On their channel Blackthornprod, brothers Noa and Liam Calice host something akin to a game jam.

The two brothers are passionate about game development. In fact, the majority of their channel’s videos teach viewers how they might go about it—from getting started to solving specific coding problems.

More recently, however, they’ve organized their own game-jam-like contests, bringing in other game developers to participate. And when these developers aren’t competing against each other like they would if it were a standard game jam, they’re working together.

The latter works like this: The brothers will pass along a game concept through a line of developers. Each developer, one-by-one and without communicating with one another, will build upon the previous developer’s work as they (hopefully) build the game into something engaging and fun. And after the game has passed through five or six developers, they’ll come together to play the game and offer their feedback on how the game turned out.

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Blackthornprod, as mentioned before, provides some helpful advice for current or aspiring game developers on how they might spruce up their game. From creating a satisfying player character to coding dialogue, the channel has plenty of free videos that’ll help train viewers.

Though the occasional developer might feel a little upset if one of those latter developers later changed one of their earlier contributions, the collaborations hosted on Blackthornprod are generally quite friendly. Developers will often compliment each other on their creations or progress. Likewise, many developers will respect the decisions of previous developers and strive to keep them in the game, even if it means altering the game or tweaking some assets to fit them in.

Blackthornprod may create a spark for game design for viewers, too. And even if it doesn’t, the process of their creations is fun to watch.

CONTENT CONCERNS

A couple of the developers have used crude language, such as “h—.” God’s name is occasionally used in vain.

Some game concepts are based around elements of horror or the supernatural. Demonic or magical creatures appear in some of the games. Likewise, some games end up containing some blood and violence.

In one video, Noa references some artwork he’s been working on, and we see a couple portraits of naked women.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Who knows? Maybe, one day, a game that first appeared on Blackthornprod just may also show up in our section for video game reviews. Or maybe the channel will be the spark to make your child start creating their own.

Apart from some infrequent language concerns and a couple questionable game concepts, Blackthornprod is relatively innocent. Its more recent videos feel like an online game show (no pun intended)—one that both entertains and instructs its viewers in the process that goes into game design. And while not every game ultimately works out by the end, viewers can still walk away with that added knowledge regardless.

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Video games have always had bugs. Though developers do all they can to playtest the game and patch out any unintentional mechanics or errors, some inevitably slip through for gamers to find. And as games get bigger and bigger, the chance that one of these bugs will slip through grows, too.

And if anyone is going to find and exploit that mistake, it’s Tom, the creator of The Spiffing Brit.

Armed with little more than the persona of the most stereotypical British chap you could imagine, Tom is every developer’s worst nightmare. Did you know that you can beat Skyrim with nothing more than a fork? Are you aware that every single boss in Elden Ring can die in one hit? Perhaps you might want to know that farming a single potato in Stardew Valley can earn you unlimited money?

Yes, there are many games that have met their match with The Spiffing Brit. But it’s not only games that have failed to be, as Tom slyly puts it, “perfectly balanced games with no exploits.” He’s also found some of these bugs in real life, such as on the popular gaming store Steam or YouTube itself.

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Of course, most of these exploits don’t inherently cause harm to anyone. The vast majority of Tom’s videos deal with offline games, wherein the only experience that will be affected is his (or, should you choose to follow suit, your) own. And there’s technically nothing wrong with playing a solo game the way you want to play it.

In fact, for many videos, such as Tom’s own on how to exploit the YouTube algorithm, the point of his post isn’t for exploitation’s sake. Rather, Tom attempts to expose how the problem works so that developers can patch it. To that point, The Spiffing Brit mentioned being intentionally hired by the developers of one game to try to break it so that they could fix those issues ahead of release.

CONTENT CONCERNS

There are a few “bugs” on the channel itself for which viewers will want to watch out. Swearing takes place in some videos, where Tom uses words like “h—,” “d–n” or “d–k.” God’s name is likewise used in vain occasionally.

Every so often, viewers might hear a sexual joke, such as the childishly carnal name of his Elden Ring character. And depending on the game he’s playing, viewers may have to note violence or magical elements in some of those games, too.

Now, some of Tom’s exploits can be done online. However, in those instances, The Spiffing Brit warns that anyone who tries it online will likely get little more than a swift ban from the game by developers (or a quick “unfriend” from any local buddies).

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Part of the fun in The Spiffing Brit, I think, is watching him break a game that you enjoy playing. It may indeed be a comfort to some Elden Ring players, for instance, that the boss they’ve been stuck on for the last two weeks could be defeated in one shot if they truly wanted to do so. However, I suspect that most viewers are more like myself: while it’s fun to watch someone show it’s possible to cheat the game, we’ll still play the game how it was intended to be played.

Unfortunately, despite the fun, the light swearing and occasional sexual joke may turn a viewer away from the channel—and there’s no exploit to get around that. With that in mind, it’s up to you to decide if The Spiffing Brit is your cup of Yorkshire tea.

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Just ask Nick DiGiovanni, who finished third in the 10th season of the reality cooking show MasterChef. He, along with the two other contestants, were informed that one of them would be eliminated based on the entrée they prepared, while the other two would continue on to show off their respective dessert dishes.

DiGiovanni never got to create that dessert on TV. So he took to YouTube to post a video of himself creating that would-be treat. As isolation during COVID boosted the popularity of apps like YouTube and TikTok, DiGiovanni began posting more and more content online.

Now, DiGiovanni’s YouTube channel boasts a whopping 15 million subscribers, and he’s intent on his goal to surpass Gordon Ramsay’s (mainstay judge on MasterChef) channel in followers.

But make no mistake: It’s not DiGiovanni’s time on MasterChef that’s propelled this popularity. Instead, it’s the food and personality he showcases on his channel. And whether you’re a seasoned chef, or your skills in the culinary world are a bit raw, you might just feel right at home in DiGiovanni’s kitchen.

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DiGiovanni talks viewers through his recipes as he prepares them, providing both measurements as well as explanations of what effect his cooking methods will have on the final dish. Likewise, he warns about the negative results that may occur when using improper techniques.

A number of DiGiovanni’s videos also teach his audience how to do specific kitchen-based tasks, including cooking various types of steak as well as cooking essentials like chopping or plating.

DiGiovanni collaborates with many other famous YouTubers and celebrities, challenging himself with their suggestions and providing his audience with other viewpoints. In one video where DiGiovanni rates the food-based products of other YouTubers, he gives honest assessments about the quality of what he’s evaluating, rather than simply giving a good review just to maintain a relationship.

CONTENT CONCERNS

We hear God’s name taken in vain and Jesus used as an expletive. Likewise, we occasionally hear “d–n.” Heavier profanities, such as  the f- and s-words, are censored.

Some videos contain the occasional sexual quip or reference, such as pixelated blurring to make a nonsexual thing appear as crude.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Nick DiGiovanni is a bit like cooking in a kitchen. You’ll find a lot of tasty treats and recipes that you may want to use to impress your family (or maybe just your own taste buds).

But just like a real kitchen, there are a couple things you’ll need to exercise caution about here: namely, the occasional swearing and sexual joke.

In other words, you may walk away with something delicious, but be careful that you don’t get burned in the process.

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British influencer Harry Pinero fits neatly into this quintessential description of a YouTube creator.

Through a combination of vlog and game formats, Harry shares his passion for travel, soccer and friends. In one video, Harry documents his luxurious travels to Qatar. In longer format videos titled, “The Inside Scoop,” Harry discusses soccer players and shares updates about the sport. And several videos feature Harry attempting internet challenges with his friends.

Harry also has a significant social media presence on Instagram, and he occasionally streams video game content on Twitch.

Whether he’s roaming the streets of Oxford or riding Mario Kart-themed go-karts, Harry’s upbeat personality enlivens his experiences and engages his internet audience.

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What is YouTube if not a place for viewers to experience vicarious adventures? In several of his vlog videos, viewers can virtually accompany Harry on his luxurious travels. Some videos include inside looks at fancy, first-class flights, VIP experiences and extravagant hotel rooms—making for interesting (though potentially envy-inducing) viewing.

Segments of Harry’s videos also include positive messages about healthy lifestyle choices, and one video is dedicated to Harry’s efforts for a soccer-related charity organization. In one YouTube Shorts video, Harry discusses how he overcame a gambling addiction.

Harry also displays generally positive relationships with his friends. He talks to them about his love for his son, and the friends seem to support one another.

CONTENT CONCERNS

While Harry’s friendships do seem genuine, many of their conversations involve digs at one another. While these jabs are done in jest, parents may not want their young kids to emulate such banter. Additionally, some of Harry’s jokes rely on crude humor. For example, in one video, someone offhandedly mentions a dangerous drug, and later someone crudely discusses flatulence. In some of his shorter videos, Harry’s content includes sexual references and innuendos.  

Men sometimes vlog shirtless in videos.  Harry and his friends occasionally talk about alcohol.

But the primary concern in Harry’s content is profanity. Videos include the f-word, s-word and n-word, and these profanities usually remain uncensored. Videos also include “d–n,” “h—,” “b–tard” and misuses of God’s name.

While it doesn’t come up often, Harry is Muslim, and he occasionally discusses his faith on the channel. In one video, Harry exclaims, “All glory to Allah,” before he plays a soccer game. And in another video, he mentions his Umrah—a ceremonial pilgrimage to Mecca.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Anyone who spends time on YouTube will find Harry’s formats familiar. His reaction videos, guessing-game content and “try not to laugh” challenges aren’t exactly original ideas. Still, like many other successful YouTubers, Harry Pinero mixes his passions and personality with these dependable formats in a manner that resonates with thousands of viewers.

Unfortunately, Harry Pinera’s otherwise tame content includes frequent uncensored profanity and occasional crude or sexual jokes.

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So reads the bio of popular challenge vlogger Eric Decker on the YouTube Channel Airrack. And what dreams might those entail? Well, his videos just may provide a clue.

In one, Decker breaks the Guinness World Record for largest pizza ever made. In another, he forces his friends to play “real life” games of Would You Rather, urging them to actually choose and do the option they’ve chosen. In a third, he hires bodyguards to see if the public will think he’s someone famous.

(OK, that doesn’t exactly shed light into what sort of dream Airrack is having, but at least the pizza one does sound similar to a dream I’ve had before.)

What will Decker do next? Well, we’re not sure. But we’ll guess that it’ll be full of adventure.

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Decker and friends challenge each other. And while not every challenge will be family friendly (as we’ll discuss below), at least these friends enjoy each other’s company.

CONTENT CONCERNS

But there’s also quite a bit that families will want to note.

Sexual quips are made in some videos, and sometimes, it goes a bit further. In one video, a couple men strip naked and swim in front of men and women, only covered from the viewer by an edited-on emoji. Another two men try being drag queens, and one man’s underwear is briefly visible. Some women are seen in bikinis, and men are seen shirtless. We also hear a couple discussions about sex. Men eat raw meat, including bull testicles.

Jokes about spiritual topics occur, too. When one of Decker’s friends is put in an uncomfortable situation, the phrase “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus” briefly flashes onscreen. Decker plays a prank on strangers where he “walks on water,” and we hear a few references to the biblical account of Jesus. At another moment in that same video, someone jokes about “dark art Mayan rituals.”

Swear words are censored, though it’s still evident what words are being used. However, inappropriate uses of God’s name (including the name of Jesus) go uncensored.

Other YouTubers have posted compelling videos detailing how Airrack has cheated or misled viewers in some of his more recent challenge videos.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Airrack, like MrBeast and Unspeakable, is a challenge vlogging channel that spends a good amount of money to have fun with friends.

But while MrBeast and Unspeakable tend to be a bit tamer, Airrack leans more heavily adult—especially when it comes to its reliance on sexual topics. For that reason (and for the frequent censored swearing), Airrack likely won’t be something you’ll want to be showing to your children.

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Like many popular YouTubers, Nathan Graham, better known by his chosen moniker of Unspeakable, got his start making Minecraft videos in 2012. Were you to stumble onto UnspeakableReacts and sort by “Oldest,” you’d find more than a half decade of Minecraft-centric content.

But these days, Graham garners more attention for his separate Unspeakable channel, which he started in 2016. On it, he uploads videos in which he lives out the dreams of many children: spending 24 hours alone in waterparks and candy shops; building working LEGO vehicles; and playing extreme games of hide and seek.

But don’t worry; Graham isn’t alone. Whether it’s buying a foldable home on Amazon, hunting tornadoes or just completing outrageous dares, Grahamis sure to bring his friends to help along the way.

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Nearly every Unspeakable video shows Grahamand friends having fun as they engage in challenges or enjoy unique experiences. They almost always maintain a joyful and goofy manner, making the videos fun to watch.

A few videos showcase Graham donating large amounts of money to small Twitch streamers or buying his friends items they’d like to get.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Viewers experience quite a bit of toilet humor (sometimes literally). One joke involves a blurred-out bit of excrement, for example. We also here jokes about urination. Some punishments for challenges can be gross, such as when someone has what is claimed to be cat urine dumped on him. Others gross gags might spur younger viewers to replicate potentially harmful actions, such as when Graham dumps glue on his head, or when he and his friends lob bowling balls onto trampolines.

A couple of comedic videos deal with busting scary myths, some of which include trying a Ouija board; spreading salt on the ground to test if it will keep out demons (or, in their case, someone dressed to look like one); and chanting “Bloody Mary” in a mirror to see if the ghost of the Protestant persecutor would appear to harm them. In that vein, in many of Nathan’s skits, someone dressed like a ghost chases various people around.

Graham avoids vulgarities. But his viewers will still hear an occasional misuse of God’s name, though the more common exclamation is, “Oh my gosh!” or, “What the heck?”

Several videos show the contestants in challenges that ask them to break rules at various businesses without getting caught.

Additionally, Graham’s outlandish use of money and frequent destruction aren’t positive behaviors. And many videos contain requests for viewers to purchase brand merchandise.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Unspeakable is similar to MrBeast’s über-popular YouTube channel. Both channels are run by multimillionaire young adults who use their money to create crazy challenges. However, whereas MrBeast generally creates content for all ages, Unspeakable’s videos target kids and teens more intentionally.

As Graham and his friends play games and beat challenges, they’ll likewise perform many skits. Additionally, on top of some toilet humor, these videos often contain a lot of over-the-top reactions and screaming.

After reviewing this channel, I can’t say that anything on it is truly unspeakable—or anything that might make it a hard or obvious “no” for families. But unless watching a few friends use a lot of money to have silly and outlandish fun is what you’re looking for, I don’t think there’s much else to consider here.

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In 2011, Impractical Jokers stormed onto the entertainment scene, gaining a large following for its hidden-camera reality television series—one that still continues as of 2023. The format for the show is simple: four friends challenge one another to complete generally socially embarrassing tasks (usually in front of onlookers unaware that it’s part of a show), and if anyone is too nervous to follow through, they lose.

Imagine the YouTube channel Family Friendly as an even cruder form of Impractical Jokers.

The premise is the same: Four friends, made up of members “Bazerk,” “Melt,” “Sizl” and “Swift” compete in challenges that require them to be put in awkward situations. But while Impractical Jokers wasn’t always crude, Family Friendly is. Nearly every challenge contains an offensive or sexual challenge for the group to complete—from defending a disrespectful opinion to attempting to get online women to take their shirts off.

Suffice it to say, this is not the family friendly content you were looking for.

POSITIVE CONTENT

None.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Many of Family Friendly’s videos contain sexual elements or references. In a number of challenges, the guys attempt to get women online to show off their breasts. They also frequently reference sex and masturbation. We also see a couple censored sex toys. In a couple videos, they scroll through Tinder dating profiles that contain women in swimsuits. In a challenge to defend unpopular topics, some of them must defend incest. Men show off the underwear they are wearing.

The group hosts “offensive Zoom classes,” in which they talk about various inappropriate or crude topics. Racist and sexist comments are made. One of Family Friendly’s members leads an exercise class that contains a “workout” meant to look like someone hitting his or her partner. We hear frequent uncensored swearing, including the c-word, f-word and s-word.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

For parents hoping to find something online for their child to watch that doesn’t have content issues, they may rush to Google and type in something like “family friendly YouTube channels.” And were they not looking too hard, they may come across Family Friendly—a channel obviously named ironically.

So, don’t be fooled by the name. There’s nothing on this channel that’s friendly for your family.

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Who’s at the door? A complete stranger, wanting to know if they can cook you dinner in your kitchen on their dime.

Sound outlandish? It’s actually a common practice for Brad Lancaster on Discover Connection.

“I believe our society today is facing a really big problem,” Lancaster says. “We are more divided and disconnected than ever before … but I personally believe that what we’re all searching for is just real, genuine connection. And the sole mission of this channel is to explore what human connection really is.”

And in pursuit of that mission, well, Lancaster and some friends will put themselves in some interesting situations to do it.

POSITIVE CONTENT

Lancaster and his friends do end up making a whole lot of connections. Whether they’re offering to make them dinner or asking for a ride across the country, they’ve heard a lot of stories and gotten to show how quickly strangers can become friends.

That’s great for the channel’s mission, which aims to combat what Lancaster sees as a world that’s becoming increasingly more divided and hostile to strangers. To that end, Lancaster does a lot of other nice things, too, such as helping strangers with whatever they need done and buying people gifts for Christmas.

CONTENT CONCERNS

 That said, there are some issues viewers need to note. We hear some lighter language like “h—” and “d–n” somewhat frequently. In addition, though heavier swears like the f- and s-word are typically censored out, we did hear a couple that managed to sneak past the censor. Likewise, God’s name is taken in vain, including in the form of “g-dd–n.”

A couple videos contain jokes that reference sexual encounters. One woman admits she’d like to sleep with one of the men on the channel. In one video, a man must attempt to invite strangers to a barbecue while in a public restroom, and in the same video, another man goes into Victoria’s Secret to invite a woman. We see men and women in swimsuits. People drink alcohol.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Lancaster notes that everyone longs for connection, and there’s truth to that. It’s why he has set out to make friends with so many people and make the world seem just a bit kinder.

But perhaps the reason everyone yearns for connection is because we are severed from God, the only One who can truly satisfy that desire for complete and true connection—one that abounds in love and an intimate knowledge of who we are in Him.

Discover Connection doesn’t quite get there. But the channel does show us how easy it truly can be to become friends with total strangers, and it does help to break down a mean world syndrome that latches to our hearts.

Of course, those positive things come with a bit of swearing and the occasional crude joke that will make the channel a bit more difficult to allow your child to watch. But at the very least, we can appreciate the heart and mission behind it.

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In the gaming realm, Minecraft is a beast—outselling every other video game ever created. And with a large portion of YouTube uploads being dedicated to gaming, Minecraft holds a big sway over YouTube audiences, too.

Alex Kisiel’s channel, ish, found this out firsthand.

Kisiel has played Minecraft for a long time. His first video on the game was uploaded seven years ago. And yet, that’s not what his channel originally focused on.

If you scroll through the channel’s 39 videos, you’ll see a range of video topics: a couple on learning how to do something quickly; a couple essays responding to (at the time) current events; some videos about the times he participated in MrBeast challenges.

But it wasn’t until he began creating elaborate Minecraft narratives that his channel really took off. As of publishing, ish has uploaded four Minecraft videos based around the theme of civilization—that is, dropping people into a Minecraft world with one life to see how they build a society. And compared to the rest of his videos, these four have received millions of views more than the rest of his content.

That spike is enough to put ish’s videos on the front of YouTube, and it’s likely that your child might spot one of them. With that in mind, what can we expect from the growing channel?

POSITIVE CONTENT

Kisiel crafts interesting and fun stories in his Minecraft challenges, keeping the viewer engaged. And through his videos, he’s formed a generally friendly community of players.

Other videos show ish’s commitment to learning or teaching new things, such as practicing violin or explaining what Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Some of Kisiel’s videos contain some swearing. While audible swears are censored out, it should be noted that the occasional use of the f-word can be seen typed out in chat by other players when ish plays Minecraft. More commonly, viewers will hear light words like “frick,” though God’s name is used in vain sometimes, too.

On a similar note, these Minecraft videos occasionally contain inappropriate jokes, such as a joke about bestiality or a cavity search. Also in these Minecraft videos, some players will create fake religions (such as a flower cult) or form societies based on real ones like Islam.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Kisiel knows how to tell a story, that much is apparent. The Minecraft videos for which his channel is known contain many twists, turns and otherwise interesting story arcs that will keep viewers waiting for the next one to come out. And while ish’s content is generally pretty clean, a few things may keep the channel from children.

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Safiya Nygaard answers these queries and more.

Originally an employee at the media company Buzzfeed, Safiya left in early 2017 to start her own YouTube channel about fashion, beauty and popular trends.

With her husband, Tyler, and feline friend, Crusty, Safiya tries convenience-store makeup, purchases clothing while blindfolded and travels the world to learn about beauty abroad.

One of Safiya’s earlier series involves her trying odd clothing trends like platform crocs and clear-knee jeans. Another series, called “Bad Makeup Science,” Safiya mixes various beauty products like lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes and scented hand sanitizers to make a new “franken-product” (as she calls it).

Safiya Nygaard might inspire you to reinvent your wardrobe, but more likely she’ll teach you about the fashion industry and get you chuckling about its oddities. 

POSITIVE CONTENT

While her vast clothing and makeup collections show that she enjoys all things beauty, Safiya generally promotes body positivity, focusing on ways that beauty products can extenuate her body’s natural features.

Although her channel’s focus isn’t education, many of Safiya’s videos involve research about fashion throughout the decades and fashion in different cultures. She interviews experts in the beauty industry and YouTubers from the countries she visits. Safiya has also made some videos about the process of making makeup.

CONTENT CONCERNS

Safiya occasionally uses profanity in her videos. She censors heavy profanity like the f-word and the s-word, but words like “h—,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–tard,” “crap” and misuses of God’s name can be heard. She also has a video in which she designs outfits according to her Zodiac sign. And as part of the video, Safiya interviews an astrology expert/psychic reader.

Safiya is married to Tyler now. But when she first started her channel, Tyler was her long-term boyfriend, and the couple was clearly living together.

Although her collection of makeup and clothing is mainly for her YouTube channel, many of Safiya’s videos feature her buying a plethora of beauty products, including from some fast-fashion sites like Wish and Romwe. Safiya isn’t necessarily promoting consumerism, but many of her videos involve her reviewing “hauls” of these products.

Many of these haul videos include segments in which Safiya scrolls through social media and clothing websites. Sometimes the advertising images show underdressed models, but Safiya will blur any outright nudity in these images.

In videos in which she tries different types of clothing, Safiya references how certain pieces fit on specific body parts. Her descriptions aren’t crude, but she will discuss how a pair of pants feels on her behind or how a shirt makes her breasts look. For example, in a video called, “I Bought the First 5 Things Facebook Recommended to Me,” Safiya purchases bras and underwear. She discusses how the items feel, but she does not show herself wearing these items. (In this video, Safiya also purchases condoms–per Facebook’s ad recommendations–but she does not go into any details reviewing that item.)

Although it’s not a negative thing, some parents might want to note that Safiya made a few videos about products related to menstruation, in which she tested things like menstrual cups and period underwear. Safiya talks openly and specifically about her experience with her period, but just to help other women.

CHANNEL SUMMARY

Safiya Nygaard’s channel offers a fresh take on beauty content, an industry that can often come off as insincere and toxic. Safiya doesn’t pressure her viewers to conform to beauty standards. Instead, she focuses on the fun of fashion without obsessing about her image.

While families will certainly want to be aware of the profanity and consumerist tendencies, Safiya’s channel is more navigable than many other YouTubers on the site.

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