Mums issue stark warning about ‘dark Peppa Pig' videos going viral on YouTube set out to target and terrify your kids
The famous cartoon pig is adored and often watched on YouTube by many young children around the country, but now depraved creators are taking advantage of Peppa Pig's popularity and creating harmful versions of the iconic show.
Advertisement
6
Parents have issued an urgent warning about 'dark Peppa Pig' videos that are going viral on YouTube
Credit: YouTube
6
While two horrifying clips have been removed from the platform, others show the iconic characters holding guns
Credit: YouTube
6
One clip showed Mummy Pig making Peppa Pig into a pancake
Credit: YouTube
The horror videos, which are set to target and terrify young children, have racked up millions of views on the video sharing platform.
Pranksters have used genuine Peppa Pig episodes and re-dubbed sections of them to include shameful content.
Numerous clips showed the iconic character and her family holding machine guns.
Another saw the family cooking Peppa Pig in a pancake and eating her.
Advertisement
Read more parenting stories
Meanwhile, as reported by the
A YouTube spokesperson has since confirmed that two viral clips have been taken down, but there are still numerous videos floating around that millions of children may have been exposed to them.
A spokesperson told
Such 'Dark Peppa Pig' videos first came to light in 2017, when an investigation by the BBC found hundreds of harmful clips on YouTube which appeared to be episodes of Peppa Pig but were actually terrifying content targeted at children.
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
In 2018, a mother from Melbourne, named Moonee Ponds, was taking a conference call while her daughter watched Peppa Pig online, but she soon noticed something wasn't right when she noticed the absence of the cartoon character's voice.
As she checked on her daughter, she was stunned to find footage of a kneeling man about to be beheaded, hitting the power button seconds from the gruesome act playing out,
Four ways to keep kids safe on YouTube
Fortunately, Moonee was able to protect her daughter from the horrifying clip, but wanted other mothers to know the
Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Safety Angus Taylor has since called on social media companies to be more vigilant with its policing of content.
Advertisement
Keeping kids safe on YouTube
RESTRICTED Mode is an optional setting on YouTube that helps filter out mature videos.
It's not perfect, but it's a good way of scrubbing out a large portion of the adult material on YouTube.
However, you have to turn it off manually for each browser or device your child is using – it can't simply be applied at account level.
On your
computer
, go to the account icon – a little person icon in the top right corner of your screen.
Click Restricted Mode, then use the toggle button to turn it on.
On the
Android phone app or mobile site
, tap the menu icon, which looks like three vertical dots.
Then go to Settings > General and turn Restricted Mode on.
On
Android TV
, go to the Home screen then scroll down to the Apps row.
Select YouTube, then scroll down and select Settings.
Choose Restricted Mode or Safety Mode, then select Enabled.
On the
iOS app
(for iPhones or iPad), tap the account icon in the top right.
Tap Settings then Restricted Mode Filtering, then choose Strict: Restricted Mode On.
On the
iOS mobile site
, tap the menu icon, which looks like a three-dot column.
Tap Settings then tap Restricted Mode to turn it on or off.
Minister Taylor said: 'I am aware of these types of cases. Social media companies absolutely have a responsibility to do more.'
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman shared: 'All versions of the
'We continually work hard to make our algorithms as accurate as possible in order to provide a safer version of YouTube.'
As well as this, Cyber Cop's Susan McClean suggested parents could protect their kids by boycotting internet streaming services and instead using DVDs or VCR.
Advertisement
Joe Pritchard's Peppa Pig horror
Meanwhile, a dad-of-two previously expressed outrage after his son started watching an explicit fake version of Peppa Pig while browsing YouTube.
The seemingly innocent video started as any normal tale involving Peppa, George and her parents, but the content soon changed with references to a paedophile dentist, which was of course not included in the original version.
Joe Pritchard, 25, from Cornwall, let his three-year-old son watch some genuine Peppa Pig videos on the internet.
He told
Advertisement
If a slightly older child saw this, it could be traumatising. There is nothing to warn people that the content is graphic
Joe Pritchard
Mr Pritchard said he asked Jack about the episode he was watching and was disgusted when he realised the content of the video, as he recalled: 'My partner went to the kitchen when she heard the language and turned it off immediately.
'Some of them have Peppa Pig getting killed. We had to warn the nursery that he had seen this in case he repeated something.
'If a slightly older child saw this, it could be traumatising. There is nothing to warn people that the content is graphic.
'I think there should be more control on the internet.
Advertisement
'Now we're not going to be able to let him watch things on the mobile anymore. It's going to make our lives ten times harder now and it's a shame because he enjoyed it.'
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme -
Sun Club
6
The dark clips are terrifying kids and racking up millions of views on YouTube
Credit: YouTube
6
One clip, which has since been removed, showed the cartoon pig snorting cocaine
Credit: YouTube
Advertisement
6
Many parents have warned the site needs to do more to protect children
Credit: YouTube
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I blew my lover's relationship apart with a text to his partner – why I think cheats like kisscam CEO want to be caught
COLDPLAY'S kisscam 'cheating' scandal was every adulterer's worst nightmare - but what really happens on the other side of the exposé? Here, three people who have experienced affairs first-hand reveal what happened next in their relationships, after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned from his job. 6 CEO Andy Byron caught with his 'mistress' after being exposed by a kiss cam at a Coldplay gig Credit: tiktok/instaagraace His wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, has removed his surname from her social media accounts but it's unclear if the couple will split. And now three Fabulous readers reveal all on their very different experiences... After a 10-year affair I told my lover's partner – I knew he wanted to be with me 6 Carla Bellucci had a decade long affair with her now husband Gio Credit: Instagram 6 Carla, 44, says she doesn't regret exposing her affair as their relationship was meant to be Credit: Supplied Carla Bellucci, 44, from Hertfordshire, had a decade long affair with her now husband Gio, 55. They have a three-year-old daughter, Blu, together. 'I'm not proud of the fact my relationship started with an affair – or that I exposed it. But I can't say I regret it. Our relationship is meant to be. I think affairs happen when your needs aren't being met in your primary relationship. I was very unhappily married and confessed to my ex as soon as I met Gio. For Gio it was more complicated. He's a lovely, kind man, his live-in partner and mother of his child had done nothing 'wrong'. So he really struggled – he felt guilt ridden and torn apart. After 10 years I couldn't live in limbo any more. It was 2019 when I told him he had to tell her, or I would. He didn't, so I sent her messages and photos of us together. Unsurprisingly it ended their relationship. More surprising is that Gio wasn't angry with me, he understood why I did it – I couldn't share any more. It didn't break us up and a year later we moved in together. In 2023 we got married and we're very happy. It doesn't cross my mind that he would cheat on me and I'd never be unfaithful either. We're soulmates. I think on one level he was grateful. And I suspect a lot of people that cheat want to be caught as it takes it out of your hands. If someone is brazenly out in public, canoodling then they must know the risk. Or they're stupid! Equally I think a lot of wives know when their man is messing around and choose to turn a blind eye because they don't want to disrupt their lives.' 6 Carla says Gio was grateful their affair was exposed Credit: Instagram / Carla Bellucci 6 Carla and Gio are now happily married Credit: Instagram/@pixbygiovanni I discovered his affair…and did the 'choose me' dance Jane, 54, from Rugby, found out her husband was cheating while they were on holiday 13 years ago. Agonising moment tech CEO Andy Byron is caught 'cheating' with his HR chief at Coldplay gig as pair cuddle on big screen 'I'll never forget that moment when I decided to look at my husband's phone. We were on holiday in Gran Canaria and it was pinging away. I don't know why but I picked it up and went into messages and saw a sent one that read, 'Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, I love you'. My heart immediately lurched, but my brain took a while to catch up. I even thought it must be meant for me for a moment – despite my birthday being in April. 6 Many couple's relationships crash to an end through phone discoveries Credit: Getty But that's how blindsided I was. I immediately confronted him, and he brushed it off, telling me it was to a friend and he sent her the same thing every year. He was so confident that for a moment I believed him. We went down to the beach as normal – but then my mind caught up, you don't tell casual friends you love them. I knew with a sickening certainty it must be more. When the children were paddling, I told him I didn't believe him and asked him questions. But he still denied it. I tried to grab his phone, but he was having none of it. It was three months later I went through his phone, and found a number with no name assigned to it. I called it and there was no reply. But she called me back and it all came spilling out. She had no idea he was married – he was conning her too. It had been going on for months. With the new information I confronted him. He said it meant nothing and he couldn't explain why he'd done it, but it would never happen again. He refused counselling. I wish I'd left, I feel I've wasted the last 13 years of my life Jane At first I did the 'pick me dance', making more of an effort so I didn't lose him to her. I lost a stone and ended up on anti-depressants from the strain. I felt like a fool, for not noticing. But he had a busy job in finance where he worked evenings and had long lunches so it was easy for him to deceive me. And he seemed besotted with me. I stayed because I was naïve and still in love. I didn't think I could cope on my own with two young children – I was sure it would be better for them to be with both parents. I had no confidence left – he'd always been my protector. The pain of his betrayal is always with me, even now. I hate new year and I can't even wear the sun cream I was using on that holiday. I wish I'd left, I feel I've wasted the last 13 years of my life. My devastation has turned into anger and resentment. But at 75 he's much older than me and his health is failing so it would feel too cruel. So I'm trapped in a marriage that he destroyed.' I strayed – it cost me everything John, 60, from London, works in sales. He lost his home and his friends when his affair was discovered. "I started my affair because I was bored in my 27-year marriage and thought there must be more to life. I met my lover through work and we saw each other for two years. It felt magical, I yearned for her company and convinced myself it was true love. Then her husband discovered it, by snooping through her emails. He contacted me saying I had 24 hours to tell my wife or he would. I never heard from my lover again. When I saw his email the spell was broken. I realised how much I loved my wife and our two sons – who were teenagers at the time. I was a coward and couldn't tell her, desperately hoping he wouldn't follow through on his threat. But he did, forwarding all the correspondence between me and my lover to her. It was heartbreaking when my wife came to me, shaking and crying. I will never forgive myself for the hurt I put her through. We tried to patch it up and we went to counselling. But she understandably couldn't get past it. We divorced in 2023 two years after she found out. I lost our friends, who couldn't forgive the betrayal either and my home. I'm now alone, living in a studio flat and I've only got myself to blame. When my life felt boring, I should have made an effort with my wife, not cheated. I'll regret it forever.' Four red flags your partner is cheating Private Investigator Aaron Bond from BondRees revealed four warning signs your partner might be cheating. They start to take their phone everywhere with them In close relationships, it's normal to know each other's passwords and use each other's phones, if their phone habits change then they may be hiding something. "You should also look at how they place their phone down when not in use. If they face the phone with the screen facing down, then they could be hiding something." They start telling you less about their day When partners cheat they can start to avoid you, this could be down to them feeling guilty or because it makes it easier for them to lie to you. "If you feel like your partner has suddenly begun to avoid you and they don't want to do things with you any more or they stop telling you about their day then this is another red flag." "Partners often avoid their spouses or tell them less about their day because cheating can be tough, remembering all of your lies is impossible and it's an easy way to get caught out," says Aaron. Their libido changes Your partner's libido can change for a range of reasons so it may not be a sure sign of cheating but it can be a red flag according to Aaron. Aaron says: "Cheaters often have less sex at home because they are cheating, but on occasions, they may also have more sex at home, this is because they feel guilty and use this increase in sex to hide their cheating. You may also find that your partner will start to introduce new things into your sex life that weren't there before." They become negative towards you Cheaters know that cheating is wrong and to them, it will feel good, this can cause tension and anxiety within themselves which they will need to justify. "To get rid of the tension they feel inside they will try to convince themselves that you are the problem and they will become critical of you out of nowhere. Maybe you haven't walked the dog that day, put the dishes away or read a book to your children before bedtime. A small problem like this can now feel like a big deal and if you experience this your partner could be cheating," warns Aaron.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
YouTube could be forced to promote British public service TV content
Digital platforms such as YouTube could be forced to make programmes from UK public service television channels 'prominent' to protect 'endangered' networks such as BBC and Channel 4 , according to the British media watchdog, the Office of Communications (ofcom) Ofcom on Monday said there needed to be 'prominence and discoverability' for content from public service broadcasters (PSBs) on the online platforms that audiences increasingly use. It added that in particular it was 'critical that the public service broadcasters and YouTube ... work together to ensure that PSB content is prominent on its service, and on fair commercial terms'. Ofcom said the government should consider whether this needs to be underpinned by legislation to give statutory backing to PSB content on YouTube, especially news and children's programmes. READ MORE Britain's existing Media Act already guarantees PSBs prominence on connected TVs and other devices, which means being seen among the first viewing options on the home screen 'carousel'. With more audiences watching online, the PSBs have developed on-demand services such as BBC's iPlayer. However, this has not fully offset declines in viewing to traditional linear channels, with younger audiences in particular more likely to watch YouTube, Netflix and TikTok. David McWilliams on how 'big incentives' to build could save Dublin city Listen | 36:51 PSBs are now increasingly placing their shows on third-party platforms to follow their audiences but are competing with vast libraries of rival content. Public service companies' video-on-demand players only account for 9 per cent of all viewing, according to Ofcom data. Ofcom said that viewers now spend less than half of their in-home viewing on traditional linear TV channels, and that this was still declining. Last year, fewer than half of 16-24-year-olds tuned into broadcast TV in an average week, while younger children spent far more time watching YouTube. 'If no action is taken, the very existence of the PSBs will be threatened. Time is running out to save this pillar of UK culture and way of life,' the regulator said. YouTube and the UK government did not respond immediately to requests for comment. In a wide-ranging review designed to ensure the future of the UK's public broadcasters, Ofcom has launched an assessment of the regulation of broadcast TV and radio. It recommended a bonfire of red tape to strip away outdated and unnecessary restrictions given much of the existing legislative and regulatory framework was designed for traditional linear TV. Ofcom also urged broadcasters to be more ambitious in pursuing strategic and technological partnerships with each other. It said less commercially viable genres, such as news, local news and children's content, should be prioritised if the government was to decide to allocate additional public funding. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hurling fans fuming as Paul Mescal gets free tickets ‘when Tipp & Cork supporters couldn't get them'
PAUL Mescal and his father were guests of the BBC at the All-Ireland hurling final yesterday in Croke Park. The pair were present to witness the incredible Advertisement 2 Mescal was sat next to famous jockey Rachael Blackmore at the final 2 The 29-year-old has played in Croke Park before with the Kidare minor team in the Leinster final They two national icons were joined by English pop singer Tom Grennan - who's Dad hails from Offaly - and Donegal based influencer Eric Roberts. The "And to be here with Dad, we're so lucky free tickets to an All-Ireland final." Advertisement Read more on GAA The Kildare native sparked a bit of hostility from GAA fans with his last sentence as All-Ireland tickets are "like gold dust." Tipperary and Many desperate hurling fans turned to touts, s ome reports have seats for the game Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling And while the distribution method to All-Ireland final tickets has The video of Mescal and his father being interviewed by BBC Northern Ireland received backlash in the comment as fans were unhappy with special treatment for celebrities. RTE GAA pundit embrace Tipperary captain Ronan Maher after his epic display toppled Cork in All-Ireland final One puzzled GAA fan questioned: "Free tickets for people who aren't from either county?" Another vented their frustration at the ticket distribution saying: "While 2 ACTUAL fans go without tickets to see THEIR County!" Advertisement A third fan slammed the decision to hand free tickets to Mescal and his father commenting: "Getting free tickets, disgusting, when Tipp & Cork supporters couldn't get them."
