Young Queensland chef creates popular YouTube cooking channel for other children Charli Kelly, 7, who has her own YouTube channel on cake decorating. Photo: Steve Pohlner Source: News Limited PINT-SIZED baker Charli Kelly is setting the bar high for Gen Z, the new wave of kids that look set to run rings around every other generation when it comes to social media. Since launching her YouTube channel, Charli's Crafty Kitchen, in August 2012, the Pimpama seven-year-old has attracted almost 400,000 channel videos and 7700 regular subscribers, who tune in to see her tutorials on how to create Kit-Kat cakes, Tiny Teddy racers and Hello Kitty cupcakes. Her mother, Simmone Kelly, said that she initially created the channel to keep Charli, and her 3-year-old sister Ashlee, entertained. She's really outgoing and just loves it. The girls are normally both begging me and running around the house screaming "we want to do a tutorial" until I give in," Mrs Kelly said. Charli said she was taught to bake by her aunt Elise Strachan, who has her own hugely popular baking channel, My Cupcake Addiction. "My aunt does stuff like me, except it's harder and for adults, and my channel is for kids," Charli said. One of Charli's highlights has been inspiring another girl to make her own birthday cake. She left me a comment saying thank you, and it made me feel happy and proud of myself. Despite her tender years, the Year 2 student has a solid understanding of social media mechanics. "Mum's not allowed in the video because then no one would think it's me doing it, and I'd lose subscribers," she said. Mrs Kelly said that more than 40 per cent of Charli's viewers were based in the US, and that she attracted more viewers from the United Kingdom than from Australia. "We get loads of questions when we say lolly instead of candy, or biscuit instead of cookie, so we try to tailor it for that audience," she said. We do make a bit of money from advertising revenue, but it's just pocket money at the moment, and we're putting back into the videos. Mrs Kelly devotes about 10 hours a month to filming and editing the videos, while Charli's dad Trent moderates and replies to commenters, and makes sure Charli is never exposed to negative content. The family has signed with a YouTube network to handle advertising and assist with content. They hope that the channel will eventually act as an online profile for their daughter. To Charli and Ashlee, it's all fun and games at the moment - with one advantage. "Every time we do a tutorial, we get $1, so my piggy (bank) gets money and he doesn't feel poor," Charli said. YouTube spokesman Shane Treeves said that Australians dominate the "how-to" category of the online video platform, which accounts for 36 per cent of all videos uploaded, and that Australian-made videos tend to attract nine international views for every domestic view. Australia is actually number two in the world for making these videos, just behind America. There are a handful of top-tier creators in the country that just make how-to videos for a living," he said. Mr Treeves said that while it's crucial for parents to monitor the channel and any online activity, the idea of young people sharing their exploits with society isn't new. Young Australians would have been busking or getting a start somewhere else. A lot of performers would have needed an agent in the past, but this format gets them noticed on a global scale.