Safeshare.tv

If you use YouTube videos in your classroom or school, no matter the age of students, I highly recommend running the videos through SafeShare.TV. This website will take out all advertisements and make the video "safe" for viewing. It seems these days that the majority of YouTube videos have a random advertisement at the beginning, and a lot of them are inappropriate for students. SafeShare.TV not only removes the beginning advertisement, but all popups, advertisements, and "related" videos around the videos are blocked. The picture below is a snapshot of what students will see when a video is played through SafeShare. Click here if you would like to watch Frozen's Let It Go through SafeShare. 

So how does it work? It's actually a very easy, user friendly, FREE site that anyone can use. No log in or registering is necessary. To begin, locate the YouTube video you would like to view. This can be done ahead of time, as SafeShare will provide you with a link that you can save, share via Facebook, Twitter, email, or attach to a QR code for scanning. So, after you have chosen the YouTube video, click on share under the video, and copy the link. For example...

Next, open SafeShare.tv and paste the link into the SafeShare box and click generate Safe Link. 

A safe link is now created for your video. At this point there are a few options. To directly view the video, click the red Take me to the safe view link and the video will begin playing. Or you may copy and paste the NEW YouTube link into your browser, a document, QR code generator, or anywhere you'd like the link to be. Finally, at the bottom you will notice it says customize video. This will allow you to change the background color of the viewing screen (right now it is black), change the video title, and how long you would like the video viewed. This would be used if you would like to play only a clip from a video, you can create a SafeShare link for only that portion of the video.

In my opinion, SafeShare is one of the best tools out there for protecting our students. There are a few things to consider though. Yes, this is a much safer way to utilize YouTube in your classroom, but keep in mind that as the video plays the YouTube link will still be present in the right hand corner and will take you back to YouTube if clicked. I have also found that most videos can be played full screen through this SafeShare link by clicking the full screen icon, however there are some that will not.

Now... this is my favorite part. How can this be used in our classrooms? I'm glad you asked! :) Here are just a few ideas for running YouTube videos through SafeShare...

1. Whole class viewings of YouTube videos
2. Whole school assemblies or pep rallies
3. Creating a QR code link to specific videos for students to view independently via iPads or other handheld devices
4. Professional Development sessions... although adults will not need "shielded" from advertisements, it would be great idea to have the distractions before and around the video taken out

Good luck and be safe out there!