History Main / WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids

*** It should be noted ''just how much of Simon Furman's work fits into this category.'' When the writer of the [[AnyoneCanDie bloodbath]] the Marvel ''Generation 2'' comics became calls something too dark, you know you've taken DarkerAndEdgier UpToEleven.

* This is so prominent on {{Website/Tumblr}} that it's become a running joke that people will [[http://tatsumari-twins.tumblr.com/post/113915777280/seventhmelody-airlesscell-what-childrens overanalyze]] ''[[UpToEleven any]]'' given children's media in an attempt to make it seem more "adult-friendly".

* The infamous {{YouTube Kids Channel}}s, AKA Elsagate, starring characters from children's favorite TV shows and movies and attempting to pass off as [[BlatantLies "educational" videos for young children]]. Aside from being NoBudget bootlegs and [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs more surreal]] than a CrackFic, some go [[SubvertedKidsShow overboard on the content]] and throw in doses of VulgarHumor, FamilyUnfriendlyViolence, and NightmareFuel that should be enough to turn this trope UpToEleven.

* Most of the comic book stories starring Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog. Way back in the 90’s, in [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the Archie Comics series]], Sally’s mentor Julayla dies of old age. Pretty tame, right? Nothing too bad except for how horrifying Eggman aka Robotnik looks. Fast forward over a decade later, and you have Scourge (formerly Anti-Sonic) implying that he murdered his own father and gouged out Patch’s eye. Also, we get plenty of fanservice in the later comics from characters like Bunnie, Fiona, Rouge, Sally, and the female echidnas like Julie-Su, Lara-Su, and Lien-Da. In [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW the IDW series]], many of the characters get turned into evil zombie robots due to the Metal Virus (Shadow and Vector look especially creepy), with Sonic himself getting infected and nearly succumbing to the virus.

* In the 2011 Dance-Off With the Franchise/StarWars Stars, which is for children, Darth Vader performs C. Lo Green's "Fuck You!" (or at least the radio edit) during the freestyle half of the show.

This phenomenon can also occur due to ValuesDissonance. For example, OnceAcceptableTargets are, by definition, no longer acceptable, and RealLife tragedies can make things HarsherInHindsight, and different countries' MoralGuardians have [[UsefulNotes/CensorshipSystems different standards]]. There's also the fact that, in the past, the line between "child" and "adult" wasn't always drawn at the same age as it is now.

* ''WebVideo/StampysLovelyWorld'', if you would believe it. On the surface, it's a happy, child-friendly Minecraft series about a [=YouTuber=] (renowned for being one of the most child-friendly MCYT on the platform) building and playing minigames in his [[SugarBowl happy, child-friendly world]] with his friends... and then there's [[VileVillainSaccharineShow HitTheTarget]], who uses methods such as [[spoiler:kidnapping, [[SlippingAMickey drugging]] and even outright ''[[AndIMustScream torture]] and/or attempts to sentence the protagonist to a FateWorseThanDeath'' at least ''twice'']] to achieve his less-than-savory goals. Oh, and [[spoiler:suicide]] becomes a plot point in an episode (even if it's not considered as big of a deal in a [[DeathIsCheap survival Minecraft setting]], in theory), there are plenty of AdultFear moments throughout the series, and [[spoiler:by [[CerebusSyndrome Episode 700]], the main protagonist is implied to be a severely traumatized workaholic who's repressing his issues to the point that it took about ''seven years'' for anyone to notice]]. Granted, most of the horror falls into the FridgeHorror category, but the point still stands.

** Ixis Naugus. He’s a huge rhino-bat-lobster thing with incredibly dangerous magical powers. Sonic says that Naugus’s voice “makes his skin crawl”.

** Scourge’s super form. Those eyes look an awful lot like Sonic.exe’s, never mind said Creepypasta appearing about 6 years after Anti-Sonic became Scourge.
*** Metal Sonic and some drawings of Robotnik have these eyes as well.

** The base version of ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'' has ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', an adult-oriented animated satirical sitcom known for innuendo and jokes pertaining to contemporary American politics, ethnic and national stereotypes, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, a {{Gorn}}-filled [[{{WesternAnimation/TheItchyAndScratchyShow}} children's cartoon]] and [[{{WesternAnimation/TreehouseOfHorror}} annual Halloween specials]], and copious references to adult media, given that ''Simpsons'' is the first [[AnimatedShockComedy modern American adult animated television show]] to achieve mainstream popularity and [[FollowTheLeader inspired numerous other such shows]]. Expansions for ''Dimensions'' include ones for PG-13-rated ''Film/MissionImpossible'' and innuendo-laden ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}''. Agent Smith of R-rated ''Film/TheMatrix'' even appeared in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoBatmanMovie'' expansion!

** A Marvel Heroes set pits Deadpool and Magneto against Wolverine. While Magneto has had his share of violence in the comics, the release of R-rated, strip-club-featuring, innuendo-and-curse-soaked ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' and the equally gory and profane (not to mention tonally even darker) ''Film/{{Logan}}'' makes this verging on a FunnyAneurysmMoment.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''. In its home market of Britain, the game is (or at least was for a long time) primarily targeted at posh children and early teens. In the US, it is considered a ''very'' adult setting, with copious amounts of gore and NightmareFuel, dystopian nihilism, and heavily implied sexual themes as well (regarding the Dark Eldar and Slaanesh). Most American players are college students and adults. In fact, a recent announcement for a series of children's books based on the setting was met with derision among American fans. In continental Europe, Russia, and Canada, the game is marketed equally to both groups.

** Another thing that happens on these kids' [=YouTube=] channels is that the algorithm will sometimes mix up characters from cartoons aimed at kids and ones aimed at adults. For instance, there are Finger Family videos featuring ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' characters playing the roles of the fingers, and there was a ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseClubhouse'' Wrong Heads video that was a CrossOver with ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty''.

* WebVideo/GeminiHomeEntertainment gives us the "Games for kids" video tape that lists various games that children can play. The four listed games are Hide and Go Seek, Freeze Tag, Sardines and [[spoiler: [[ToServeMan Feed the Woods]] [[note]] Children have to wait until their parents fall asleep. Then, they gather in the woods and are instructed to scream on the top of their lungs. Near the end of the tape, this message appears: "The game ends when the forest is fed" ]].

** One of the main characters of ''ComicBook/RatMan'' is Cinzia Otherside, a blonde transsexual ''prostitute'' with a [[GagPenis 30-cm penis]] in love with the protagonist and often trying to do him. Then the various stories include one-off gags (with Cinzia having originated as one) such as WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'s mother returning to life as a FleshEatingZombie and ''eating Bambi'' (it was the storyline parodying ''Series/TheWalkingDead'')...

* ''{{Website/Neopets}}'' is a rather ''weird'' example in itself. By the mid-2000s, when the site's popularity was at its peak, it was clearly aimed primarily at young children; however, when the site [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first started out]], it was mostly used by college/university students. Various remnants of material from that time (such as the ''Ski-Lodge Mystery'' plot) stuck around, waiting to be prime scariness for any children who happened to stumble across them. Nowadays, the kids who used the site during its heyday have grown up and many have returned out of nostalgia, while the number of younger users has decreased significantly [[note]]partially because its popularity waned and it started to slowly drift into relative obscurity, and partially because of the site's esoteric nature - due to the ''very large'' number of features which were added over the years, sometimes without a clear logical place to put them, and an emphasis on exploration and discovery, some things on the site can be [[GuideDangIt difficult to find]], with the links to them buried on seemingly-random pages; some of those features also difficult to ''understand and use'', and some features are so outdated that they don't even work properly [[/note]], causing another shift ''back'' to an older audience - while the site remains very similar to how it was when its audience skewed younger, complete with [[ScunthorpeProblem infamously overactive profanity filters]] and highly restrictive forum rules banning people from mentioning other websites and "controversial topics". The current fanbase frequently requests the addition of a section of the Neoboards for older users, with less restrictive rules.

* ''{{Website/Neopets}}'' is a rather ''weird'' example in itself. By the mid-2000s, when the site's popularity was at its peak, it was clearly aimed primarily at young children; however, when the site [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first started out]], it was mostly used by college/university students. Various remnants of material from that time (such as the ''Ski-Lodge Mystery'' plot) stuck around, waiting to be prime scariness for any children who happened to stumble across them. Nowadays, the kids who used the site during its heyday have grown up and many have returned out of nostalgia, while the number of younger users has decreased significantly [[note]]partially because its popularity waned and it started to slowly drift into relative obscurity, and partially because of the site's esoteric nature - due to the ''very large'' number of features which were added over the years, sometimes without a clear logical place to put them, and an emphasis on exploration and discovery, some things on the site can be [[GuideDangIt difficult to find]], with the links to them buried on seemingly-random pages; some of those features also difficult to ''understand and use'', and some things on the site (such as the Shockwave game "Gourmet Club Bowls") are so outdated that they don't even work properly[[/note]], causing another shift ''back'' to an older audience - while the site remains very similar to how it was when its audience skewed younger, complete with [[ScunthorpeProblem infamously overactive profanity filters]] and highly restrictive forum rules banning people from mentioning other websites and "controversial topics". The current fanbase frequently requests the addition of a section of the Neoboards for older users, with less restrictive rules.

** Disney Italy created Paperinik, Donald Duck's SuperHero alter ego... who is actually an UnscrupulousHero who sadistically torments anyone pissing Donald off but gets mistaken for an actual superhero, by characters and some writers and readers alike, because criminals are at or near the top of his shit list; whenever the writers remember his origins he's chased by the whole police force [[TheDreaded because he's just that scary]], has gadgets to spray acid (for use on locks, fortunately) and to [[LaserGuidedAmnesia wipe out memories]], stopped going around with an actual M1911 pistol only after replacing it with a multi-purpose beam weapon that includes a ''DisintegratorRay'', and, in an early story, ''tried to murder Gladstone before thousands of witnesses'' (disguised as a mere and well-deserved kick in the butt... that threw Gladstone from a tower).

* ''[[http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Heaven%27s_Girl Heaven's girl]]'', a comic produced by the [[{{Cult}} Children of God]]/[[IHaveManyNames The Family]] in 1987 for ''child members'' before [[http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Category:Purged_documents being]] purged, feature the '''gang rape'''[[note]]See [[http://www.xfamily.org/index.php?title=File:Heavens_Girl-pg70img.jpg&filetimestamp=20050213211726 here]].[[/note]] of the heroine, Marie Claire. Disturbingly, Marie Claire was based on David Berg[[note]]The guru.[[/note]]'s granddaughter, [[http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Merry_Jolene_Berg Merry Berg]], whom he has been [[http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Merry_Jolene_Berg#Life_in_The_Family accused of]] [[ParentalIncest raping]].

*** The Queen Chrysalis comic similarly amps up the number of horrific scenes that borderline what would be appropriate for children.

* ''Webcomic/{{Sonichu}}'' is ostensibly intended to be a children's comic, aimed for kids between the ages of 7 and 14...but that certainly doesn't stop its author from inserting scenes of bloody, brutal violence (up to and including a scene of a young girl mutilating a defenseless criminal with a pair of giant drills) and ([[FetishRetardant supposedly]]) titillating sex (with an entire chapter dedicated to showing off the main characters' sexual anatomy). Needless to say, no children even read the comic in the first place.

* Approximately half of all entries in the ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombiesGardenWarfare'' SharedUniverse which includes ''Fanfic/ForHimToBeBlamedForThemToFix'' are rated K or K+, with the source material being a family-friendly if not kid-friendly experience. [[RealityEnsues Without going into detail, let's just say a military war, and more specifically several particularly harrowing character arcs, are not kind to either of those principles.]]

* In the 2011 Dance-Off With the Franchise/StarWars Stars, which is for children, Darth Vader performs C. Lo Green's "F**k You!" (or at least the radio edit) during the freestyle half of the show.

* The earlier seasons (notably season 1) of ''Animation/PleasantGoatandBigBigWolf'' is often criticized for being quite violent and stretching the boundaries of {{Slapstick}} into FamilyUnfriendlyViolence. People cite the incident where a kid caused serious harm after imitating the show. Though fans defend the show by saying that the show itself is fine and that parents should be more mindful if they're worried about it.

* The 1980s and 90s were simpler times with much more lax restrictions on what was considered "Child-friendly." To that end, ''Film/{{Aliens}},'' ''Film/{{Predator}},'' and ''Film/RoboCop'' got toylines. You know, the shows with, respectively, [[FaceFullOfAlienWingWong face-raping alien scorpions]], an [[AliensAreBastards evil alien]] [[EvilPoacher safari hunter]] who [[FlayingAlive skins people alive,]] and a man being shot 57 times while he screams in agony on-camera. Even [[{{Gorn}} gory]] [[{{OurSlashersAreDifferent}} slasher media]] have [[{{MisaimedMarketing}} toy lines for children]]. [[{{SarcasmMode}} Totally kid-friendly and guaranteed not to give little Timmy and Tina nightmares]].

* One of Website/FourChan's raids invoked this audience reaction. [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8061979.stm 4chan members uploaded a bunch of porn videos]] to Website/YouTube disguised as kid-friendly stuff like ''Series/LazyTown'', Music/TheJonasBrothers, and Music/MileyCyrus (back when the Jonas Brothers and Cyrus ''were'' [[ContractualPurity kid-friendly]]), so kids would watch the videos and [[HarmfulToMinors get quite a nasty shock]]. One user responded with [[MemeticMutation the now-famous phrase]], "[[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/im-twelve-years-old-and-what-is-this I'm 12 years old and what is this?]]"

* One of Website/FourChan's raids invoked this audience reaction. [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8061979.stm 4chan members uploaded a bunch of porn videos]] to Website/YouTube disguised as kid-friendly stuff like ''Series/LazyTown'', Music/TheJonasBrothers and Music/MileyCyrus (back when they ''were'' [[ContractualPurity kid-friendly]]), so kids would watch the videos and [[HarmfulToMinors get quite a nasty shock]]. One user responded with [[MemeticMutation the now-famous phrase]], "[[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/im-twelve-years-old-and-what-is-this I'm 12 years old and what is this?]]"