YouTube Safety 101

Help get your child set up safely with a new platform or app, with this quick reference guide.

What is it?

YouTube is a video platform where people can watch, create, and share content. It includes everything from entertainment and gaming to tutorials, livestreams, and short-form videos (YouTube Shorts).

Users can:

Watch videos on almost any topic
Subscribe to channels (creators)
Like, comment, and share videos
Watch Shorts (short, fast-scrolling videos)
Receive recommended videos through an algorithm
Watch content automatically through autoplay

YouTube is algorithm-driven and it suggests videos based on previous viewing behaviour. It can lead to endless viewing due to the auto-play feature that keeps content flowing, and it attracts a mixed audience, as content for all ages exists side-by-side.

There are two main versions:

YouTube (main platform)

This is the 'full' version of YouTube and is more suitable for older children and teens (with supervision).

YouTube Kids

This is a s simplified version of the platform designed for younger children, and has content that is curated with stronger controls.

For parents and caregivers the key thing to understand is that YouTube (and YouTube Kids) are content platforms where recommendations quickly shape what your child sees, often beyond what they originally searched for.

Why it's popular

YouTube appeals to a range of users because:

There is a huge variety of videos, changing and growing everyday
It can be entertaining and easy to watch
YouTube Shorts provide quick, engaging content which can feel more like social media content
Viewers can follow favourite creators and influencers
Content ranges from pure entertainment to content that supports learning new skills or following interests and hobbies

What to watch out for

Algorithm-driven content

YouTube recommends videos based on what your child watches. One video can quickly lead to very different content, and recommendations can become less age-appropriate over time.

Ask questions like “What videos are showing up for you?” and encourage them to skip anything they don’t like. Help them understand that what they watch shapes what they see next.

Exposure to inappropriate content

Even when searching for safe or age-appropriate topics, YouTube can surface videos with mature themes, strong language, or misleading titles and thumbnails. The way videos are recommended means children can quickly move from harmless content to something less suitable without meaning to.

Encourage your child to trust their instincts and leave videos that don’t feel right. Talk about how titles and thumbnails are sometimes designed to grab attention rather than reflect the actual content. Let them know they can always come to you if they’re unsure or see something that makes them uncomfortable, without worrying about getting in trouble.

Auto-play and endless viewing

Videos can automatically play one after another, making it easy to keep watching without stopping.

Talk about natural stopping points and encourage turning auto-play off. This helps prevent long, unplanned viewing sessions.

YouTube Shorts

Shorts are fast-paced and highly engaging, making it easy to lose track of time and to passively consume content unintentionally.

Ask your child if they notice how long they spend watching Shorts and help them build awareness of their viewing habits.

Comments and interaction

Users can comment on videos and read comments from others, which may include inappropriate language or negative opinions.

Encourage focusing on the video rather than the comment section. Talk about not engaging with comments, especially if they feel uncomfortable.

5 minute safety settings

Sit together and work through settings to put some basic protections in place, and talk about why they're important.

These settings are designed to reduce contact with strangers, limit inappropriate content and protect privacy.

Note: Settings and menu options may look slightly different depending on your child’s device and account, but these controls are the most important to check.

Open YouTube
Tap profile icon
Tap 'Settings → General'
Turn ON 'Restricted Mode'

This filters out some mature content and can help reduce exposure to inappropriate content. However, it is not 100% effective and should be used alongside supervision and checking in.

Go to: https://families.google.com/familylink
Set up your child’s Google account
Open Family Link
Go to: 'Controls' → 'Content restrictions' → 'YouTube'
Choose a level:
- Explore (younger teens)
- Explore more
- Most of YouTube

This is the main control for managing your child’s experience as it controls what type of content your child can access and means that some features (like comments) may be limited.

Open a video
Toggle 'Auto-play OFF'

This stops videos from playing automatically and can help reduce endless viewing.

Go to 'Settings' → 'Manage all history'
Turn ON 'Pause search history'

This reduces how strongly searches shape recommendations for further viewing, however is does not remove recommendations completely.

What else can help?

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Spend some time sitting with your child and watching what they watch on YouTube. This helps you understand the types of videos, creators, and recommendations they’re seeing. It also creates natural opportunities to talk about content in a relaxed way, rather than only stepping in when something goes wrong.
Explain how YouTube suggests videos based on what they watch, like, or search for. Many children don’t realise how quickly their feed can change. Helping them understand that the app shows them more of what they watch gives them a sense of control over their experience.
Let your child know they don’t have to finish every video they start. If something feels uncomfortable, confusing, or not right, it’s okay to stop watching and move on. Reinforcing this helps them act quickly when they come across inappropriate or misleading content.
YouTube comment sections can include negativity, arguments, or inappropriate language. Young people may be curious about what others are saying, but this isn’t always a positive space. Encourage your child to focus on the video itself and avoid engaging with comments, especially if they feel uncomfortable.
Many YouTube videos are designed to entertain, persuade, or promote something. Help your child think more critically about what they’re watching by asking questions like, “Why do you think this video was made?” or “Do you think this is real or edited?” This builds awareness of influence, advertising, and unrealistic content.
Because YouTube is designed to keep videos playing, it can be hard for children to know when to stop. Agree on simple stopping points, such as after one video or before the next autoplay starts. These small habits help build self-regulation without needing strict rules.