Set up YouTube parental controls including Supervised Experiences, Restricted Mode, watch history controls, and alternatives like YouTube Kids.
YouTube is used by 90% of children, making parental controls essential. Google offers several options from fully supervised experiences to Restricted Mode filtering.
YouTube's Terms of Service require users to be 13+. For children under 12, use YouTube Kids as the primary option — not regular YouTube with filters.
YouTube's recommendation algorithm can lead children from innocent videos to increasingly mature content. Active management is essential.
For children under 12, YouTube Kids is the recommended choice — it's a separate app with curated content, no comments, and no access to the broader YouTube library. Supervised Experience on regular YouTube is a fallback for older children (ages 9–12) who have outgrown YouTube Kids but aren't ready for full YouTube access.
| Option | Best For | Control Level |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Kids | Ages 3-12 — start here | Highest |
| Supervised Experience | Ages 9-12 — fallback if YouTube Kids isn't suitable | High |
| Restricted Mode | Ages 13+ | Moderate |
| Regular YouTube | Adults | None |
YouTube now uses AI age estimation in the US to identify users under 18 — regardless of the birthdate on the account — and automatically applies teen protections such as non-personalized ads, break and bedtime reminders, and limits on repetitive or age-restricted content. Adults flagged incorrectly must verify with a government ID, credit card, or selfie.
A separate app with:
Get the app from App Store or Google Play. It's also available on Smart TVs.
Choose content level:
Access the lock icon (solve math problem or enter custom passcode):
Search
Approve Content Only
Block Videos/Channels
Inappropriate content occasionally appears on YouTube Kids. Monitor viewing and block problematic content quickly.
For children too old for YouTube Kids but not ready for full YouTube.
A managed YouTube experience with:
Your child needs a Google account supervised through Family Link.
On your child's device, open YouTube and sign into their supervised account.
Or configure at families.google.com:
Options:
| Setting | Content | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Explore | 9+ appropriate | Limited comments, no live |
| Explore More | 13+ appropriate | Some comments, limited live |
| Most of YouTube | Nearly all | Most features enabled |
A filter for teens on regular YouTube.
On each device/browser:
Toggle ON.
To prevent your teen from disabling:
For stronger enforcement, use Family Link's YouTube settings instead.
Prevents video recommendations based on watching:
Useful to prevent rabbit-hole recommendations.
Prevents search-based recommendations.
Periodically clear watch and search history:
Prevents automatic playing of next video:
Turn OFF. This reduces endless watching.
Reduce or disable notifications to limit pull back to the app.
Comments are completely disabled.
Most comments are hidden. Live chat disabled on lower settings.
Can't disable comments app-wide, but:
Remind Me to Take a Break
Set reminders at intervals.
Bedtime Reminder
Prompts to stop watching at set time.
Use device parental controls for enforcement:
Live content isn't pre-reviewed. Inappropriate content can appear.
In Supervised Experience:
Children should not go live on YouTube. Ensure they can't:
YouTube Premium ($15.99/month) removes ads, including potentially inappropriate advertisements.
YouTube Premium Family ($26.99/month) covers up to 5 family members.
Premium allows background play (audio continues when screen off). Consider if this is desirable.
Short-form videos similar to TikTok. Same content filters apply, but rapid scrolling can expose kids to more varied content quickly.
No way to disable Shorts specifically, but:
Disturbing videos disguised as children's content. YouTube has cracked down, but some slip through.
Gaming videos may include strong language, violent gameplay, or inappropriate humor.
Endless toy unboxing videos can encourage materialism.
YouTube is now configured for your child's age. Remember that no filter is perfect—regular conversations about content and periodic monitoring remain important.
Follow these steps to configure parental controls. Check off each step as you complete it — your progress stays on this page.
