Best privacy settings for YouTube (UK parent walkthrough)
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.
Step-by-step
Set up a Supervised Experience via Family Link
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.
Turn on Restricted Mode
On youtube.com or in the app: profile → Settings → General → Restricted Mode → On. Tip: Hides mature content from search and recommendations. Imperfect, useful.
Turn off autoplay
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.
Disable Shorts feed
Settings → General → "Turn off Shorts feed" (where available). Tip: Shorts surface less moderated content; switch off for under-16s where you can.
Restrict or turn off comments on your child's own uploads
If they upload: Studio → Content → individual video → Comments → Hold all for review or Disable.
Clear and pause watch history
Settings → Manage all activity → Pause YouTube watch history. Tip: Resets a damaging algorithm if their feed has been pulled towards harmful content.
Turn on two-step verification on the Google account
myaccount.google.com → Security → 2-Step Verification → On.
Settings to check
- Family Link / Supervised Experience
- Restricted Mode
- Autoplay
- Shorts feed
- Comments on uploads
- Watch history
- Two-Step Verification
What not to do
- Do not assume your child kept the recommended settings after an app update.
- Do not use the same password on the app as on email or banking.
- Do not allow sign-in via a social account you do not also control.
- Do not skip enabling two-factor authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.