5 YouTube Safe Viewing Tips for Families

YouTube is where most kids watch video. It's also huge, fast-moving and mostly made for adults. The good news: YouTube now has several layers of protection that didn't exist a few years ago. The trick is knowing which ones fit your child.

Here are five tips that make the biggest difference.

Tip 1: Use the right version of YouTube for your child's age

YouTube isn't one product anymore. There are several experiences, each built for a different age:

YouTube's main service is for users 13 and older (the age differs by country). If your younger child is watching on your account, they see whatever you'd see, including your recommendations and anything without age restrictions.

For young kids: set up YouTube Kids and choose Preschool (4 and under), Younger (5 to 8) or Older (9 to 12), or pick Approve content yourself so they can only watch videos and channels you hand-select. Our YouTube Kids app review explains each option.

For tweens: a supervised account through Google Family Link lets them use the regular YouTube app with content limits. Supervised accounts can't upload videos or comment.

For teens: link accounts through YouTube's Family Center so you get notified when your teen uploads a video or starts a live stream, and can see insights about their channel activity.

Tip 2: Turn on Restricted Mode where it makes sense

Restricted Mode is an optional filter that screens out potentially mature videos. It's useful on shared computers, TVs and older teens' accounts.

On a computer:

1. Click your profile photo at the top right.
2. Click Restricted Mode.
3. Turn on Activate Restricted Mode.

In the mobile app: tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then General, and turn on Restricted Mode.

Things to know:

• Restricted Mode works per browser and per device. Turn it on everywhere your child watches.
• It hides comments on videos, which many parents see as a bonus.
• It isn't perfect and filtering can vary by language.
• Through Family Link, parents can lock Restricted Mode on for a child's account in some cases, so it can't be turned off on any device they sign into.

We cover the details in our YouTube safety mode guide.

Tip 3: Manage autoplay, recommendations and time

Most of the trouble on YouTube doesn't come from what kids search for; it comes from what plays next.

• Turn off autoplay. In a video, tap the autoplay toggle, or find it in settings. Supervised accounts have autoplay off by default.
• Pause or clear watch history if recommendations are going in a direction you don't like. Recommendations are based heavily on what's been watched.
• Use time tools. YouTube Kids has a built-in timer. Supervised accounts include take-a-break and bedtime reminders and can limit the Shorts feed. For other accounts, use your device's own limits through Screen Time or Family Link.

Shorts deserve a special mention. The endless vertical feed is designed to keep going, and it's easy for a "quick look" to turn into an hour. For younger viewers, consider agreeing that Shorts are off-limits on school nights, or that YouTube is for watching specific videos rather than scrolling.

Tip 4: Block, report and teach kids to do the same

Every version of YouTube lets you remove things you don't want your child to see:

• In YouTube Kids: tap the three dots next to a video, choose Block, and select the video or the whole channel. Blocks follow your account across devices.
• In the main app: tap the three dots and choose Don't recommend channel or Not interested to steer recommendations, and Report for anything that breaks YouTube's rules.

Show your child how to do this too. Knowing they can make something disappear, and that they can tell you about it, helps more than any filter.

Tip 5: Watch together and talk about it

Settings handle the obvious problems. Conversation handles everything else: the sponsored video that's really an ad, the prank that crosses a line, the "challenge" that's dangerous, the creator who seems trustworthy but isn't.

• Co-watch sometimes. Ask your child to show you their favorite channels.
• Talk about ads and sponsorships. Many videos include paid promotions. Kids should know that a creator recommending a product might be paid to do so.
• Talk about "too good to be true" videos. Giveaways, get-rich-quick claims and AI-generated fakes are common.
• Agree on rules about where and when YouTube is used. Keeping devices in shared spaces helps younger kids.

For more conversation starters, see our guide to talking with kids about online safety.

Quick YouTube safety checklist

• Pick the right experience: YouTube Kids, supervised account or teen supervision.
• Turn on Restricted Mode on shared devices and older kids' accounts.
• Turn off autoplay and use time limits.
• Block and report videos and channels, and teach your child how.
• Watch together regularly and talk about ads, pranks and fakes.