【明報專訊】An investigation BBC has carried out shows hundreds of fake clips on YouTube look like normal cartoons, including the popular Peppa Pig, Frozen, Thomas & Friends and many more. Some of them can even be watched through the YouTube Kids app.

A disturbing fake Peppa Pig video Laura June (a parent and journalist) has found shows a dentist pulling out the character's teeth as she screams in distress. Laura said that the animation was crude, but it was close enough to look like Peppa Pig and mislead her daughter.

Some of the videos are parodies or unauthorised copies of authentic cartoons that feature violent scenes and are thus not suitable for children. The YouTube Kids app filters out most, but not all, of the disturbing videos. YouTube recommends changing channel settings to restricted mode for children, but it says that no filter is 100 per cent accurate.

Professor Sonia Livingstone, an expert on child online safety in England, said that many parents had come to trust YouTube. "I think if it (YouTube) wants to be a trusted brand then parents should know that protection is in place."

(sources: Ming Pao, BBC)

■Photo Story

The fake Peppa Pig clips on YouTube were found to contain content which is not suitable for kids.

■English highway﹕in place

If something is in place, it is in the correct position or is existing.

e.g. We have everything in place for the banquet.

■Quiz

Answer the following questions.

(Answers on next text)

1. Which of the following is NOT true about fake cartoon clips?

a. They feature famous cartoon characters.

b. They have the copyright of the official cartoon characters.

c. Some of them display violent scenes.

d. Many of them can be accessed by children.

2. Is the following sentence true or false?

The Peppa Pig videos showing violent scenes on YouTube are not official.

(True / False)

3. What does YouTube recommend one to do to filter out disturbing videos?

_____________________________________

4. Find in paragraph three a word that is opposite in meaning to "fake".

____________________________________

■Glossary

disturbing (adj) 令人不安的

distress (n) 痛苦

crude (adj) 粗糙的

parody (n) 滑稽模仿作品

[Smarties' Power English Vol 186]