Mark Rober
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this youtube.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Mark Rober is a YouTube channel focused on making science and engineering appealing for viewers of all ages. Videos feature extreme experiments that rely on sensationalized stunts to spark viewers' curiosity and interest in science and engineering. Some videos can include potentially dangerous or scary aspects for younger viewers, like sharks, explosions and unorthodox weapons like a playing card machine gun, all of which are entry points for broader scientific lessons. Kids and animals are sometimes subjects of scientific lessons. Rober's well-known "Squirrelympics" videos put squirrels in unwitting competition for entertainment and educational value. Rober's nieces and nephew often appear in his videos, and he also shares his son's journey with autism in some of his videos as well. He monetizes his channel through merchandise and pushing his signature subscription box designed to get kids to fall in love with science and engineering. Due to the nature of the You Tube platform, viewers are subject to additional ads that may not be age appropriate. Both his social media presence and the community he's built through his platform reflect his passion for curiosity in science and engineering.
What’s It About?
MARK ROBER's focus is on bringing new ideas, science, and engineering to an audience that may not be interested in these subjects otherwise. With so much content out there, he often turns to wild, attention-grabbing experiments to attract viewership. A former engineer for NASA and Apple, Rober presents himself as a "friend of science." With videos dating back to 2011, Mark Rober occasionally dips into content that some adults might balk at, including the creation of glitter bombs and squirrel obstacle courses.
Is It Any Good?
This thrilling YouTube channel applies science and engineering in creative ways to make it cool, relevant and fun for all. Mark Rober's videos – even those with the over-the-top thumbnails – universally stay true to this messaging. Generally, his content is entertaining, well-produced and encourages curiosity. Viewers of all ages are likely to come away having learned something from each video even if they didn't intend to do so when they clicked on the enticing thumbnail. Some videos – such as his watermelon party trick – are a tad misleading, but overall Mark Rober's channel has a higher ratio of hits to misses than most of his counterparts on YouTube. It's definitely worth checking out for adults with older kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Mark Rober puts his neighborhood squirrels to the test in his famous "Squirrelympics" videos. Seeing as these animals cannot provide consent, is this content exploitative? How can we best explore animal behavior in a humane way?
Mark Rober has said he sees his videos as being "aspirational" for viewers, proving they too can explore science and engineering in their own lives. How can YouTube be used as a learning tool to inspire others? If you had a YouTube channel, how would you want to inspire and teach others?
How does Mark Rober use the sensationalized tactics (which many other YouTubers use to gain subscribers) to teach and add value? Can you think of other seemingly negative aspects of some YouTube videos that can be used for a positive purpose?
This YouTube channel promotes and encourages curiosity. Why is this an important character strength?
YouTube Details
- Genre: Lifestyle
- Topics: STEM, Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- Last updated: December 19, 2022
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