Top 10 shocking moments on YouTube aren’t limited to the usual cartoon clips and sing‑along songs. While the platform markets itself as a family‑friendly space, a surprising amount of content slips through the cracks and lands straight in the feeds of curious youngsters. Below, we break down ten of the most unsettling videos and trends that have managed to capture the attention of children worldwide.
10 A Frighteningly Thin Beauty Vlogger
Eugenia Cooney burst onto the beauty scene in June 2011, sharing makeup tutorials and fashion hauls. Yet it was her unnaturally slender physique – standing 5’7” and weighing just 86 lb – that sparked outrage. By late 2015, viewers began flagging her videos for seemingly glorifying an eating disorder, and the comment sections swelled with concern. A Change.org petition urging YouTube to ban her amassed over 20,000 signatures, accusing her of negatively influencing impressionable fans.
Cooney responded in a heartfelt video, insisting she never intended to promote unhealthy habits. She argued that genuine signs of an eating disorder, such as deteriorating teeth or brittle nails, were absent, suggesting instead a “crazy high metabolism.” Nevertheless, the controversy persisted, culminating in a 2018 Twitch suspension for a nip‑slip violation, a brief hiatus in early 2019, and a triumphant return to her 2.4 million‑subscriber base by July of that year.
9 A Disgusting Waste of Food
At the opposite end of the spectrum sit the mukbangers – creators who purchase massive quantities of food to devour on camera. While some manage to finish entire fast‑food menus, many leave a staggering amount of food untouched, turning consumption into a spectacle of excess. Nikocado Avocado, boasting 1.83 million subscribers, epitomizes the worst of this trend. His videos blend dramatic breakdowns with mountains of processed meals, often ending with the food being crushed, poured over, or otherwise destroyed.
The waste is stark: in 2018, an estimated 820 million people worldwide went hungry, according to the World Health Organization. Meanwhile, obesity rates continue to climb across all age groups, especially among school‑age children. Young viewers absorb messages of over‑indulgence and disregard for global hunger, learning more about waste than nutrition.
8 The Body of a Suicide Victim
Logan Paul, a 21‑million‑subscriber juggernaut, has courted controversy with everything from Tide‑Pod challenges to tasering dead rats. However, his most infamous moment arrived in 2017 when he and his crew ventured into Japan’s Aokigahara forest – a notorious suicide hotspot – and filmed an apparent corpse hanging from a tree. The video, titled “We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest…,” featured a warning screen, blurred faces, and a suicide‑hotline link, yet still amassed over 6.5 million views within 24 hours.
Paul later issued a public apology, acknowledging his grave mistake and removing the footage himself. The incident led to his removal from Google Preferred, YouTube’s premium advertising program, and sparked debates about the platform’s role in amplifying sensationalist, potentially harmful content for profit.
7 Solicitation of Child Pornography
Music channels dominate YouTube’s ecosystem, drawing massive teen audiences. Yet not all creators use that reach responsibly. Austin Jones, a guitarist who launched his channel at 14, accumulated half a million subscribers and 20 million views before his downfall. In 2015, he began soliciting explicit videos from under‑age female fans, urging them to “twerk” on camera. By 2017, authorities arrested him on two counts of producing child pornography, and he later pled guilty to coaxing minors into sending sexual content.
YouTube swiftly terminated his channel following his guilty plea. Jones now serves a ten‑year prison sentence, leaving a stark reminder that fame can mask deeply disturbing behavior.
6 Racism and Anti‑Semitism
Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, once held the title of most‑subscribed YouTuber, boasting 104 million followers and over 25 billion views. While his gaming commentary and comedic sketches earned him a spot on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2016, his career has been marred by several incidents of hate speech. In 2017, he paid individuals to hold a sign reading “Death to all Jews,” prompting Disney and YouTube to drop him from advertising programs.
Later that year, during a live stream, PewDiePie uttered a racial slur, quickly apologizing and claiming it was “not meant in a bad way.” Though the outburst generated backlash, the financial impact was minimal compared to his $30 million net worth. The pattern underscores how high‑profile creators can skirt consequences for bigotry, especially when their audience numbers dwarf the fallout.
5 Animal Abuse for Entertainment
Pet‑fail videos—cats startled by cucumbers, dogs stuck in odd places—routinely rack up millions of views. While YouTube’s policy bans content that causes “unnecessary suffering or harm,” many of these clips slip through, presenting a gray area where humor masks cruelty. Studies, such as a 2010 investigation by Penn State’s Nancy Dreschel, reveal that fear‑induced behaviors in dogs can trigger physiological stress, potentially shortening lifespans and increasing disease risk.
One viral example shows a cat frantically reacting to tape on its paws, garnering 375,000 views and amused comments, yet the animal appears visibly traumatized. Animal welfare experts argue that these seemingly harmless pranks may have lasting psychological impacts, urging creators to prioritize the well‑being of their furry subjects over click‑bait.
4 Cruelty Toward the Homeless
Spanish prankster Kangua Ren, known online as ReSet, built a following of 1.2 million by accepting bizarre “challenges” from his audience. In early 2017, he swapped Oreo cream for toothpaste and offered the tainted cookies to a homeless man, filming the victim’s subsequent vomiting. Ren posted the video with a flippant comment about giving the man a €20 tip, framing the act as a “positive side” for dental hygiene.
Legal repercussions followed: in May 2019, a Spanish court ordered Ren’s channel shut down for five years and fined him €20,000. He was also sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating the victim’s moral integrity, though the sentence was suspended as a first‑time, non‑violent offender.
3 Underage Gambling
Counter‑Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) star duo Trevor Martin (TmarTn) and Tom Cassel (Syndicate) leveraged their massive followings to promote CSGO Lotto, an online gambling platform allowing players to bet real money for a chance at valuable virtual weapons. Their videos showcased massive cash wins, enticing viewers as young as 13 to participate.
Both creators admitted ownership of the site, with Cassel apologizing for any perceived deception. Martin, however, defended the venture, insisting his involvement was transparent and “not immoral.” The sponsorship disclosures and direct promotion of a gambling service to minors sparked widespread criticism, highlighting a dangerous intersection between gaming culture and unregulated betting.
2 Second‑Degree Manslaughter
In June 2017, pregnant YouTuber Monalisa Perez, 21, filmed a lethal stunt that ended with her boyfriend Pedro Ruiz III, 22, being shot point‑blank with a .50‑caliber Desert Eagle. The plan—using a 1.5‑inch book as a shield—was presented as the next “crazier” video for their growing audience. The tragic shootout occurred in front of 30 witnesses, including the couple’s three‑year‑old daughter.
During rehearsals, the pair tested various props, and Perez even tweeted minutes before filming, “Me and Pedro are probably going to shoot one of the most dangerous videos ever. HIS idea not MINE.” Despite her pleas moments before pulling the trigger, the fatal shot was taken, leading to her pleading guilty to second‑degree manslaughter. She received six months in jail, ten years of supervised probation, and a conviction for “culpable negligence that led to the tragic and completely avoidable death.”
1 Adult Content Directed at Children
Launched in 2015, YouTube Kids promised a safe haven for viewers aged seven and up, offering parental controls, time limits, and curated content. Yet the platform has repeatedly faltered. Parents reported videos featuring profanity, drug references, sexual innuendo, and dangerous behavior slipping through the algorithm. In 2018, YouTube released a statement emphasizing aggressive enforcement of policies against content that misleads or endangers children, citing a blend of machine learning, algorithms, and community flagging.
Despite those assurances, troubling clips continue to surface—misogynistic cartoons, suicide tutorials, and even graphic depictions of stabbings. A notable incident involved a nine‑second animation teaching children how to slash their wrists, which took over a week for YouTube Kids to remove. Experts recommend that children under high school age access YouTube only through browsers equipped with third‑party filters, reinforcing the need for vigilant parental oversight.
Ultimately, YouTube remains a cultural lifeline for young audiences. As Jill Murphy of Common Sense Media notes, shutting the platform down isn’t the solution; instead, parents should engage in open conversations, teaching kids to navigate the digital world responsibly.