YouTube Filtering & Safety Guide
Comprehensive guide to protecting children on YouTube using Restricted Mode, YouTube Kids, supervised accounts, and third-party tools.
Prerequisites:
- • Google account (for supervised experiences)
- • Access to child's device or YouTube account
Why YouTube Needs Special Attention
YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for children and teens, with educational content, entertainment, and creative videos. However, it also contains inappropriate content, including violence, explicit language, mature themes, and misleading information.
YouTube's recommendation algorithm can quickly lead viewers from benign content to inappropriate material. That's why YouTube requires special filtering strategies beyond general web filtering.
🎯 Choosing the Right Approach
YouTube Kids (Ages 4-12)
- Age Range: Preschool to 12 years old
- Protection Level: Highest
- Content: Curated and age-appropriate only
- Recommendation: Best for young children
Supervised YouTube (Ages 9-17)
- Age Range: 9-17 years old
- Protection Level: High to Medium
- Content: Filtered but more variety than Kids
- Recommendation: Best for preteens/teens
Restricted Mode (All Ages)
- Age Range: Any age
- Protection Level: Medium
- Content: Filters mature content algorithmically
- Recommendation: Minimum baseline, combine with other methods
Complete Blocking (Optional)
- Age Range: Varies by family
- Protection Level: Total
- Content: No YouTube access
- Recommendation: For families prioritizing other activities
👶 YouTube Kids (Recommended for Young Children)
What is YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids is a separate app designed specifically for children, with content curated to be age-appropriate. It includes built-in parental controls and a simpler interface designed for kids.
Setting Up YouTube Kids
- Download YouTube Kids
Available on iOS, Android, smart TVs, and game consoles. Search "YouTube Kids" in your app store.
- Open the app and select profile
Choose whether you're a parent or child.
- Create a child profile
Enter your child's name and age (affects content recommendations).
- Choose content level
- Preschool (Ages 4 & Under): Simple videos for youngest viewers
- Younger (Ages 5-8): Broader range including songs, cartoons, crafts
- Older (Ages 9-12): Additional music videos, gaming, vlogs for older kids
- Approved Content Only: You manually approve every video/channel
- Set up parental controls
Tap the lock icon (bottom right) and solve the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
- Configure settings
- Search: Enable or disable (disable for tighter control)
- Sound effects: On or off
- Background play: Allow or block
- Autoplay: Enable or disable next video
- Block specific videos or channels
Tap ⋮ menu on any video → Block this video/channel. It won't appear again for that profile.
Limitations of YouTube Kids
- Not perfect—inappropriate content occasionally slips through
- Some educational content may be missing
- Children can request "mature" videos be unblocked
- Requires separate app (children might try to access regular YouTube)
🎓 Supervised YouTube Experience (Ages 9-17)
What is Supervised YouTube?
For children who've outgrown YouTube Kids but aren't ready for unrestricted YouTube, Google offers supervised experiences through Family Link. This provides access to a broader library while still filtering inappropriate content.
Setting Up Supervised YouTube
- Create a Google Account with Family Link
Follow our Android Family Link guide to create a supervised account for your child.
- Sign your child into YouTube
On their device, open YouTube app or website and sign in with their supervised Google account.
- In Family Link, configure YouTube settings
Open Family Link app → Your child → Settings → YouTube (or YouTube settings in content controls).
- Choose supervised experience level
- Explore: Generally appropriate for ages 9+. Broad variety but excludes mature content.
- Explore More: Generally appropriate for ages 13+. Even wider selection with some mature themes allowed.
- Review additional settings
- Search and watch history
- Personalized ads (can disable)
- Upload, post, comment capabilities (restricted by default)
Features of Supervised YouTube
- Content filtered to exclude mature material
- Limited social features (can't comment or upload by default)
- Parental visibility into watch history
- Can't change settings without parent approval
- Works across all devices where they're signed in
🔐 YouTube Restricted Mode
What is Restricted Mode?
Restricted Mode is YouTube's built-in filter that uses signals like video metadata, title, and AI analysis to screen out potentially mature content. It's not perfect, but it's a free option that takes seconds to enable.
Enabling Restricted Mode
On Desktop/Laptop
- Go to youtube.com
- Click your profile picture (top right)
- Click "Restricted Mode" at the bottom
- Toggle "Activate Restricted Mode" on
On Mobile App (iOS/Android)
- Open YouTube app
- Tap your profile picture (top right)
- Tap Settings → General
- Toggle "Restricted Mode" on
On Smart TV/Gaming Console
- Open YouTube app
- Go to Settings (usually in sidebar menu)
- Find "Restricted Mode" and turn it on
Locking Restricted Mode
Without locking, children can simply turn off Restricted Mode:
Browser-Level Locking (Limited)
- After enabling Restricted Mode, click "Lock Restricted Mode on this browser"
- Sign in to your Google account
- Restricted Mode is now locked for that browser
Network-Level Enforcement (Recommended)
Use DNS filtering services that force YouTube Restricted Mode:
- OpenDNS FamilyShield: Automatically enables Restricted Mode
- CleanBrowsing Family Filter: Forces Restricted Mode
- NextDNS: Can enable Restricted Mode enforcement in settings
See our DNS Filtering guide for setup instructions.
🚫 Blocking YouTube Completely
Some families choose to block YouTube entirely. This is a valid approach for young children or families prioritizing offline activities.
Device-Level Blocking
- iOS Screen Time: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps → Toggle YouTube off
- Android Family Link: Block YouTube app in app management
- Windows Family Safety: Block apps and websites including YouTube
- Router: Block youtube.com domain (affects all devices)
DNS-Level Blocking
Some DNS services allow complete YouTube blocking. However, this may affect legitimate educational uses. Consider:
- Blocking during certain hours (bedtime, homework time)
- Allowing YouTube only on supervised shared devices
- Using YouTube only in browser with parental supervision
🛠️ Third-Party YouTube Control Tools
Browser Extensions
Tools like Video Blocker, BlockTube, unhook
- Block specific channels or keywords
- Hide recommendations and comments
- Remove distracting elements
- Create whitelist of allowed channels
Limitation: Only works in web browsers, not apps. Can be disabled if user has browser permissions.
Parental Control Software
Options: Qustodio, Bark, Net Nanny, Circle
- Monitor YouTube watch history
- Alert on concerning content
- Block YouTube on schedule
- Set time limits for YouTube
- Cross-platform protection
Cost: Typically $5-15/month
Alternative Frontends
Tools: Invidious, FreeTube, NewPipe
- Access YouTube without recommendations
- No comments section
- Subscription-based viewing only
- Privacy-focused
Note: Requires technical setup. Best for older teens who can handle responsibility.
Router-Level Scheduling
Use your router's parental controls
- Block YouTube during homework hours
- Limit to certain times of day
- Weekend-only access
- Device-specific rules
See our Router Configuration guide
👨👩👧 Best Practices & Family Guidelines
🎯 Age-Appropriate Approach
Ages 4-8:
- YouTube Kids only, "Approved Content Only" mode
- Parent curates channel list
- Watch together when possible
- 30-minute daily limit
Ages 9-12:
- YouTube Kids "Older" or Supervised YouTube "Explore"
- Regular check-ins on watch history
- Discuss concerning content together
- 1-hour daily limit
Ages 13-17:
- Supervised YouTube "Explore More" or Restricted Mode
- More independence with accountability
- Open communication about content
- Focus on healthy balance vs rigid limits
🗣️ Communication Strategies
- Explain why filtering exists, not just that it does
- Watch YouTube together sometimes to understand their interests
- Create a "safe channel" list collaboratively
- Encourage them to report concerning content they encounter
- Discuss critical thinking about online content
- Praise good judgment when they self-regulate
🔍 Regular Monitoring
- Review watch history weekly
- Check subscribed channels monthly
- Ask about favorite YouTubers
- Watch a few videos they recommend
- Set up email notifications for concerning content (if using monitoring tools)
- Adjust restrictions as they demonstrate maturity
⚠️ Red Flags to Watch For
- Obsessive watching or difficulty stopping
- Hiding screens when you approach
- Using inappropriate language learned from videos
- Attempting to bypass restrictions repeatedly
- Watching late at night (check time stamps)
- Dramatic behavior changes after watching
❓ Troubleshooting & Common Issues
Inappropriate content still appearing in YouTube Kids
Actions to take:
- Report the video/channel immediately (tap ⋮ → Report)
- Block the channel from appearing again
- Consider switching to "Approved Content Only" mode
- Remember: No automated system is perfect, which is why supervision matters
Child is using regular YouTube instead of Kids
Solutions:
- Uninstall or block regular YouTube app on their device
- Use Screen Time (iOS) or Family Link (Android) to block YouTube app
- Set up DNS filtering to redirect youtube.com to restrictions
- Have a conversation about the rules and why they exist
Restricted Mode keeps turning off
Why this happens:
- Browser cookies were cleared
- Using a different browser or private browsing
- Child manually disabled it
Solutions:
- Use supervised Google account (can't disable Restricted Mode)
- Enable DNS-level Restricted Mode enforcement
- Check browser extension isn't interfering
Can't access educational content with filters enabled
Solutions:
- In YouTube Kids, add the specific educational channel to approved list
- Use supervised YouTube "Explore More" level for older children
- For legitimate educational videos, watch together or temporarily grant access
- Report false positives to YouTube to improve filtering
Child watching on other people's devices
Approach:
- This is the hardest scenario—you can't control others' devices
- Communicate your family's YouTube rules to other parents/caregivers
- Teach your child to make good choices independently
- Focus on education and values rather than just technical controls
- Check-in after playdates: "What videos did you watch at Sam's house?"
⚖️ Pros & Cons of YouTube Safety Tools
YouTube Kids
✅ Pros
- Free and official Google product
- Best filtering for young children
- Kid-friendly interface
- Parental controls built-in
❌ Cons
- Still not 100% effective
- Children may outgrow it
- Requires separate app (bypass risk)
- Limited content compared to main YouTube
Supervised YouTube
✅ Pros
- More content than Kids
- Can't be easily bypassed
- Grows with child
- Parental oversight of history
❌ Cons
- Requires Google account setup
- Still some inappropriate content
- Children may resist supervision
- Stops at age 18
Restricted Mode
✅ Pros
- Quick to enable
- Works immediately
- No account required
- Available everywhere
❌ Cons
- Least effective filtering
- Easily disabled
- Many false negatives
- Should only be a backup layer