The YouTube privacy settings UK parents should switch on first: Supervised Experience, Restricted Mode, comments off, autoplay off and watch history controls.
YouTube's risks for children are less about contact and more about content: the algorithm pulls them deeper into rabbit-holes. Lock down content level via a Supervised Experience, turn off autoplay, restrict comments, and disable shorts where appropriate.
The steps below cover the main protections. They take five minutes on the child's account.
Open Family Link → your child's account → YouTube → Manage settings → choose Explore, Explore More, or Most of YouTube. Tip: For under-13s use YouTube Kids; for 13-15 "Explore" is the safer middle option.
On youtube.com or in the app: profile → Settings → General → Restricted Mode → On. Tip: Hides mature content from search and recommendations. Imperfect, useful.
On a video page → autoplay toggle (top-right of the player) → Off. Also Settings → Autoplay → Off. Tip: Stops the algorithm pulling them to the next, possibly less appropriate, video.
Settings → General → "Turn off Shorts feed" (where available). Tip: Shorts surface less moderated content; switch off for under-16s where you can.
If they upload: Studio → Content → individual video → Comments → Hold all for review or Disable.
Settings → Manage all activity → Pause YouTube watch history. Tip: Resets a damaging algorithm if their feed has been pulled towards harmful content.
myaccount.google.com → Security → 2-Step Verification → On.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.