Parental controls on YouTube are designed to help parents and guardians protect children from inappropriate content. There are a few key features and options that provide control over the videos your child can view.

Benefits of Setting Up Parental Controls on YouTube:

  1. Protects Children from Inappropriate Content: You can limit access to age-inappropriate videos, ensuring that children are only viewing content suitable for their age.
  2. Controls Time Spent: By using parental control tools, you can limit the time children spend on the platform.
  3. Filters Content Automatically: YouTube’s content filters help remove videos with adult themes, violence, or harmful content.
  4. Peace of Mind: Parents can rest assured that their children are browsing content that is both educational and appropriate.
  5. Reduces Exposure to Unwanted Ads: Parental controls may also reduce exposure to ads that might not be suitable for children.

Complete Guide to Setting Up Parental Controls on YouTube

There are several methods to set up parental controls on YouTube depending on whether your child uses the regular YouTube, YouTube Kids, or if you want to enable Restricted Mode on the main YouTube platform.

1. YouTube Kids App Setup (For younger children)

YouTube Kids is a dedicated app designed for children. It provides filtered content that is child-friendly and allows for better control.

Steps to Set Up YouTube Kids:

  1. Download the YouTube Kids App: Available on iOS and Android.
  2. Create a Profile:
    • Open the app and log in with your Google account.
    • Create a profile for your child with their name, age, and other basic information.
  3. Set Preferences:
    • You can select the type of content appropriate for your child’s age (Preschool, Younger, or Older).
    • Choose whether to allow search capabilities (this can prevent your child from searching for new content beyond the app’s recommendations).
  4. Set Timers:
    • The app has a timer feature allowing you to limit how long your child can use the app each day.

Additional Features:

  • Parents can review content history to see what the child has watched.
  • There’s a feature to block specific videos or channels if they are not appropriate.

2. Restricted Mode on Regular YouTube (For teens)

If your child is using the regular YouTube app or website, you can enable Restricted Mode. This filters out inappropriate content flagged by the community or YouTube’s algorithms.

Steps to Enable Restricted Mode:

  1. On Desktop:
    • Log in to your YouTube account.
    • Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
    • Scroll down and select Restricted Mode.
    • Toggle the switch to On.
    • To prevent your child from turning off Restricted Mode, click on “Lock Restricted Mode on this browser” (you’ll need to re-enter your Google account password).
  2. On Mobile (App):
    • Open the YouTube app and log in.
    • Tap on your profile icon.
    • Go to Settings.
    • Select General.
    • Toggle on Restricted Mode.

Note: Restricted Mode is not foolproof and can occasionally miss inappropriate content or block some content that is appropriate. It’s best to monitor usage regularly.

3. Supervised Accounts for Older Children

If your child is old enough to use regular YouTube but you still want to monitor their experience, you can set up a Supervised Google Account:

  1. Create a Google Account for Your Child: Use the Google Family Link app to create and manage your child’s account.

  2. Select Content Level:

    • Once you’ve created the account, go to YouTube and set the content level appropriate for your child (Explore, Explore More, or Most of YouTube).
    • These levels allow you to limit what kind of videos and channels are accessible.

Content Levels:

  • Explore: Suitable for viewers 9+.
  • Explore More: For viewers 13+.
  • Most of YouTube: Filters out adult content, suitable for teenagers.
  1. Manage Screen Time: Through the Google Family Link app, you can set limits on how much time your child can spend on YouTube.

4. YouTube Premium & Ad Control

If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you can enjoy ad-free content. This can help reduce exposure to advertisements that may not be suitable for children. You can manage this by setting up an account for your child and using Family Link to monitor it.

Conclusion

Setting up parental controls on YouTube is essential to ensure that your child’s viewing experience is safe and age-appropriate. Whether through YouTube Kids, Restricted Mode on regular YouTube, or using Supervised Google accounts, these tools provide flexibility and control to create a safe environment for your child’s online activity. Regular monitoring, using apps like Google Family Link, further ensures safety and control over content and screen time.