Two simple steps to protect children on YouTube. Google gives you enormous control possibilities. What?

While the scandal with YouTubers continues, let’s see what you can do to protect your children online without waiting for politicians. What possibilities does the YouTube platform offer in this matter and how to use these tools?

Option for younger children – YouTube Kids

First of all, Google allows you to set up the so-called a supervised account (in Poland, children under 13 cannot set up their own accounts on video platforms and social media – we should not share our accounts with them either). This – after linking the account to the parent’s angle – is managed remotely from the Google Family Link service. This solution allows you to adjust all account parameters from your own device.

Next, YouTube gives you the opportunity to choose two versions of protection, which should be considered taking into account the child’s age. A separate application for smartphones and tablets – YouTube Kids – has been available for the youngest Internet users since 2015. This is a platform addressed primarily to children who are just a few years old, where they can only watch materials created specifically for children. There are many changes compared to classic YouTube – from a different interface, to blocking inappropriate content, to the ability to remotely approve the materials that children can watch.

At the beginning, YouTube Kids asks the parent to select one of three age settings (0-4 years, 5-8 years and 9-12 years). The selected scope will determine what types of materials YouTube will suggest to your child. Not only does the app automatically block all adult content, but it also allows parents to select or approve specific videos, channels and collections that their child would like to watch on their account. Additionally, you can set a timer (a time limit after which the platform will block playback) and block specific videos and channels from the parent’s account.

YouTubeKids photo: screenshot from youtube.com

Option for older children – classic YouTube in a supervised version

For slightly older children and teenagers, the classic version of the platform is available, but in a supervised version that contains much more content than the YouTube Kids application. The child can still use their supervised account (or you can create a new one), but it is the parent’s responsibility to choose specific settings. The first stage is to determine the viewer’s age (at least 9 years old), which again affects the work of the algorithms that suggest content.

In addition, there is the option of parental control via Google Family Link and blocking specific videos and channels on YouTube, as well as setting the maximum time of using the platform. YouTube in the supervised version also has automatic reminders to take a break every 75 minutes of viewing and a bedtime reminder set by default to 10:00 p.m. (for people 13-17 years old). Teenagers under 17 years of age also have the option to automatically play the next video blocked.

All information about both versions of YouTube, as well as tips on how to adjust specific settings on your child’s account, can be found on YouTube, which shows you how to teach your child to use the platform responsibly and think critically when watching videos they accidentally encounter online.