Is YouTube safe for a 13-year-old?

Yes, with care. On a Supervised Experience set to Explore/Explore More, with Restricted Mode on, autoplay off and Shorts limited, the worst content is mostly filtered. The main residual risk is the algorithm escorting them into rabbit-holes; have an open "talk to me if it gets weird" rule.

Should my 13-year-old be uploading to YouTube?

If they want to upload, set the channel to Made for Kids = No (so they keep some controls) but Disable comments or hold all for review. Make sure their face, school uniform, address landmarks and full name are not visible in any video.

What about YouTube Kids at 13?

YouTube Kids is aimed at under-13s and most teens find it babyish. For 13-year-olds, a Supervised Experience on regular YouTube is usually the right balance.

Best YouTube settings for a 13-year-old

Age-appropriate YouTube settings for UK 13-year-olds: Supervised Experience, Restricted Mode, autoplay off, Shorts off and comments locked down.

YouTube allows users from age 13. For a 13-year-old, the best shape is a Google Family Link Supervised Experience on "Explore" or "Explore More", with Restricted Mode on, autoplay off, Shorts feed off and uploads with comments locked or disabled.

The steps below set this up in about five minutes.

Step-by-step

Move them to a Supervised Experience via Family Link

Family Link → child account → YouTube → choose Explore or Explore More. Tip: Explore is recommended for 13; Explore More for 14-15.

Turn on Restricted Mode and lock it

youtube.com → Settings → Restricted Mode → On. Lock the setting in browser settings on shared devices.

Turn autoplay off

Settings → Autoplay → Off.

Disable Shorts feed where possible

Settings → General → Turn off Shorts feed for the next 30 days, then repeat. Tip: Shorts pulls children towards the most viral, not the most appropriate, content.

Lock down comments on any uploads

If your child uploads: YouTube Studio → individual video → Comments → Hold for review or Disable.

Talk about the rabbit-hole risk

Tell them: if their recommendations start to feel weird, scary, sexualised or angry, hit "Not interested" on three videos in a row, and tell you. We can clear the history together. Tip: This conversation prevents most algorithm-driven harm.

Agree time and place

Phone out of the bedroom at night, no YouTube during homework, and no headphones in for the last 10 minutes of a video session so a parent can briefly see what they were watching.

What not to do

Do not give a 13-year-old an adult account just because it is easier.
Do not rely on the app's default settings; review them together.
Do not demand all passwords with no warning; agree access rules first.
Do not punish honesty, or your teen will stop telling you when things go wrong.

Red flags to watch for

Secrecy about who they are talking to, or hiding the screen when you walk in.
A new "friend" who is noticeably older or pushes for private chat off the app.
Late-night activity spikes, especially DMs or video calls after midnight.
Requests to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord DMs or Snapchat.
Gifts, V-Bucks, Robux, gift cards or money offered in exchange for photos or calls.
Sexualised language, requests for images, or pressure to keep secrets from parents.

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.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-20Next review: 2026-08-20