A UK parent's walkthrough for reporting YouTube videos, channels, comments and live streams, with CEOP, IWF, NSPCC and police escalation routes.
YouTube lets you flag videos, channels, comments and live streams from inside the app. The Trust and Safety team reviews high-risk reports (child safety, sexual content) within hours and forwards confirmed CSAM material to NCMEC, which shares with UK police.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise save evidence and use the steps below.
Take screenshots, copy the video URL (Share → Copy link) and note the channel name and the time-stamp of the moment that is harmful.
Under the video → three dots → Report → choose category (Child abuse, Sexual content, Harassment, etc.).
Hover or long-press the comment → three dots → Report → choose category.
Open the channel → About → Flag icon → Report user → choose category.
Three dots next to the live video → Report → choose category. For sexual content involving a minor, also report immediately to CEOP and IWF.
If your child is on a Supervised Experience, you can set the content level and lock down comments. Family Link → your child's account → YouTube → Manage settings.
Grooming or sexual content directed at a child: CEOP (ceop.police.uk). Nude or sexual images of a child: IWF (iwf.org.uk). Threats, doxxing or harassment: 101. Immediate danger: 999. Hate content or terrorism: GOV.UK "Report terrorism" service.
Notify the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead. NSPCC 0808 800 5000 supports parents; Childline 0800 1111 supports the child.
Save evidence BEFORE blocking the account: once blocked you may lose access to the messages.
This guidance is for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for emergency services or professional safeguarding support. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) now.