YouTube Kids closed the opening day of MIPJunior 2026 with a vibrant cocktail reception, gathering a robust crowd of international producers, developers, buyers, and foreign press. The evening served as a networking hub and a celebration of the creative minds driving the children’s media industry forward.
Taking the stage to welcome the attendees, Amy Singer, Senior Director of Responsibility at YouTube, highlighted the unique privilege and challenge of creating content for younger demographics. ‘We are really coming from all different corners of this industry, but I will say we have one thing in common, and that is we have the toughest, the most honest, and the most important audience in the world’, she noted.
Reflecting on panel discussions held earlier in the day, Singer emphasized the profound impact that meaningful storytelling has on children’s development and self-image. ‘Kids really want to feel seen when watching content. They want to laugh and be inspired, and we can make them feel good about who they are and who they can be’, she explained to the crowd. ‘This is an incredible privilege and a role that we all get to play; our work really matters’.
While acknowledging the platform’s massive global reach, the executive was quick to point out that digital distribution alone is never enough to engage a young audience. ‘At YouTube, we know that scale without substance doesn’t work for kids. The technology alone does not create the stories, the heart, the characters, or these emotional worlds. That is all coming from you’. she told the creators and developers in the room.
Reaffirming the platform’s commitment to ensuring enriching and helpful content reaches young viewers safely, Singer concluded the opening day event with a toast to the industry’s collaborative spirit: ‘We just want to thank you all for the collaboration, and we’d like to raise a glass to great stories, to partnership, and to all the kids who never hesitate to let us know whether they’re right or wrong’.
