As is commonplace with the YouTube platform, ads do interrupt playback and aren't always evaluated for age-appropriateness. Mark Rober includes his own pop-up ads in his videos. There are often paid promotions involved, including references to a sponsor midway through a video. Mark promotes his CrunchLabs subscription box, which includes fun engineering projects for curious kids. His channel links out to his merchandise page.
Violence & Scariness
very little
Some videos draw viewers in with a hint of violence, such as a video that explores how to survive a grenade blast. Others feature aggressive behavior such as a paint gun war or glitter bombs. Mark Rober's famous "Squirrelympics" videos center on putting squirrels through a series of obstacles. And though they are treated humanely, the videos still dramatize and poke fun at their struggles to compete.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Videos feature an occasional vague reference to drugs, but these will likely go over the heads of younger viewers. For example, Rober jokes about one of the competing squirrels having an unfair advantage in the competition with "non-regulation walnuts," a clear parody of steroid use in real-life sporting events.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Teaches new ideas in science and engineering. Each video explores fun and unexpected applications of scientific principles like how to create and swim in a pool full of Jell-O and testing whether sharks can actually smell blood.
Positive Messages
a lot
Science is everywhere. Makes science and engineering fun, even to those who may not initially be interested. Curiosity is encourage and shown as a necessary part of our development and understanding.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Some of the content leans into the sensational, over-the-top stunts of other YouTubers. But more than most of his peers, it's clear his wild videos aim to make science and engineering palatable to everyone. There's actually a purpose to his eccentric stunts and that's to share his passion for science and engineering to viewers. His passion for this work is apparent and infectious.
Diverse Representations
very little
Most of the videos center on Rober and his team mounting an experiment. There is the occasional effort to include more diverse representation. One example is Mark's videos spotlighting his son, who has autism. He shares their journey, with hopes of creating understanding and destigmatizing developmental disorders.
Parents need to know that Mark Rober is a YouTube channel focused on making science and engineering appealing for viewers of all ages. Videos feature extreme experiments that rely on sensationalized stunts to spark viewers' curiosity and interest in science and engineering. Some videos can include potentially dangerous or scary aspects for younger viewers, like sharks, explosions and unorthodox weapons like a playing card machine gun, all of which are entry points for broader scientific lessons. Kids and animals are sometimes subjects of scientific lessons. Rober's well-known "Squirrelympics" videos put squirrels in unwitting competition for entertainment and educational value. Rober's nieces and nephew often appear in his videos, and he also shares his son's journey with autism in some of his videos as well. He monetizes his channel through merchandise and pushing his signature subscription box designed to get kids to fall in love with science and engineering. Due to the nature of the You Tube platform, viewers are subject to additional ads that may not be age appropriate. Both his social media presence and the community he's built through his platform reflect his passion for curiosity in science and engineering.
Mark Rober does incredible science videos that are informative and funny, which makes science more interesting especially for the younger generation. Suitable for all age groups.
teaches engineering, only 5+ will understand. has subscriptions and gear to buy.
What’s It About?
MARK ROBER's focus is on bringing new ideas, science, and engineering to an audience that may not be interested in these subjects otherwise. With so much content out there, he often turns to wild, attention-grabbing experiments to attract viewership. A former engineer for NASA and Apple, Rober presents himself as a "friend of science." With videos dating back to 2011, Mark Rober occasionally dips into content that some adults might balk at, including the creation of glitter bombs and squirrel obstacle courses.
This thrilling YouTube channel applies science and engineering in creative ways to make it cool, relevant and fun for all. Mark Rober's videos – even those with the over-the-top thumbnails – universally stay true to this messaging. Generally, his content is entertaining, well-produced and encourages curiosity. Viewers of all ages are likely to come away having learned something from each video even if they didn't intend to do so when they clicked on the enticing thumbnail. Some videos – such as his watermelon party trick – are a tad misleading, but overall Mark Rober's channel has a higher ratio of hits to misses than most of his counterparts on YouTube. It's definitely worth checking out for adults with older kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Mark Rober puts his neighborhood squirrels to the test in his famous "Squirrelympics" videos. Seeing as these animals cannot provide consent, is this content exploitative? How can we best explore animal behavior in a humane way?
Mark Rober has said he sees his videos as being "aspirational" for viewers, proving they too can explore science and engineering in their own lives. How can YouTube be used as a learning tool to inspire others? If you had a YouTube channel, how would you want to inspire and teach others?
How does Mark Rober use the sensationalized tactics (which many other YouTubers use to gain subscribers) to teach and add value? Can you think of other seemingly negative aspects of some YouTube videos that can be used for a positive purpose?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.