Smart TV Parental Controls & Safety Guide
Guide to setting up parental controls on smart TVs from Samsung, LG, and other manufacturers to keep children safe from inappropriate content.
Smart TVs are present in most UK households and provide access to streaming services, apps, web browsers, and live television. While often overlooked, smart TVs can expose children to age-inappropriate content through on-demand services, YouTube, and unfiltered web browsing. Most manufacturers provide PIN-based parental controls, and individual streaming services offer their own content restriction features.
Main risks
- • Watching age-inappropriate content on streaming apps and YouTube
- • Accessing unfiltered web content through the TV's built-in browser
- • Making purchases on app stores or streaming services without permission
- • Viewing live television content rated for older audiences without a PIN barrier
Initial setup steps
Set a system PIN and enable broadcast parental controls
Go to your TV's settings menu and find the parental controls or safety section. Set a system PIN and configure the broadcast content rating to match your child's age.
Configure streaming service profiles
Open each streaming app (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) and create a dedicated kids profile for your child. Set the maturity rating on the kids profile to match their age. Add a PIN to all adult profiles.
Set up YouTube restrictions
Open the YouTube app and enable Restricted Mode, or replace it with the YouTube Kids app if available on your TV. If YouTube Kids is not available, consider blocking the standard YouTube app entirely for younger children.
Lock app installation and the web browser
If your TV has a built-in web browser, lock it behind the system PIN or remove it if possible. Lock the app store to prevent installation of new apps without your permission.
Parental control settings
TV PIN Lock / Parental Rating
Location: Settings > General > System Manager > Parental Controls (Samsung) or Settings > Safety > Parental Lock (LG)
Recommended: Enabled with a PIN your child does not know, set to appropriate BBFC/Ofcom age rating
Most smart TVs allow you to set a PIN that restricts access to content above a chosen age rating on broadcast channels. This prevents children from watching programmes rated 12, 15, or 18 without the PIN.
Streaming Service Profiles (Netflix, Disney+, etc.)
Location: Within each streaming app's settings
Recommended: Create a child/kids profile with age-appropriate maturity settings and a profile PIN on adult accounts
Most streaming services offer dedicated kids profiles that only show age-appropriate content. Add a PIN to adult profiles to prevent your child from switching to an unrestricted profile.
YouTube Restricted Mode or YouTube Kids
Location: YouTube app > Settings > Restricted Mode, or install YouTube Kids app
Recommended: Enable Restricted Mode or use the YouTube Kids app exclusively for younger children
Restricted Mode filters out potentially inappropriate content on YouTube. YouTube Kids provides a more heavily curated experience designed for children, though no filter is perfect.
App Installation Restrictions
Location: Settings > Apps > App Lock or Install restrictions (varies by manufacturer)
Recommended: Lock the app store behind a PIN to prevent unauthorised app installs
Prevents your child from installing new apps (including games and browsers) on the smart TV without your PIN. This is especially important to prevent access to unfiltered browsers.
Age recommendations
Use only dedicated kids profiles on streaming services. Install YouTube Kids if available. Restrict all broadcast content to U/PG ratings. Keep viewing to short, supervised sessions.
Continue using kids profiles on streaming apps. Allow content rated U and PG. Limit screen time and co-view where possible. Ensure the web browser is locked.
Kids profiles on streaming services remain appropriate. You may allow some PG and 12-rated content on a case-by-case basis. Maintain the system PIN and keep the web browser locked.