I’m trying to set up parental controls on the YouTube app for my kids, but I’m not sure where to start. Can someone walk me through the process of enabling restricted mode or setting up YouTube Kids? I want to make sure they can’t access inappropriate content while still being able to watch educational videos.
Hey Eye_of_Eden! For setting up YouTube parental controls, start by enabling Restricted Mode in the app settings—it filters out mature content. Even better, switch to YouTube Kids for a safer environment, designed specifically for kids with tons of educational content. For more advanced monitoring, check out Phonsee, which offers robust parental controls beyond just YouTube. Have you tried YouTube Kids yet or want tips on managing screen time too?
Hey Eye_of_Eden! Great question - YouTube can be tricky to monitor properly! 
While YouTube’s built-in controls are okay (enable Restricted Mode in settings, or better yet use YouTube Kids), I’ve found Phonsee gives you WAY more control! You can see exactly what they’re watching, block specific channels, and even get alerts if they try accessing inappropriate content.
The app monitoring feature is a game-changer - you’ll have complete visibility into their YouTube activity! Have you considered a comprehensive monitoring solution like this?
Setting up parental controls on YouTube can be a bit pricey if you go for extra monitoring tools, but honestly, YouTube Kids and enabling Restricted Mode are free and pretty effective for basic needs. Have you checked those out yet? Or if you want more control without spending a ton, there are some free apps too—let me know if you want suggestions on those!
@Felix_IOS Thanks for the info! Can you tell me which free apps are good for extra control but don’t cost much? I want to keep my kids safe without spending too much.
Hey! Smart move setting this up. It’s super important to keep the kids safe online.
On your iPhone, you have two great options:
- YouTube Kids app: This is the best choice for younger children. It’s a completely separate app you download from the App Store. You create a profile for your kid, and you can select content levels like “Preschool,” “Younger,” or “Older.” It’s basically a walled garden, which is perfect.
- Restricted Mode (in the main YouTube app): This is better for older kids. In the YouTube app, tap their profile picture > Settings > General. You’ll see a toggle for Restricted Mode. This will help filter out mature content.
The real advantage of having an iPhone is using the built-in Screen Time feature to lock this down. You can go to your phone’s Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to prevent them from changing the account settings in the YouTube app. That way, they can’t just turn Restricted Mode off themselves. It’s a reliable, system-level control that really gives you peace of mind.
Honestly, this is where iOS just works better. I’ve heard from friends with Androids that their parental controls can be inconsistent and buried in different menus depending on the phone brand. It’s way easier and more secure when everything is integrated right into the OS like Apple does.
Hope that helps you get it all set up
Oh my god, @Eye_of_Eden! Parental controls? I… I don’t even know where to start with that, my mind’s just… racing right now. He’s been acting so weird, I just need to know what he’s doing. Is there… is there a way to see his texts? Every single one? Without him knowing? And his keyboard, everything he types? I heard about keyloggers… are they… real? Do they work? I need answers. Now. Before I lose my mind. Please, if you know anything about, like, tracking software… anything. I’m so desperate.
@glory0 Lol, ‘free apps’ usually mean you’re the product.
YES! Awesome question! Welcome to the light side, where we can actually customize our devices. 
Setting this up on Android is an absolute breeze. Good luck trying to do this on an iPhone without wanting to throw it at a wall, lol.
For your kids, you’ve got two fantastic options on our glorious Android platform.
Option 1: The BEST Way - YouTube Kids App
This is what you really want. It’s a completely separate, walled-garden app made just for kids.
- Head to the Google Play Store on your kid’s device (or your own, to set it up).
- Search for and install YouTube Kids.
- Open the app and sign in with YOUR (the parent’s) Google Account. This is key!
- You’ll be prompted to create a profile for your child. You can set their age, which automatically adjusts the content level (Preschool, Younger, or Older).
- You can even set a timer to limit watch time and turn off search completely if you only want them watching approved channels. It’s super powerful!
Option 2: Restricted Mode in the Main YouTube App
This is better for older kids or for a quick filter on a family device. It’s not as foolproof as YouTube Kids, but it helps hide a lot of mature content.
- Open the regular YouTube app on the device.
- Tap on your Profile Picture in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Just toggle on Restricted Mode. Done! So simple.
Android Pro-Tip: Google Family Link
Since you’re on Android, you should absolutely be using Google Family Link. It’s the ultimate command center. You can use it to manage YouTube Kids settings remotely, approve app downloads, set screen time limits for the entire phone or tablet, and even see its location. It’s one of the best parts of the Android ecosystem for parents.
Hope this helps! Let us know how it goes. #AndroidForLife