Obedience, Authority, and Consumerism in Children's Educational Videos on the YouTube Platform

Abstract

This study analyzes the discourse in children's educational videos in Arabic on the YouTube channel "Kids Bel Arabi." Starting from the assumption that digital media is not neutral, this research uses Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to uncover hidden ideologies. Four videos were selected to deconstruct the relationship between language, power, and symbolic violence. The results show that the video discourse systematically instills several social irregularities: (1) the normalization of conformist behavior through prescriptive instructions; (2) dependence on authority in emotional management; (3) the ideal representation of authority that limits children's critical awareness; and (4) a veiled consumerist message that links positive habits with product consumption. This discourse is a socializing instrument that trains children to become obedient and non-critical subjects. The study concludes that the social order legitimizes this symbolic violence and recommends that parents, content creators, and digital platforms provide critical interventions.