YouTube is a video-sharing platform that offers a vast collection of content, from educational videos to music videos to entertainment shows. While YouTube can be a great resource for learning and entertainment, it also contains content that may not be appropriate for children. If you're concerned about your child's exposure to inappropriate content on YouTube, you can set parental controls to restrict the videos that they can watch.
There are two main ways to set parental controls on YouTube: using the YouTube Kids app or using the YouTube website. The YouTube Kids app is a separate app that is designed specifically for children, with a simplified interface and curated content. The YouTube website allows you to set parental controls on your child's account, including restricting access to specific videos or channels.
In this article, we'll explain the steps involved in setting parental controls on YouTube using both the YouTube Kids app and the YouTube website.
How to Set Parental Controls on YouTube
Follow these steps to protect your child's online experience.
- Use YouTube Kids app.
- Set up a supervised account.
- Enable Restricted Mode.
- Block specific videos or channels.
- Monitor your child's activity.
- Talk to your child about online safety.
By following these steps, you can help ensure that your child has a safe and enjoyable experience on YouTube.
Use YouTube Kids app.
The YouTube Kids app is a great option for parents who want to give their children a safe and supervised YouTube experience. The app features a simplified interface, curated content, and parental controls that allow you to manage your child's viewing experience.
- Download the YouTube Kids app.
The YouTube Kids app is available for free on iOS and Android devices. Once you've downloaded the app, open it and sign in to your child's Google account.
- Set up a supervised account.
When you first open the YouTube Kids app, you'll be prompted to set up a supervised account for your child. This will allow you to manage your child's viewing experience and set parental controls.
- Choose your child's age range.
The YouTube Kids app offers three age ranges: preschool, school age, and teen. Select the age range that is most appropriate for your child.
- Enable parental controls.
Once you've selected your child's age range, you can enable parental controls. This will allow you to block specific content, set time limits, and manage your child's search history.
The YouTube Kids app is a great way to give your child a safe and supervised YouTube experience. By following these steps, you can set up the YouTube Kids app and enable parental controls to protect your child from inappropriate content.
Set up a supervised account.
To set up a supervised account for your child on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your Google account.
If you don't already have a Google account, you'll need to create one. Once you're signed in, go to the YouTube website.
- Click on your profile picture.
This is located in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
- Select "Family" from the drop-down menu.
This will take you to the YouTube Family page.
- Click on "Create a supervised account."
This will open a new window where you can create your child's supervised account.
- Enter your child's name and date of birth.
You will also need to create a username and password for your child.
- Select the content settings that you want to apply to your child's account.
You can choose to block certain types of content, such as mature content or videos with violence. You can also set time limits for your child's YouTube usage.
- Click on "Create" to finish creating your child's supervised account.
Once you've created your child's supervised account, you can add them to your family group. This will allow you to manage their account and view their activity.
By setting up a supervised account for your child, you can help ensure that they have a safe and age-appropriate YouTube experience.
Enable Restricted Mode.
Restricted Mode is a feature on YouTube that helps to filter out potentially inappropriate content, such as mature content, violence, and profanity. This can be a helpful way to protect your child from seeing content that you deem to be inappropriate.
To enable Restricted Mode on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
If you're not already signed in, click on the "Sign in" button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Click on your profile picture.
This is located in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
- Select "Restricted Mode" from the drop-down menu.
A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm that you want to enable Restricted Mode.
- Click on "Enable Restricted Mode."
Restricted Mode will now be enabled on your account. Any videos that are deemed to be inappropriate will be filtered out and will not be shown to you.
You can also enable Restricted Mode on a specific device, such as a child's computer or tablet. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube app on the device.
- Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select "Settings" from the menu.
- Tap on "General."
- Toggle the "Restricted Mode" switch to the "On" position.
Once you've enabled Restricted Mode, you can be confident that your child will have a safer and more age-appropriate YouTube experience.
Block specific videos or channels.
In addition to enabling Restricted Mode, you can also block specific videos or channels on YouTube. This can be helpful if you want to prevent your child from seeing specific content that you deem to be inappropriate.
- To block a specific video, open the video and click on the three dots below the video player.
Select "Block video" from the menu.
- To block a specific channel, visit the channel's page and click on the three dots next to the channel's name.
Select "Block channel" from the menu.
- You can also block specific videos or channels from your child's supervised account.
To do this, sign in to your YouTube account and go to the YouTube Family page. Select your child's account and click on the "Content settings" tab. Under the "Blocked videos and channels" section, you can add specific videos or channels to the block list.
- Once you've blocked a video or channel, it will no longer be accessible to your child on YouTube.
If your child tries to watch a blocked video or visit a blocked channel, they will see a message saying that the content is blocked.
By blocking specific videos or channels, you can help ensure that your child has a safe and age-appropriate YouTube experience.
Monitor your child's activity.
Even with parental controls in place, it's important to monitor your child's YouTube activity to ensure that they are not accessing inappropriate content. Here are some tips for monitoring your child's YouTube activity:
- Check your child's watch history.
You can view your child's watch history by signing in to your YouTube account and going to the YouTube Family page. Select your child's account and click on the "Watch history" tab. Here, you can see a list of all the videos that your child has watched.
- Review your child's search history.
You can also view your child's search history by signing in to your YouTube account and going to the YouTube Family page. Select your child's account and click on the "Search history" tab. Here, you can see a list of all the searches that your child has made on YouTube.
- Talk to your child about their YouTube activity.
It's important to talk to your child about their YouTube activity and to make sure that they understand the importance of staying safe online. Ask them what kinds of videos they like to watch and why. Let them know that they can come to you if they ever see something that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Be aware of the signs that your child may be watching inappropriate content.
If you notice that your child is spending a lot of time on YouTube, or if they seem to be withdrawn or secretive about their online activity, these could be signs that they are watching inappropriate content. If you're concerned, talk to your child and try to find out what they're watching.
By monitoring your child's YouTube activity, you can help ensure that they are having a safe and positive experience.
Talk to your child about online safety.
One of the most important things you can do to protect your child online is to talk to them about online safety. Here are some tips for talking to your child about online safety:
- Start early.
It's never too early to start talking to your child about online safety. Even young children can learn about the importance of staying safe online.
- Make it a regular conversation.
Don't just talk to your child about online safety once and then forget about it. Make it a regular conversation, so that your child knows that you're always there to talk to them about their online experiences.
- Be open and honest.
Answer your child's questions honestly and openly. Let them know that it's okay to come to you with any concerns they have about online safety.
- Set limits and expectations.
Talk to your child about what you expect of them when they're online. This includes things like how much time they can spend on YouTube, what kinds of videos they can watch, and who they can talk to online.
- Be a good role model.
Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. Be a good role model by showing your child how to use technology safely and responsibly.
By talking to your child about online safety, you can help them develop the skills they need to stay safe online.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions from parents about setting parental controls on YouTube:
Question 1: How do I set up a supervised account for my child on YouTube?
Answer 1: To set up a supervised account for your child on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Go to the YouTube Family page.
- Click on "Create a supervised account."
- Enter your child's name and date of birth.
- Select the content settings that you want to apply to your child's account.
- Click on "Create" to finish creating your child's supervised account.
Question 2: How do I enable Restricted Mode on YouTube?
Answer 2: To enable Restricted Mode on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- Click on your profile picture.
- Select "Restricted Mode" from the drop-down menu.
- Click on "Enable Restricted Mode."
Question 3: How do I block specific videos or channels on YouTube?
Answer 3: To block specific videos or channels on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Open the video or channel that you want to block.
- Click on the three dots below the video player or next to the channel's name.
- Select "Block video" or "Block channel" from the menu.
Question 4: How do I monitor my child's activity on YouTube?
Answer 4: To monitor your child's activity on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your YouTube account.
- Go to the YouTube Family page.
- Select your child's account.
- Click on the "Watch history" or "Search history" tab to see a list of the videos that your child has watched or searched for.
Question 5: How do I talk to my child about online safety?
Answer 5: To talk to your child about online safety, follow these tips:
- Start early and make it a regular conversation.
- Be open and honest, and answer your child's questions honestly.
- Set limits and expectations for your child's online activity.
- Be a good role model and show your child how to use technology safely and responsibly.
Question 6: What are some other tips for keeping my child safe on YouTube?
Answer 6: Here are some other tips for keeping your child safe on YouTube:
- Encourage your child to use YouTube Kids instead of the regular YouTube app.
- Talk to your child about the importance of not sharing personal information online.
- Be aware of the signs that your child may be watching inappropriate content on YouTube.
- Report any inappropriate content that you see on YouTube.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience on YouTube.
In addition to setting parental controls and talking to your child about online safety, there are a few other things you can do to help keep your child safe on YouTube:
Tips
Here are a few additional tips for parents to help keep their children safe on YouTube:
Tip 1: Encourage your child to use YouTube Kids.
YouTube Kids is a separate app that is designed specifically for children, with a simplified interface and curated content. It's a great way for your child to watch videos without being exposed to inappropriate content.
Tip 2: Talk to your child about the importance of not sharing personal information online.
Teach your child that they should never share their name, address, phone number, or other personal information with anyone they don't know online. This includes people they meet in chat rooms, online games, and on social media.
Tip 3: Be aware of the signs that your child may be watching inappropriate content on YouTube.
If you notice that your child is spending a lot of time on YouTube, or if they seem to be withdrawn or secretive about their online activity, these could be signs that they are watching inappropriate content. Talk to your child and try to find out what they're watching.
Tip 4: Report any inappropriate content that you see on YouTube.
If you see a video on YouTube that you think is inappropriate for children, you can report it to YouTube. To report a video, click on the three dots below the video and select "Report." YouTube will review the video and take action if necessary.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience on YouTube.
Setting parental controls, talking to your child about online safety, and following these additional tips can help you keep your child safe on YouTube. By working together, you can help your child have a positive and enjoyable experience on this popular video-sharing platform.
Conclusion
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your child online. By setting parental controls on YouTube, talking to your child about online safety, and following the tips in this article, you can help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience on this popular video-sharing platform.
Remember, the most important thing you can do is to talk to your child about online safety. Make it a regular conversation, and let your child know that they can come to you with any concerns they have. By working together, you can help your child navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
Here's a summary of the main points covered in this article:
- You can set parental controls on YouTube to restrict the videos that your child can watch.
- You can also talk to your child about online safety and set limits and expectations for their online activity.
- There are a few additional things you can do to help keep your child safe on YouTube, such as encouraging them to use YouTube Kids and reporting any inappropriate content that you see.
By following these tips, you can help your child have a safe and enjoyable experience on YouTube.
Remember, you are not alone in this. There are many resources available to help you keep your child safe online. Talk to your child's school, your local library, or your child's doctor for more information.