Watchly Safety Review

Gorilla lured by Phone- how-to demo

Mark Rober

2:29 · 1.9M views · February 14, 2012

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

1Minor Flag

3No Issues

This video is safe and genuinely delightful for kids of all ages — a creative, low-cost experiment that captures gorillas and a baby reacting to their own reflections in a zoo setting. The creator's curiosity-driven approach makes it both entertaining and subtly educational, with virtually no content concerns to speak of.

Content Breakdown · 4 Categories

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceNot present

The tags mention 'attack' and 'jump scare' in the context of animal reactions to the mirror, but the transcript itself shows only excited, curious primate behavior with no actual violence or even stylized combat.

See evidence (1)

“Tags reference 'attack' and 'jump scare' but transcript shows only curious animal reactions”

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

The video mentions an iPhone/camera phone and links to a music artist (Qwiet) and the creator's own channel, but these appear to be organic mentions and transparent self-promotion rather than undisclosed paid sponsorships.

See evidence (2)

“Reference to front-facing camera on phone (generic, no brand push)”

“End-card plug for creator's own channel and Twitter/Facebook”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

The closing line ('you best be subscribing') is a mild, lighthearted subscribe prompt with no guilt-tripping or emotional coercion; it does not rise to the level of manipulative parasocial behavior.

See evidence (1)

“'I've got four or five more videos in the work so if you like creative junk like this you best be subscribing'”

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsNot present

The subscribe prompt at the end ('you best be subscribing') is casual and humorous rather than manipulative or guilt-tripping, and no superstition CTAs or fake giveaways are present.

See evidence (1)

“'you best be subscribing'”

What Parents Need to Know

This short video documents a man's clever DIY experiment at the zoo, using a phone camera and a $3 mirror to let gorillas see themselves — and filming their reactions. It's wholesome, fun, and sparks natural curiosity about animal intelligence and self-awareness. Kids will likely be thrilled by the gorillas' expressions and behaviors, especially the baby. There is a brief, mild exclamation ('oh my God') from bystanders, and the video ends with a standard subscription call-to-action, but neither is a meaningful concern. The video is a great conversation starter about primates, animal cognition, and creative problem-solving.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Why do you think the gorillas were so interested in seeing themselves? Do you think they knew it was them?
2What does it mean that gorillas are 'higher order primates'? What do we have in common with them?
3The creator used a mirror and a phone to make something cool for just $8 — can you think of a creative experiment you'd want to try?
4How should people behave at the zoo to be respectful to the animals?

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

A simple trick to get you some AWESOME zoo footage with only a camera phone. If you love or hate (or are ambivalent towards) gorillas you are gonna really like this. For those who've wisely pointed out those are actually orangutans and not gorillas, go to 1:03 then pause then read. See how to make the gorilla cam here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1P6K_PaS0A Check out my Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/onemeeeliondollars Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober Facebook me: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube Last song by Qwiet. iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/top-of-the-world/id489568533?i=489568535 Find more at http://www.qwiet.com "Gaslamp Funworks" from Kevin MacLeod from incompetech.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is appropriate for children as young as 4. The content is entirely wholesome — it features zoo gorillas reacting to their reflections — with no scary, violent, or inappropriate material.

Is there any inappropriate language in this video?

There are a couple of mild exclamations like 'oh my God' from excited bystanders in the crowd, but no strong or crude language. This is unlikely to be a concern for most families.

Is this video educational?

Yes, in an informal and engaging way. It touches on animal cognition and self-recognition in primates, which is a real area of scientific research, and models curiosity-driven, low-cost experimentation.

Does the video encourage kids to do anything unsafe?

No. The experiment takes place at a zoo with the creator simply holding a device up to the glass. There is nothing dangerous or replicable in a harmful way — if anything, it might inspire kids to be more observant and creative at the zoo.

Is there any advertising or sponsored content in this video?

There is no sponsored content. The video ends with a brief, standard call to subscribe to the creator's channel, which is common on YouTube and not manipulative in nature.

What will my child learn from watching this?

Kids can learn that gorillas and other great apes are intelligent enough to recognize their own reflections, a trait shared with very few animals. It also models creative thinking and the idea that interesting science doesn't have to be expensive.