Any parent knows that children love watching videos online. Hand them a phone or tablet, and they’ll happily browse for hours. But leaving the ankle biters to watch videos alone puts them at risk of being exposed to inappropriate and explicit content.
YouTube, the world’s most popular video-sharing platform, revealed that users upload 400 hours of content per minute. Naturally, some of these videos are going to be inappropriate for children. To make browsing safe for young viewers, parents have the option to use YouTube’s Parental Controls and Restricted Mode.
In this article, we’ll look at how to use these safety features. You’ll also learn about the types of videos that kids typically watch and the potentially objectionable content they may accidentally encounter online.
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Popular Videos For Kids
YouTube can be quite beneficial for kids because it contains a lot of educational content. Children can learn ABCs, basic counting and arithmetic. Kids can also listen to songs that help them improve their vocabulary and expand their general knowledge.
But as much as you’d like your children to stick to nursery rhymes or educational videos, these aren’t the only things they watch on YouTube. So, what are these youngsters watching?
Preschoolers enjoy watching cartoons and mini-movies. Older kids like watching other people unbox toys and open surprise eggs. Game streaming is also another popular category.
Examples Of Disturbing Content On YouTube
A video of Peppa Pig drinking bleach and a clip of Elsa from Frozen arming herself with automatic weapons–what do these have in common? They both gained millions of views before being taken down.
Shady knockoffs of popular cartoons aren’t uncommon on YouTube. Children end up watching these videos because their titles and thumbnails feature characters kids are familiar with.
Some videos on YouTube also show disturbing imagery. For example, there’s a cartoon on YouTube that featured a man demonstrating how to inflict self-harm.
Understanding YouTube’s Restricted Mode And Parental Controls
YouTube’s Restricted Mode (formerly known as “safety mode”) is an opt-in feature that filters out potentially objectionable content. Once enabled, it blocks videos tagged as “For Mature Audiences Only” and those that are flagged as inappropriate by the community. Users who are logged out or are under 18 years old also don’t have access to this type of content.
Videos become age-restricted if they feature the following:
- Vulgar language
- Violence and disturbing imagery
- Nudity and sexually suggestive content
- Harmful or dangerous activities
Note that users who have YouTube Restricted Mode enabled do not have access to read comments on the platform.
For additional protection, you can use YouTube Parental Controls. With this tool, you can block specific channels and content. You’ll also be able to choose which types of content will be shown to your child. For maximum security, you can change the app’s settings and allow it to show only videos you’ve handpicked.
YouTube Age Restriction
If you use Family Link to create an account for someone under 13, your child will be able to use the YouTube Kids app, but will not be able to use the regular YouTube app and related features. This age limit will be lifted once your child turns 13.
How It Works
On YouTube for Kids, you can decide the content level you want for your child. You’ll also be given the right to disable the search function.
Turn On YouTube’s Restricted Mode
Signing in is the first step to enabling YouTube’s Restricted Mode. Here’s how you should proceed with the next steps depending on which device you’re using.
For The Computer
- Click your profile picture.
- Click Restricted Mode.
- In the dialogue box that appears, toggle Restricted Mode to On.
For The Android App
- On the top right, tap More.
- Select Settings and then General.
- Turn Restricted Mode on.
For The iPhone & iPad iOS App
- In the top right, tap your profile picture.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Restricted Mode Filtering.
- Turn Restricted Mode on.
- Choose “Strict: Restricted Mode On”.
Keep in mind that YouTube’s Restricted Mode works on a browser level, so you need to turn it on for every browser you use. You’ll also need to turn it on for each profile.
If you want to put a parental lock on YouTube, follow these steps:
- Tap the Lock icon at the bottom corner of any page in the app.
- Complete the multiplication problem or read and enter the numbers that appear. Or, enter your custom passcode.
- Select Settings.
Tips For Safe Viewing
TIP #1: Review Blocked Content Regularly
Even with YouTube’s complex safe search filters, there will still be potentially objectionable content that can slip through. If you find videos or channels you don’t want your child to see, add it to your list of blocked content.
TIP #2: Put A Lock On Restricted Mode
Anyone, even kids, can search how to disable the Restricted Mode online. To prevent them from turning the feature off, check the Restricted Mode setting again and click Lock Restricted Mode for this browser. Do this for every browser and device that has YouTube. Be sure to check the setting from time to time to know if Restricted Mode is still enabled.
TIP #3: Report Inappropriate Content
Making the Internet a safer place for everyone is a task that every user can share. Learn about YouTube’s community guidelines and find out how to report videos that don’t follow them. Share this information with your family so that they can also flag inappropriate content.
TIP #4: Teach Kids How To Respond To Unwanted Content
When it comes to teaching youngsters how to use the Internet, communication is the key. Tell children they can turn off the app when they see something upsetting. You should also let them know that they can speak with you whenever they watch anything they find disturbing.
TIP #5: Watch With Kids
Even in the 21st century, parental guidance is important. No YouTube age restriction or search filter can make up for the protection you can provide your children if you’re there watching with them. This is also a good opportunity for you to bond and learn more about your child’s interests.
Start Using YouTube’s Restricted Mode
Watching videos on YouTube is one of the most popular pastimes for kids. To make this activity safe for your child, turn on Restricted Mode and use the streaming service’s parental control features. Blocking inappropriate content is also a must. Still, nothing compares to the protection you can provide your children if you sit beside them as they’re watching videos.
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