iOS FamilyControls: System-Wide YouTube Blocking

Block YouTube across Safari, Chrome, and every browser on your child's iPhone or iPad — automatically. WhitelistVideo uses Apple's FamilyControls API to enforce protection at the system level.

What does FamilyControls do?

When enabled, WhitelistVideo uses Apple's built-in FamilyControls framework to:

1. Block YouTube in all browsers — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and any other browser on the device
2. Shield apps — Completely block the YouTube app, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and any other apps you choose
3. Prevent bypass — Your child cannot access YouTube except through WhitelistVideo's filtered player

What do I need?

• Your child's iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later
• WhitelistVideo installed and activated on the device
• Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode to approve the setup
• About 2 minutes

How to enable FamilyControls

On your child's iPhone or iPad

1. Open the WhitelistVideo app

2. If not already activated, activate with your parent code first

3. A consent screen appears: "WhitelistVideo needs Screen Time access to block YouTube in browsers"

4. Tap Allow Screen Time Access

5. Authenticate with Face ID / Touch ID / passcode

6. Select apps to shield (optional but recommended):

   • A list of apps appears — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
   • Select which apps to completely block on this device
   • Tap Done (or "Skip for now" — you can configure this later in Settings)

7. Setup complete — YouTube is now blocked system-wide except inside WhitelistVideo

Protection modes

WhitelistVideo automatically detects which protection mode is available on the device:

The app tries Child Account mode first. If the device doesn't have a child Apple ID, it falls back to Individual mode.

What a child can do in Individual mode

In Individual mode, a child with access to device Settings can:

• Go to Settings → Screen Time → scroll to the bottom → tap Turn Off Screen Time to remove all restrictions
• Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management to check for or remove configuration profiles

How to prevent this

Set up a child Apple ID via Family Sharing. With a child account:

• The child cannot access Screen Time settings at all — only the parent can manage them remotely
• The child cannot turn off Screen Time or revoke FamilyControls access
• App deletion is blocked automatically without any additional configuration

How to check your protection mode

In the WhitelistVideo app on your child's device:

1. Enter your PIN to access Settings
2. Look for the Screen Time Protection row
3. You'll see:
   • Status: Green checkmark (authorized) or red (revoked)
   • Protection mode: "Child Account" or "Individual"
   • Shielded apps: Number of apps blocked (e.g., "3 apps blocked")

App shielding

App shielding blocks specific apps at the iOS system level. When an app is shielded:

• It shows an Apple system overlay and cannot be opened
• The child cannot bypass it — it's enforced by iOS, not by WhitelistVideo
• Shields are always active — they don't toggle on and off

Recommended apps to shield

Managing shielded apps later

1. Open WhitelistVideo on the child's device
2. Enter your PIN to access Settings
3. Tap Manage Shielded Apps
4. Add or remove apps from the shield list

What gets blocked and what doesn't

YouTube domains blocked in browsers

FamilyControls blocks these domains system-wide:

• youtube.com and www.youtube.com
• m.youtube.com (mobile YouTube)
• youtu.be (short links)
• music.youtube.com (YouTube Music)

What still works

• YouTube inside WhitelistVideo — plays normally with your filtering rules
• Other websites — FamilyControls only blocks YouTube domains, not general browsing
• App Store — still accessible (use Screen Time's Ask to Buy for control)
• Apple's Screen Time settings — coexist with FamilyControls (they're separate systems)

Screen Time settings when using FamilyControls

If you've previously configured Screen Time to block YouTube, some settings now conflict with FamilyControls. Here's what to keep, change, and avoid:

If YouTube is blocked inside WhitelistVideo

If YouTube won't load inside the WhitelistVideo app:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content
2. Check the "Never Allow" list — if youtube.com is there, remove it
3. Set Web Content to "Unrestricted" or "Limit Adult Websites" (without YouTube in Never Allow)
4. FamilyControls will continue blocking YouTube in browsers independently

Conflicts with other parental control apps

Apps that may conflict: Bark, Kidslox, Qustodio, OurPact, Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and other parental control apps that use Apple's FamilyControls or Screen Time API.

Apple's own Screen Time is NOT affected — it's a separate system that coexists with third-party FamilyControls apps.

How to resolve a conflict

1. On the child's device, go to Settings > Screen Time
2. Look for which third-party app has Screen Time access
3. Remove that app's Screen Time access (or uninstall the app)
4. Return to WhitelistVideo and tap Allow Screen Time Access again

For detailed steps, see Resolving FamilyControls Conflicts.

If you want to keep both apps

If you prefer to keep the other parental control app:

• WhitelistVideo will still filter YouTube within its own app
• You'll need to configure Screen Time manually to block YouTube in browsers
• The other app can handle non-YouTube restrictions

Important limitations

iPad Split View

WhitelistVideo requires full-screen mode on iPad. This prevents the child from opening our app in one pane (which would disable the browser filter) while browsing YouTube in Safari in the other pane.

TestFlight builds

FamilyControls features do not work in TestFlight builds due to an Apple sandbox limitation. They work in App Store builds and development-signed builds.

Checking FamilyControls status

In the WhitelistVideo app Settings, the Screen Time Protection row shows:

• Green checkmark — FamilyControls is active and protecting the device
• Red indicator — Access was revoked (tap to re-authorize)
• Not available — Device doesn't meet requirements (iOS 16+)

If access was revoked (e.g., by the child in Individual mode), tap the Re-authorize button to re-request access.

FamilyControls setup complete

With FamilyControls enabled:

• YouTube is blocked in Safari, Chrome, and all browsers
• Shielded apps (YouTube, TikTok, etc.) cannot be opened
• Your child can only watch YouTube through WhitelistVideo's filtered player
• Your filtering rules, whitelist, and blacklist all apply