Dittfach’s fun art style. However, because some videos contain content that may not be appropriate for said children, we’d caution parents to watch beforehand to determine if JaidenAnimations is right for them.

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In fact, finding movies and TV shows strange is pretty much Meyers’ theme for his channel. I mean, I personally like the movie Holes, but I’d have to admit that it does have some silly elements. And on his eponymous YouTube channel, Meyers jokes about those oddities.

Well, technically, Meyers’ animated character does it. The nameless animation is a white, bald, inoffensive-looking creature. But his appearance belies the (ahem) sometimes-colorful thoughts he has on the subjects and plotlines of all types of movies and shows, from old-school Disney channel dramas to explicit R-rated thrillers.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Meyers pokes fun at movies young and old, and he encourages us that it’s OK to poke fun at entertainment—even entertainment we might otherwise enjoy.

Meyers is quick to point out sections in movies or TV shows that didn’t age well. He also occasionally mentions “red-flag” behavior in films: characters with problematic attitudes, for instance, especially those that exhibit controlling demeanors or emotional attachment issues.  

CONTENT CONCERNS

Some movies Meyers reviews are not appropriate for younger audiences, such as Fifty Shades of Grey, Jennifer’s Body and No Hard Feelings. Meyers augments his reviews with film clips, and while the most intimate moments of those scenes are censored or not shown, references are made to what’s going on, with Meyers frequently using the phrase “devil’s tango” as a euphemism for sex. Likewise, Meyers occasionally makes his own sexual jokes, referencing porn and masturbation.

Light swears such as “a–,” “b–ch” and “h—” occasionally pop up in movie clips. Meyers has used words like “d–chebag” and “ho” in a couple videos. Heavier swears, like the f-word, are censored when they appear in movie clips.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Alex Meyers is, admittedly, quite funny. And few can deny the flaws in some movies when he points them out. But parents shouldn’t take Meyers’ animated character nor the many videos on kid’s movies as evidence that the channel is child friendly. With the occasional sexual joke and the discussion of movies across the entire MPA-rating spectrum, parents will want to exercise caution with Alex Meyers.

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Rocky Kanaka is here to help the dogs in these shelters.

Kanaka can’t adopt and take home all of those dogs, of course. But he finds other ways to help. And using his platform on YouTube, Kanaka brings awareness to common shelter needs and suggests how people can help homeless animals, too.

For example, in his current series, “Sitting with Dogs,” Rocky visits shelter canines in need of homes. As he comforts and cuddles the creatures, Rocky informs his viewers about various behaviors of abandoned dogs and explains how viewers can support animals in their own communities.

In another series, “Dog’s Day Out,” Rocky brings shelter dogs on special adventures. In one episode, he takes a bulldog to the beach for the first time. In others, Rocky allows dogs to pick out their own toys and treats at pet stores.

No matter the topic, rest assured: You’re sure to encounter playful pups and gain interesting and even important knowledge about dogs in need.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Some animal-rights advocates have a tendency to focus on what humans are doing wrong. And there’s undoubtedly an appropriate reason for this. Animal cruelty should never be tolerated. But on his channel, Rocky offers a refreshing outlook on the situation. He recognizes the reality of human irresponsibility but chooses to look hopefully toward helpful solutions.

In many of his videos, Rocky shares the stories of abandoned dogs. He may lightly chide neglectful owners at times, but Rocky’s main focus is finding new homes for the animals.

Rocky encourages his viewers to get involved with their local animal shelters, and he provides realistic examples of how people can do so.

And in addition to the educational aspects in Rocky’s videos, the wagging tails of happy dogs are certainly important positives, too.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Several rescue dogs on Rocky’s channel have endured extreme cruelty and neglect. Rocky does not go into detail, but he explains that some dogs have been thrown into trash bags and locked in cages for extended periods of time. Sometimes, when Rocky sits with these dogs, he sees the effects of the abuse—like small scars, limping, and fear. What we see on the channel is not overly graphic, but some viewers might find the situations disturbing.

In the videos we watched, the only potential profanity was the word, “crud,” which Rocky uses to describe something on a dog’s fur.

Viewers may also want to note that Rocky sells merchandise in his videos, and some of the videos are sponsored by companies.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

In addition to his content on the channel, Rocky’s advocacy for neglected dogs extends beyond YouTube. His Netflix show, Save Our Shelter, features Rocky’s efforts in animal advocacy. Rocky also hosts a website that features stories of homeless dogs and encourages readers to adopt them.

In all his advocating efforts, Rocky’s ultimate goal is to look out for the underdog (literally). His YouTube channel’s content concerns are minimal—unlikely to give your family (ahem) paws.

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Your Bible study has wrapped up, you’ve all finished praying and you may already be asleep in bed.

Well, if Pastor Mike Winger began his Bible study at the same time as you did, his is probably still going.

Alright, we don’t claim to know Mike Winger’s Bible study habits. But his eponymous YouTube channel might make you think that’d be the case. For instance, Winger devoted around 39 hours to his study on everything dealing with women in ministry, from submission to head coverings. He’s got seven and-a-half hours’ worth of videos defending penal substitutionary atonement. And he’s got nearly seven hours just discussing what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage.

And as of posting, he’s answered around 2,300 live chat questions on his Friday streams.

But Winger doesn’t just cover issues in videos that take longer to watch than you have time for. He’s also got plenty of quicker videos, with many only taking a mere five minutes to watch.

Suffice to say, if you want a quick overview or to dive deep on a theological issue, Winger probably has a video for you.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Like any Christian YouTube channel we review, we don’t ever guarantee that you’ll agree with every conclusion to which the channel comes, and Mike Winger is no exception. However, it would be difficult to deny that Winger researches his videos meticulously. After all, you can’t exactly make the aforementioned 39-hour series by…erm…winging it.

And, like Got Questions, Winger offers a way for viewers to submit their own questions—no matter how specific—so that he can answer them. This provides an easier way for people to ask theological questions they might be too nervous to ask someone in person. And Winger almost always responds to each of these comments by bringing up relevant Bible verses, so anyone wondering about that question can interpret the relevant passage for themselves.

Winger is very humble in his conclusions, often reminding the viewer that he is fallible. He tries to represent positions he doesn’t personally hold as best as he is able, and he provides what he feels are the best arguments for those positions. It’s all done with an eye toward giving viewers a fuller understanding of the issue.

CONTENT CONCERNS

None.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Winger is the “featured teacher” of BibleThinker, a ministry “dedicated to equipping people to think and live biblically.” According to the website, that goal is accomplished through teaching accurate theology, defending the Christian worldview and applying the Bible to our lives.

And that description aptly applies to Winger’s channel, too. Whether someone is in the mood for a quick answer or an extensive study, Mike Winger will guide viewers into a biblical interpretation by the end of the video.

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Five competitors step into the ring. At one end, a pen holds the quintet, who patiently wait for the side wall to drop, letting them spill onto a racetrack filled with obstacles. At the other end, tasty treats beckon the contestants to run as quick as possible in order to snag a few extra pieces before the rest of the competitors arrive.

The competition? A drift of Kunekune pigs, each representing a different country in the race.

There’s Piggy Smalls, the largest racer, representing the United States. His bulky build allows him to block out anyone who would attempt to overtake him.

Pepper Sanchez is the smallest and sweetest of them all, yet widely regarded as a fierce competitor in straight sprints. She’s representing Mexico.

Crossing the Pacific Ocean, we’d meet Hoshi Oinku, the cool and collected pig from Japan that is hard to stop once he gets going.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Bear Trotsky is somewhat of a dark horse: she’s more than able to set course records and win every single race—but only if she feels like it.

And finally, we come to the U.K., where our races take place and where Ginger Hamilton enjoys a home field advantage. Ginger’s closing speed means that she’s never truly out of a race.

So, who do you think will win?

POSITIVE CONTENT

The unnamed announcer for League of Pigs stokes viewer excitement to see which contestant will win each race. Additionally, in between races, we’ll get to know a little more about each pig’s personality as the channel takes time to focus on them. None of the contestants hogs the spotlight.

And as a sidenote, while we don’t know the name of the man who runs League of Pigs, we do know that the five Kunekune porkers are pets, so viewers won’t need to worry about the competitors being turned into bacon any time soon. And because the pigs are simply running to get food, viewers can be confident that the channel isn’t engaged in animal cruelty.

CONTENT CONCERNS

None. We didn’t notice any swearing in the videos we watched.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

When we say that YouTube has a channel for everybody, we mean it.

From gaming to cooking, beauty to engineering, entertainment reviews to simple commentary, thousands upon thousands of YouTube channels provide content for nearly everything you can think of. And that includes pet pig racing—a category we didn’t think we’d care for until we found League of Pigs.

League of Pigs is simple fun as we watch five adorable Kunekune pigs sprint to their food, complete with enjoyable racing commentary. And no matter which pig takes home the title of champion, we’re confident that—due to the lack of content concerns—the biggest winners are the viewers.

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For Jet Bent-Lee, he doesn’t have to imagine it. It’s what he does with his father, Susur Lee, every time they upload a video to Iron Chef Dad.

You just might recognize the name, Susur Lee. He was one of the judges on MasterChef Asia. He also appeared as a contestant in the second season of Top Chef: Masters. And he was one of the Iron Chefs on Iron Chef Canada.

And on Iron Chef Dad, he’s teaming up with his son and face some of the biggest challenges of his culinary life: In some videos, Susur must take TV dinners or military-style MREs (“Meal, Ready-to-Eat”) and turn them into a gourmet dish. In others, Susur ranks fast food on a tier list and reacts to food-centric short videos.

And, sometimes, Susur will simply show us how to make some tasty treats.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Susur and Jet have good chemistry on camera, and it’s evident that father and son love each other deeply. They enjoy discussing food, with Susur often providing guidance to Jet on why certain methods or ingredients are used over others.

Additionally, though Susur is a professional chef and doesn’t have much experience with lower-brow culinary offerings such as fast food, he often provides compliments on what he thinks each chain did right. Similarly, Susur will explain what he likes about another culture’s cuisine, and even if he doesn’t personally like something, he’ll accept the validity of someone enjoying it.

CONTENT CONCERNS

The f-word is partially censored. Other swears, including the s-word, “d–n,” “b–ch” and “h—” are often heard in their entirety. God’s name is used in vain occasionally. In one reaction video to Masterchef, Gordon Ramsay references masturbation.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

It’s fun to watch Jet and Susur bond over food and for Jet to learn some culinary skills at the same time. Perhaps Iron Chef Dad will encourage more families to get together to make food—regardless of how well it turns out. But that’s only if viewers can digest the occasional swearing present on the channel.

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Unless you watch gameranx. In that case, you may just be on top of it all.

The YouTube channel has a few different narrators, but they’ve all got a common goal: “To celebrate video games, their greatness, and all they have to offer,” according to the company’s website.

To that end, the channel offers first impressions of upcoming releases in its “Before You Buy” series to help you learn about the games. It frequently uploads “Top 10” rankings, exploring all sorts of gaming genres and topics. And gameranx will also bring you gaming-related news, too, including lesser-known upcoming releases and strange gaming stories.

Positive Content

The “Before You Buy” series offers detailed reviews of soon-to-be or recently released video games. These reviews are quite balanced, and the hosts almost always find something good to say, even about games they think are bad.

Some videos provide gamers with tips and tricks that they can implement on their consoles. Others help viewers learn what new games will be releasing soon. On a similar note, a few other videos explain what sorts of gifts might be good for a gamer.

And, for gamers, some of the “Top 10” lists may just be plain fun to watch.

Content Concerns

Some videos contain thumbnails of sexually suggestive material, and some videos discuss titillating subjects, including ranking “sex scenes in video games that almost happened” and “inappropriate Easter eggs” found in games. (The latter of which reference genitalia and other sexual acts. Animated men and women in some videos can appear in little clothing.

Some games that gameranx covers contain violence, blood and gore, of course. For instance, they cover the Doom games and the zombie shooter Back 4 Blood.

We also hear some swearing, and while the f-word is censored occasionally, that’s not always the case. We also heard other swears like the s-word, “d-ck,” “a–” and more. God’s name is sometimes used in vain, including in the form of “g-dd–n.” Some of these swears can be seen in the video titles, too.

Channel Summary

The video gaming industry is a massive business—and one that continues to grow, day by day. The channel gameranx makes that ocean of games feel just a little bit smaller. But prospective viewers will need to be aware that they’ll be exposed to a veritable sea of content issues, too.

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Well, another channel has risen in prominence lately, too: The Critical Drinker, helmed by Scottish movie reviewer Will Jordan. This conservative-leaning commentator’s enormous popularity is based on his ranting critiques—in particular, for his videos skewering Disney-owned franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. While many of Jordan’s videos are simply discussions about what he did and didn’t like about a film, others slot into several different categories.

“The Drinker Recommends” is a category for movies that Jordan feels are prime examples of great storytelling and engaging movies. In this playlist, viewers will find movies both new and old that Jordan believes stand above the rest.

“The Drinker Fixes” contains videos where Jordan analyzes a character or movie plot and rewrites their motivations or the context around them in order to present a “better” version of it. What’s most notable about this category is that Jordan tries to stick as closely as possible to a movie’s themes and characters in order to prove that poor stories can be made better with a bit of workshopping.

“Production Hell” showcases movies or TV shows that had to go through difficult development and production processes due to monetary issues, overbearing higher-ups, difficult actors or other problems.

“Why Modern Movies Suck” allows Jordan to explain the unique issues behind newer films that he believes undermine their entertainment quality. These videos showcase examples Jordan uses to prove his point and are often the most opinion-based of his uploads.

POSITIVE CONTENT

The Critical Drinker provides valid points and commentary on many films and TV shows. For instance, Jordan often explains that movies that value universal messages will inherently relate to more people than those made to make a statement for the zeitgeist. He notes that movies with messages about family, the value of life and redemption are often the most compelling to audiences.

Jordan primarily focuses on each piece of entertainment’s storytelling, and he criticizes a given film when he feels that the storytelling has been thrown to the side in favor of pushing a political or cultural agenda.

CONTENT CONCERNS

If you thought that the name of the channel was indicative of the content concerns, you’d be right. In older videos, Jordan’s speech is intentionally meant to sound like he’s going on an intoxicated rant. Though newer videos haven’t focused as heavily on that schtick, The Critical Drinker channel name still brings to mind alcoholism.

By far, though, the biggest issue viewers will contend with is the heavy swearing. Both f- and s-words are frequent, as are other vulgarities. God’s name is taken in vain sometimes, too.

In some of the movie clips that Jordan shows, we also see people get hurt or killed in some bloody ways.

Recurring jokes include Jordan playing a clip of a man profusely vomiting in response to poor directorial decisions as well as using a flatulent noise for similar reasons. He also sometimes plays a clip of Nicholas Cage in his underwear or She-Hulk twerking. We hear a couple sexual quips, too.

And on a similar note, some of Jordan’s rants insult the directors and actors behind the films directly. While he often criticizes stories based on merit, he has also makes occasional jokes or comments that comes off as sexist.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Sometimes, movie critics can be quite harsh. I’ve read not a few movie reviews where I’ve thought, in full Marty McFly fashion “Wow, this is heavy.” I’m not immune to the irony that Plugged In’s reviewers(myself included) have probably written things that have elicited similar responses from our readers, too.

And, in true fashion, The Critical Drinker is harsh, too. Harsher than most, in fact, to the point of callous insult.

To Jordan’s credit, many of the points he makes have merit. Furthermore, he does a pretty good job explaining where he’s coming from and why he dislikes a particular element of the film. But let’s just say that when Plugged In dislikes something in a movie, we’re much more likely to express our perspective with careful tact. Not so for Jordan.

And that includes the content issues here. With frequent swearing and many crude jokes, The Critical Drinker probably isn’t the kind of sarcastic movie critic you’d gather your kids in the living room to listen to.

The post The Critical Drinker appeared first on Plugged In.

Well, with the Internet era, these letters aren’t nearly as popular as they once were—but the concept behind them still is. Some have even become famous for commenting on what others say or do. They gain large followings for their wit, insight or contributions regarding the source material.

Perhaps the most famous YouTube commentator in this vein is Charlie White Jr., the face of the YouTube channel penguinz0. Also known as MoistCr1TiKaL or just Cr1TiKaL, Charlie fills his channel with daily commentary on various videos that he finds or that his fans send him to watch. Sometimes, these clips are about fellow YouTubers and Internet drama. Other times, Charlie reviews movies and video games in his Moist Meter series, telling his audience his likes and dislikes about the entertainment and rating it on a percentage scale from zero to 100.

And in each video, penguinz0 jokes about the topics and provides his opinion on them.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Charlie is unafraid to call out people for doing things that are wrong or for being selfish. For example, penguinz0 shows a number of videos of men asking women out and refusing to accept when they’re declined—and though the content itself can get upsetting, it’s still a positive thing for Charlie to condemn, especially in front of his large audience.

In another video, he brings to light a Japanese game show that arguably tortured a man to attract viewers. And on a similar note, Charlie discusses some issues with TikTok, YouTube and the live-streaming site Twitch, especially noting how the organizations sometimes allegedly allow content that definitely goes against their own content standards.

Likewise, Charlie has a couple videos condemning false Christian teachers for attempting to use the religion for profit. While Charlie isn’t religious, he says the following: “I have nothing but respect for people that are religious. What I don’t have respect for are those Christian cult leaders that justify having five private airplanes that they take from peoples’ donations to the church.”

For those out of the loop on Internet issues, Charlie does a pretty fair job in explaining them. And though many of his comments can be inappropriate, Charlie does have a clever sense of humor that is likely the source of his audience.

CONTENT CONCERNS

While there are things on Charlie’s channel that we can commend, there’s also a whole bunch that will likely immediately disqualify it for your family, too.

Sexual references are common, from casual one-liner jokes to in-depth conversations that span the length of the whole video. We hear many discussions about pornography, masturbation, sex and more. Many videos reveal Charlie’s extensive collection of sex toys (the YouTuber is sponsored by a prominent adult shop). And in some videos, we can see men and women in revealing clothing.

There are some difficult topics on penguinz0. In one video, he discusses a TikTok creator who makes videos that use fake implied rape as a joke. In another, he calls out YouTube for allowing uploaded videos which included a creator torturing live animals. In yet another, he critiques the site for hosting pornography that’s uploaded under the guise of “education.” In other videos, Charlie discusses a man who has been caught trying to meet up with underaged children. We also learn of a disturbing trend that includes someone’s suicide being attached to videos.

Some content about Christianity makes an appearance, too. Charlie streams himself playing a couple of video games made about Christianity complete with some disrespectful moments. Charlie additionally watches and discusses some videos or sermons that contain fringe Christian teachers. And somewhat connected, Charlie sometimes discusses a running joke that he looks like Jesus.

Finally, bad language is very frequent, with almost every swear word our organization tracks used and uncensored. This includes misuses of God’s name as well as irreverent comments like “slap the holiness out of Jesus.”

Occasionally, penguinz0 makes a joke or two about drugs. Some of his earliest content is based around Call of Duty gameplay. (The game is rated M.)

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Were Plugged In to review YouTubers based on how friendly they seem, Charlie would probably be in the running for a top spot. His laid-back demeanor makes viewers feel like they could grab coffee with him. And because his content is primarily centered around him chatting with his audience, his personality is likely the biggest draw to the millions who are subscribed to him.

But Plugged In ultimately seeks to provide parents with the purely content-centric information they need in order to make educated decisions about what they do and don’t allow their families to watch. And when we view penguinz0 from that perspective, the content creator will probably be one of the hardest sells for families.

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