Watchly Safety Review

How to CHEER THE LOUDEST using SCIENCE!

Mark Rober

6:23 · 12.5M views · November 29, 2016

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

1Minor Flag

3No Issues

This science-focused video is safe and genuinely educational for most school-age kids, using a fun real-world question about stadium cheering to teach concepts like sound waves, frequency, pitch, and loudness. There is a brief sponsored segment near the end (for Audible) and a lighthearted suggestion about sneaking noisemakers into stadiums, but neither undermines the strong educational value of the content.

Content Breakdown · 4 Categories

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

The video includes a transparently disclosed sponsorship from Audible, explicitly named at the end ('I want to quickly [thank] Audible for sponsoring this video'), which places it outside the scope of hidden advertising. Equipment loans from Siemens are credited in the description without promotional framing.

See evidence (1)

“I want to quickly Audible for sponsoring this video.”~6:30

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

The video contains a brief, lighthearted subscribe prompt ('Wait, you spelled subscribing wrong') but it is presented as a joke rather than guilt-tripping or emotional coercion, and does not rise to the level of manipulative parasocial behavior.

See evidence (1)

“Wait, you spelled 'subscribing' wrong.”~6:20

Toxic Behavior ModelingNot present

The presenter lightly hints that fans could smuggle noise-makers into stadiums ('I'm not advocating this, but I'll simply point out…'), which is a very mild suggestion of rule-bending, but it is explicitly disclaimed and does not rise to glorified toxic behavior.

See evidence (1)

“Very few sporting leagues have explicit rules against noise makers… I'm not advocating this, but I'll simply point out that these things are really cheap, and a student section could pitch in and get a thousand of these things for about a hundred bucks online.”~5:30

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsNot present

The only call-to-action is a single humorous subscribe prompt delivered as a visual joke ('you spelled subscribing wrong'), which lacks guilt-tripping, superstition framing, or coercive exclusion language.

See evidence (1)

“Wait, you spelled 'subscribing' wrong.”~6:20

What Parents Need to Know

This video is a well-produced, experiment-driven lesson that teaches kids real physics concepts — including how sound waves travel, how the human ear perceives pitch and loudness, and how decibels differ from perceived loudness — all wrapped in an entertaining sports context. The host conducts an actual experiment at the USC Coliseum with audio equipment and a PhD acoustics expert, modeling good scientific thinking. Parents should be aware of one sponsored segment for Audible near the end, which is briefly disclosed. There is also a moment where the host jokingly hints that students could sneak cheap noisemakers into stadiums, framed as 'not advocating this' but still somewhat winking at rule-bending. Overall, this is a high-quality educational video with minimal concerns.

Talk to Your Kids About

1What is a sound wave, and how does it travel from a bird's throat all the way to your ear?
2Why do you think the host used a real experiment with measurements instead of just guessing which cheer was loudest?
3The host mentioned that fans cheering loudly can actually cause the other team to make mistakes — do you think that's fair sportsmanship? Why or why not?
4The video had a sponsored section for Audible at the end. How can you tell when part of a video is an advertisement?

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

Using nothing but an empty stadium, the scientific method and a lab coat, I investigate the most effective way to cheer for your team. Special thanks to: USC for letting me use the Coliseum Siemens for lending me the nice audio equipment Drone shots- Chad Schollmeyer www.highfidelitypictures.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcdX_X7tTNBiYzqkM7x7szw My cheering fans- Whitney and Ethan Wright and Lincoln Hoppe (http://lincolnhoppe.com/) Audio equipment support from j.ournal - you should go sub his video poem channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNyMHEr5Wybaz5PiYu5NtA MUSIC- 0:08- Hurricane (feat Andrew Applepie)- Joakim Karud http://youtube.com/joakimkarud 0:51- Dizzy- Joakim Karud http://youtube.com/joakimkarudhttp://www.andrewapplepie.com/ 2:01- Berlin- 6:25- Special song written just fo my bad self- Lincoln Hoppe, http://lincolnhoppe.com/ Summary: As a cheering fan in a large stadium I was wondering what the most effective way to make noise was. For example, does clapping even matter? Can you hear a clap from down on the field? So I attended an actual football game to get some baseline loudness measurements and then went back to USC's Coliseum when it was empty and had 3 friends cycle through 11 different cheering styles in 12 different locations. Then I compared and ranked the best ways to cheer to make you a superfan for your next sporting event. PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-Sub **************************************** I make videos like this once a month all year long while supplies last: CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-YouTube FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/markrober/

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

We recommend this video for kids aged 8 and up. The science concepts like sound waves, frequency, and loudness scales are explained clearly but may be best appreciated by kids in middle elementary school or older who have some exposure to basic science.

Is there any inappropriate language or content in this video?

No, the video contains no profanity, violence, or inappropriate content. The tone is enthusiastic and family-friendly throughout, making it suitable for most school-age children.

Is this video actually educational, or is it just entertainment?

It is genuinely both. The host explains real physics concepts including longitudinal waves, how eardrums work, pitch vs. frequency, and the difference between decibels and perceived loudness, all while conducting a real experiment with professional audio equipment and an acoustics PhD.

Does this video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

Yes, there is a brief sponsored segment near the end for Audible, where the host begins telling the story of Louis Zamperini. The sponsorship is disclosed, and it is short, but parents should be aware it transitions from the main content without a very clear break.

Does the video encourage any risky or rule-breaking behavior?

There is one moment where the host jokingly suggests that a student section could buy cheap noisemakers in bulk and bring them to games, noting that 'very few leagues have explicit rules against it.' He says he is 'not advocating this,' but the tone is playful and winking — worth a brief conversation with kids about following rules even when they are hard to enforce.

What science topics does this video cover that could support school learning?

The video covers sound waves, how the human ear works, the concept of frequency and pitch, the difference between decibels and loudness (perceived sound), and the scientific method including hypothesis, experiment design, and data analysis. It is a great complement to a physics or life science unit.