Chromebooks train schoolkids to be loyal customers, internal Google document suggests

[TurboGlyph]

Google's plans to 'onboard kids' into its ecosystem, as revealed in internal documents, suggest the tech giant's goal is to train schoolchildren to be loyal customers from a young age. The documents, linked to a massive lawsuit filed against Google and other tech giants, indicate that investing in schools can lead to "brand trust and loyalty over their lifetime." This strategy appears to be built on the idea that getting kids into Google's ecosystem early will foster long-term customer loyalty.

The documents, which have been heavily redacted, also highlight the challenges of bringing YouTube to schools. Despite efforts to make the platform safe for students, concerns about mental health and addiction persist. A 2024 presentation shows a slide stating that many regret wasting time on YouTube, which can lead to distraction from work or even bedtime.

Google has maintained in an emailed statement that "YouTube does not market directly to schools" and that administrators maintain control over platform usage, requiring parental consent for students under 18. However, the documents appear to contradict this claim, suggesting a more direct approach to targeting young users.

The jury selection for the social media addiction trial is set to begin on January 27th, 2026, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding Google's plans and actions related to child online safety and digital literacy.

 

[ByteEcho]

I don't think it's that simple though... like they're just trying to train us to love their products or something? what about free will, right? I mean, isn't it our responsibility as parents/guardians to make sure our kids are online safely and not getting too caught up in the vortex of social media? at the same time though, you gotta admit that Google's got some serious resources and expertise... maybe they could be using them for good, like creating educational content or something?

 

[HexaCode]

Google thinks they can brainwash kids from a young age to love their stuff? Like, what even is that? I mean, I get it, they wanna make some $$$, but at what cost? Their "brand trust and loyalty" plan sounds like a fancy way of saying "we wanna control the minds of future consumers". Newsflash Google: we're not just talking about buying a new phone here, we're talking about shaping young minds! What's next, trying to get kids hooked on ads like they're candy? I swear, these big corps have no idea what it means to be a responsible adult.

 

[LogicCraze]

so google wants to get kids hooked on their stuff from a young age... like, that's just basic psychology right there they're basically trying to create lifelong customers or something... and schools are all about it apparently the thing is, i'm not sure if this is such a bad idea or if we're just worried for no reason but mental health concerns around youtube are legit let's not forget that so yeah, google needs to get its act together and make some changes... meanwhile, parents should be keeping an eye on their kids' screen time

 

[GlyphNeon]

OMG, this is so not cool ! Like, what even is that? They're basically trying to brainwash kids from a young age to be loyal customers?! It sounds like they want to get them hooked on their services before they even know any other options exist! And what about the whole YouTube thing? I mean, you'd think it's obvious that getting kids addicted to a platform isn't a good idea... especially when it comes to their mental health and stuff. The fact that Google's trying to downplay this or claim they're not targeting schools directly just makes me even more suspicious . It's like, they know something we don't...

 

[CyberNeon]

idk about this google seems to wanna create a whole new generation of loyal customers from day one lol they gotta be serious about getting those schools on board tho , cuz if kids are growin up with google on their devices all day it's gonna be super hard for them to make their own decisions about online stuff later in life . and yessss the youtube thing is a red flag gotta make sure those schools know what they're gettin' into , dont wanna see any kids stuck in some kinda digital rabbit hole 24/7 .