A comprehensive guide to setting up YouTube parental controls

Looking to set up parental controls on YouTube to create a safer online experience for your child? You have come to the right place. YouTube offers a suite of tools called YouTube Parental Controls that filters content, manages watch history, and helps guide your child towards age-appropriate videos. With YouTube parental controls, you can choose a more curated experience or even handpick specific channels and content for your child.

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This enables you to create a space that fosters learning and exploration while limiting exposure to potentially harmful material. So, if you’re ready to customise your child’s YouTube experience, here’s how you can easily and quickly set up and enable parental controls on YouTube.

How to set up YouTube parental controls

There are two main approaches to setting up YouTube parental controls: using the separate YouTube Kids app or applying restrictions to the regular YouTube app/website.

1. YouTube Kids App

Designed specifically for children under 12, YouTube Kids offers a curated selection of age-appropriate content. It already has built-in parental controls that allow you to choose content levels (preschool, younger, older) or handpick specific channels and videos. Additionally, if you prefer more control, you can handpick specific channels and videos you approve of. Here’s how you can set up YouTube Kids:

1. Download and install the YouTube Kids app on your device.

2. Sign in using your child’s Google account or create a supervised account linked to your own.

2. Parental Controls on YouTube App and Website

For older children who may be ready for the regular YouTube experience with some limitations, you can use these parental controls:

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Restricted Mode: This filters out mature content flagged by YouTube. However, Restricted Mode isn’t always perfect, and some inappropriate content may still slip through.

Pause watch/search history: This prevents YouTube from using your child’s watch and search history to recommend videos.

Here's how to set up Restricted Mode and manage watch/search history:

Sign in to YouTube with your account on a PC or phone.

i. To enable Restricted Mode

1. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.

2. Select “Settings” and then “General.”

3. Toggle the switch next to “Restricted Mode” to “ON.” Also, tap on “Lock Restricted Mode on this browser” to prevent your child from disabling restricted mode.

ii. To enable watch/search history 

1. Click on your profile picture and select “Settings.”

2. Choose “Parental settings” from the menu.

3. Select your child’s profile or account.

4. Under “Manage watch history” and “Manage search history,” toggle the switches to “ON” to pause history.

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And that’s how you can set up parental controls on YouTube. Always consider using a PIN to lock Restricted Mode to prevent easy disabling. It’s also a good idea to monitor your child’s YouTube activity regardless of the controls used.