What it is
YouTube Kids is a filtered version of YouTube. It is the right direction for a young child who wants videos. It is not a sealed box. Odd, frightening, or unsuitable videos still get reported by parents.
There is no comment section in the way the main app has, which removes a large part of the risk. The remaining risk is what plays next.
What to look out for
- Videos that look like cartoons and are not.
- A child who has learned to open the main YouTube app instead.
- Autoplay running through a long chain you have not seen.
- A profile that is not the one you set up.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for YouTube Kids. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Use this, not the main YouTube app, for younger children.
- Pick the younger content level and turn off search if they do not need it.
- Check the watch-it-again list every so often.
- Keep the main YouTube app off the device until you are ready to supervise that one.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- TikTok and YouTube 'not safe enough' for kids, says Ofcom Ofcom told the BBC that YouTube’s feed is not safe enough for children. YouTube Kids is the tighter app, and it is still not a guarantee.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "If a video feels wrong or scary, you can turn it off and tell me. You will not get into trouble for a video the app chose."
Video
Parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.