screen grab from ryan trahan's penny series

Ryan Trahan: A YouTube Channel Review for Parents 

Updated August 19, 2025


Overview

Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.0 / 5

Recommended Age: 8 and up

In his social media bios, you’ll see Ryan Trahan describes himself as “just a guy,” but he’s no ordinary guy — he’s made a name for himself through some of the most creative, unique storytelling on YouTube. 

He’s best known for his silly challenges, wholesome fun content, and his dedicated efforts to use his platforms for charities. Aside from his creativity and philanthropy, Trahan has also proven his entrepreneurial skills by starting multiple businesses, his most recent venture being Joyride, a low-sugar, clean line of candy. His channel has garnered over 21 million subscribers, and many know him from his “Penny series,” where he traveled across the country with just one penny. 

So is Ryan Trahan’s channel safe for kids? Large parts of his channel are certainly family-friendly, but there are some things parents should know. 

Harmful Content ❗️

Rating:

Generally speaking, Trahan’s videos are clean and appropriate for most audiences. It’s worth noting that Trahan’s videos have changed since the channel’s inception, and older videos may include some mild adult content. He started his channel when he was in high school, so you can imagine the humor was more immature and sometimes inappropriate for shock value. But nowadays, his content is not only clean and wholesome, but also entertaining enough for kids and parents to enjoy together.  

 

Language 

Older videos include some uses of profanity. 

 

Sex

Again, older videos may include some crude jokes or innuendos. However, there’s no nudity or explicit sexual content. 

 

Violence 

Trahan’s videos are not generally violent. Some of the challenges he does are extreme and complex, but he’s never had any gory or disturbing content. 

Positive Value 💫

Rating:

Trahan’s channel has always been about positivity and being silly just for the sake of it. Trahan himself is a light-hearted, fun-loving personality on YouTube who easily brings a smile to anyone who watches. His videos are creative and have an outside-the-box quality that is inspiring for all audiences, but especially kids. And since taking his platform and putting it towards philanthropic efforts, he’s also become a role model for kindness and making a difference in other people’s lives. 

So, should my kid watch it?

Yes, Ryan Trahan’s YouTube channel is appropriate for kids around 8 and up! You’ll want to vet older videos first and make sure you’re comfortable with your child watching them, but his newer content is safer for a young audience.