Here's how to set up parental controls for YouTube!
Here are the top 5 parental control settings we recommend:
1. For kids under 13, go to YouTube Kids instead.
YouTube Kids is the child-friendly version of the platform, where content is vetted to be suitable for young children up to 12 years old. When you first visit the site, the landing page will take you through some general parental controls, and let you choose between three content experiences: Preschool (ages 4 and under), Younger (ages 5-7), and Older (ages 8-12).
YouTube Kids also lets you turn the search function on or off - we recommend turning it off for younger kids. This means your child will only be allowed to see verified content. The site experience is very fun as its large icons and clean layout is a nice departure from the mainstream adult's version riddled with ads and clickbait thumbnails.
2. For older children (13 years and up), set up a supervised Google account.
Older children will want to migrate to the mainstream YouTube.com site to find more suitable content. We recommend setting up a separate Google account for older children as it's best to keep your personal YouTube account separate from your child's. This is because the algorithm to your account is targeted for adults, and will show ads displayed specifically for you, which is unsuitable for children.
You can set up a supervised account on Google that's linked to your own account. The set-up requirements differ between devices, so we suggest following Google's official link: https://support.google.com/families/answer/7103338?hl=en&ref_topic=7336731
3. Turn on restricted mode
Parents have the option to turn on restricted mode in YouTube to restrict showing potentially mature of inappropriate content. You can do this by following these steps (for desktop):
1. On YouTube.com, click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
2. Click Restricted Mode.
3. In the dialogue box, toggle the option to 'Off'.
*Steps vary for Android and iOS devices - for more instructions, please view this page: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en&oco=1
4. Turn off autoplay
The simple default autoplay feature can be toggled on and off quite easily, yet it is often overlooked for busy parents. We recommend turning it off to prevent unvetted videos and unverified content from playing in a continuous stream. You can find the autoplay toggle underneath or beside any video.
We also recommend parents to only subscribe to official channels that provide children's content, such as CBBC, Disney, and Nickelodeon.
5. Pay for YouTube Premium to get rid of ads
This post is not sponsored by YouTube. We recommend upgrading to YouTube Premium to watch videos ad-free. Ads are created by corporations and individuals with the intent to sell a product or get something from their audience. For children who aren't aware of the motivation behind ads, it could put them in a vulnerable position. So, if your child is a frequent watcher of YouTube, we recommend investing in a premium account.
Conclusion: YouTube is one of the most popular content sites for kids and adults to consume original content and learn new things. There are a lot of child-friendly channels that upload amazing content, it's just up to the parents and adults to keep the platform a safe environment for kids.
Psst! Save our checklist image above to share with other parents!