In May, Maryland residents Mike and Heather Martin temporarily had two of their children taken away by child protective services as a result of a video they made depicting their children crying, in what some have said was a sick stunt. The parents, who run a YouTube channel called DaddyOFive, seemed shocked when their children were removed from the home, but critics contend they abuse their children.

Unfortunately, children being depicted as unwilling participants in controversial videos has spurned a debate over what is appropriate for children, what may have been created for pedophiles, and what parents need to know. Thanks to comedian Daniel Tosh, this disturbing world of YouTube child exploitation is getting some much-needed coverage.

Home movies have been around as long as video cameras. But with the rise of child pornography, the proliferation of pedophiles and the accompanying technology, a renewed vigilance to protect the innocence of our nation's youth is needed.