What is the difference between YouTube and YouTube Kids?

YouTube is the main platform for all ages with limited content filtering. YouTube Kids is a separate app designed for children under 13 with curated content, simplified navigation, and stronger parental controls. For younger children, YouTube Kids is strongly recommended over the main YouTube app.

Does YouTube Restricted Mode block all inappropriate content?

No. Restricted Mode uses automated systems to filter out potentially mature content, but it is not 100% accurate. Some unsuitable videos may still appear, and some perfectly suitable content may be blocked. It should be used as one layer of protection alongside supervision and conversation.

What age should my child be to use YouTube?

The main YouTube app requires users to be 13. For younger children, YouTube Kids or a parent-managed supervised experience is designed for their age instead. Because a child can bypass the age gate by entering a false birth date, setting up the right account for their real age — and, for under-13s, choosing YouTube Kids — is what actually applies the protections.

How do I set up parental controls on YouTube?

For under-13s, use YouTube Kids and choose a content level, or set up a supervised child account (from Family Centre in the YouTube app's settings, or through the Family Link app), which lets you pick a content setting and block channels. For a teen aged 13 or over, YouTube offers a voluntary supervised teen account: you and your teen both agree to link accounts, and either of you can turn supervision off at any time. In Family Centre you can then set break and bedtime reminders and a daily Shorts feed limit. On the main app you can also turn on Restricted Mode and switch off autoplay and search history, and Family Link lets you set overall screen-time limits on the device.

Is YouTube Kids completely safe?

YouTube Kids is much safer than the main app, but it isn't flawless — its filtering is largely automated, so the occasional unsuitable video can slip through before it's removed. You can tighten it by choosing an age band or approving specific content yourself, turning off search, and blocking or reporting anything unsuitable. Co-viewing with younger children remains the strongest safeguard.

How do I stop autoplay leading my child to unsuitable videos?

Autoplay is designed to keep viewers watching by queuing up recommended videos, which is how a child can drift from harmless content towards something unsuitable. Turn autoplay off in the settings, and on YouTube Kids you can disable search so your child stays within approved content. Watching what plays after the video they chose is a quick way to see where the recommendations lead.

Should I let my child read or post comments on YouTube?

Comment sections on the main app are open to the public and can contain abuse, spam, and inappropriate links, so they're a common source of upset. YouTube Kids removes comments entirely, which is one reason it suits younger children. For older children on the main app, it's worth talking about not posting personal details in comments and not following links strangers leave there.

Does YouTube check my child's age?

YouTube says it uses an age-estimation model to decide whether a user is over or under 18, whatever birthday is on the account, and that the model is currently applied in several countries including the United Kingdom. If it decides a user is under 18, teen protections are applied automatically: age-restricted videos are blocked, break and bedtime reminders are on by default, recommendations are adjusted, ads are non-personalised and the user is prompted to choose an autoplay setting. If YouTube gets it wrong, the person can verify their age with a government ID, credit card or selfie through their Google Account.

Will YouTube be banned for under-16s in the UK?

The UK government says it plans to use the same model as Australia's social media ban, which included platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook and X. It says the first Regulations will be laid before the end of 2026 and the changes should be implemented in Spring 2027. This is a plan, not yet in force; see /guides/under-16-social-media-ban for the detail.

How do I report a video, channel, or comment on YouTube?

Use the three-dot menu next to a video, comment, or channel to Report it, and you can block a channel from appearing. On YouTube Kids there's a flag option to block and report content. If a child is in immediate danger call 999, or 101 for non-emergency police matters. The NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) and Childline (0800 1111) are free and confidential; see /reporting for the UK decision tree.

YouTube Safety Guide for Parents

Q: What is YouTube's Shorts feed limit?

YouTube's English (UK) Help Centre lists a daily Shorts feed limit among the controls parents can set for a supervised teen in Family Centre, under Time management. When a supervised teen reaches the limit a message appears and they can't keep scrolling the Shorts feed for the rest of the day; it resets every morning. YouTube said in April 2026 that its newest family tools, including the option to set the Shorts limit to zero minutes, are available across Europe. If you can't see the option, check that your teen's account is linked and the YouTube app is up to date. A limit someone sets on their own account is different: YouTube says a reminder appears and they can dismiss or ignore it.

How to set up YouTube's parental controls, restricted mode, and supervised accounts to keep your child safe while watching videos.

YouTube is the world's largest video-sharing platform, where users watch, upload and comment on videos on almost every topic imaginable.

Official age

13+

We recommend

13+

Developer

Google LLC

Risks

Features to know about

Contact from strangers Livestreaming Public posts Adult or mature content Parent controls Age checks

Live streaming

Overview

YouTube is the world's largest video-sharing platform with billions of hours of content covering every imaginable topic. Its recommendation algorithm is designed to maximise viewing time, which can lead children down rabbit holes of increasingly extreme or unsuitable content. Google offers supervised accounts and YouTube Kids as safer alternatives for younger viewers. YouTube also says it uses an age-estimation model, currently applied in several countries including the United Kingdom, to apply teen protections automatically to anyone it judges to be under 18, whatever birthday is on the account.

How children use it

Children watch a vast range of content including gaming videos, music, tutorials, vlogs, and entertainment. The autoplay feature and recommendation sidebar encourage extended viewing sessions. Older children may also read and post comments, create their own channels, and subscribe to creators.

Main risks

harmful content screen time online strangers social media safety

Recommended privacy settings

Restricted Mode

Location: Profile icon → Settings → General → Restricted Mode

Set to: On

Filters out potentially mature content. Enable it on every device and browser your child uses, as it is device-specific.

Supervised Account

Location: Family Link app → your child → Controls → YouTube, or YouTube app → profile picture → Settings → Family Centre

Set to: Set up with the content setting that suits your child

Creates an account with content restrictions you manage. Choose a content setting from Older children (generally 9+), Teens (generally 13+) or Older teens (generally 16+) depending on your child's maturity; age-restricted videos stay unavailable to under-18s whichever you pick. A supervised teen account is voluntary: you and your teen both have to agree to link, and either of you can turn supervision off.

Autoplay

Location: Profile icon → Settings → Auto-play

Set to: Off

Prevents videos from automatically playing one after another, giving your child natural stopping points and reducing passive binge-watching. YouTube says auto-play is turned off by default for users aged 13 to 17, and a supervised account may not be able to switch it on if a parent has turned it off.

Shorts feed limit

Location: Supervised teen: Family Centre → your teen's account → Time management. Your own account: You → Settings → Time management

Set to: Set a daily limit (zero turns the feed off)

YouTube's name for the daily limit on the scrolling Shorts feed. When a supervised teen reaches a parent-set limit, a message appears and scrolling the Shorts feed is prevented for the rest of the day; it resets every morning. A limit someone sets on their own account can be dismissed or ignored. YouTube said in April 2026 that its newest family tools, including the Shorts timer, are available across Europe; if you can't see it, check the teen account is linked and the app is up to date.

Parent actions

essential

Set up a supervised account (through Family Centre in the YouTube app, or the Family Link app) and choose the appropriate content setting for your child's age

Time: 15 minutes

essential

Enable Restricted Mode on all devices your child uses and turn off autoplay

Time: 10 minutes

recommended

Discuss what to do if they come across an upsetting video and show them how to report content

Time: 10 minutes

Related app guides

youtube kids tiktok twitch

If you need to report this

In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.

Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.

See all UK reporting pathways

The picture in the UK

96%

of UK children aged 8 to 14 use YouTube in a month — more than any other online service.

Ofcom, 2025

Myths & facts

Myth: YouTube Kids means my child is safe on YouTube.

Fact: YouTube Kids helps, but many children use the main app, where the algorithm can surface unsuitable content and autoplay keeps them watching. Use a supervised account or YouTube Kids, and turn on Restricted Mode.

Myth: It’s just videos — there’s no contact risk.

Fact: Comments, live chat on streams, and links in descriptions can expose children to strangers and scams. Disable or limit comments and be cautious with livestreams.

Myth: If a video looks child-friendly, it is.

Fact: Some of the most troubling content on YouTube is dressed up as children's material — familiar characters and bright thumbnails wrapped around disturbing or wholly unsuitable videos, made to slip past both children and algorithms. Appearance is no guide, which is why staying within YouTube Kids or a supervised account matters more than trusting thumbnails.

Age by age

8-10
The main YouTube app is meant for 13-plus, so at this age use YouTube Kids or a supervised account with an age-appropriate content setting, keep autoplay off, and have watching happen somewhere you can half-see the screen. Ask them to show you their favourite channels — it tells you a lot quickly.
11-13
This is the transition period: a supervised account with a stricter content setting bridges the gap until 13, when they can hold their own. Start talking about comments, Shorts and how recommendations work, because those shape the experience more than any single video.
14-16
Recommendation rabbit holes are the main risk now — feeds can drift towards extreme opinions, body-image content or endless Shorts without anyone choosing it. If your teen agrees to link accounts in Family Centre, you can set a daily Shorts feed limit. Ask what YouTube keeps recommending them, and if they want to start a channel, go through comments, privacy and what's identifiable on camera together.
17-plus
Treat them as the adult viewer they nearly are: conversations about which creators they trust and why do more than any control, especially around health, money and political content from confident-sounding channels. If they're creating, sponsorship scams and comment-section pile-ons are the practical things to prepare for.