Hank Green says he wants to “put families back in control” with new kids’ STEAM content app ClockwiseTV

After years of producing educational videos through his and his brother’s nonprofit Complexly, Hank Green is launching ClockwiseTV, a content app full of curated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) videos for kids.

Aimed at viewers 8-12, ClockwiseTV is meant to “put families back in control” by avoiding the doomscrolling and child privacy pitfalls faced by UGC video platforms like YouTube and TikTok, according to a press release.

ClockwiseTV is a paid app only available on Apple and Android tablets. Parents who buy it will set viewing session lengths, so their kids can’t watch endlessly without permission. From there, ClockwiseTV will “surface content that fits, without ads, autoplay, or an infinite feed,” the release says. Once the allotted session time is up, the app closes.

As for creators whose content is included in the app (so far Green himself, Complexly, MinutePhysics, Odd Animal Specimens, Evan and Katelyn, and “many more”), ClockwiseTV says it does “all of the heavy lifting” for them. It takes their already-made catalog of content, re-edits the videos for its viewer demographic, and uploads them.

It’s not clear if those creators will get a slice of revenue. On ClockwiseTV’s website, it says it charges for usage because “[u]nlike free video platforms that use aggressive algorithms to keep your kid glued to the screen for ad revenue, we don’t sell ads and we don’t track your data.”

“Your membership directly funds built-in screen time tools, a guaranteed safe space, and real human review to make sure every video your kid sees is educational, high-quality, and perfectly age-appropriate,” it adds.

“I have a nine year old son and I am a YouTuber, so I do find myself being OK with him watching YouTube,” Green said in a statement. “I think watching videos is absolutely fine for kids, but I want my kid to do it in a way that feels good for both of us and doesn’t create a bunch of extra conflict. And I have to say, when the time is up and the app just turns off and my son puts it away and we get on with our day, it feels like a magic trick.”

Leslie Morgan, ClockwiseTV’s CEO, chimed in, “As a mom of a 9 year old, I’ve noticed that this demo is largely underserved. Kids ages 8-12 have outgrown traditional kids’ apps but are not ready for the unpredictability of mainstream online video platforms. I wanted somewhere my kid could still watch things she loves, without me having to watch over her shoulder the whole time.”

ClockwiseTV is currently in early access, and is offering for people to become “Founding Families” who will pay $39.99 for their first year of access.