Setting Up YouTube Parental Controls
A complete guide to setting up parental controls for YouTube. Learn how to configure YouTube's built-in features and enhance them with WhitelistVideo for comprehensive protection.
Overview: YouTube Parental Control Options
YouTube offers several built-in parental control features, but each has limitations. Here's what's available and how to set them up:
| Feature | Age Range | Control Level | Bypass Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Kids | 3-8 years | Curated app | Low (separate app) |
| Restricted Mode | All ages | Content filter | High (easily disabled) |
| Supervised Accounts | 9-17 years | Content levels | Medium |
| WhitelistVideo | 8-15 years | Channel-level | Very Low |
Recommendation: For children ages 8-15, combine YouTube's Supervised Accounts with WhitelistVideo for maximum protection. YouTube's features filter content categories; WhitelistVideo controls specific channels.
YouTube's Built-in Parental Controls
YouTube Kids App
Best for children ages 3-8. A separate app with curated content.
Download YouTube Kids
Get the app from Google Play (opens in a new tab) or App Store (opens in a new tab).
Create a Parent Account
Link your Google account as the parent supervisor.
Set Up a Child Profile
Choose an age range: Preschool (4 and under), Younger (5-8), or Older (9-12).
Configure Settings
- Enable or disable search
- Set a timer
- Turn on "Approved Content Only" for maximum control
Limitations: YouTube Kids occasionally shows inappropriate content despite filtering. Older children (8+) often reject it as "babyish" and demand regular YouTube access.
YouTube Restricted Mode
Filters mature content using automated signals. Available on regular YouTube.
Desktop Setup:
- Go to youtube.com (opens in a new tab) and sign in
- Click your profile picture → Settings
- Scroll to Restricted Mode
- Toggle Activate Restricted Mode
- Click Lock Restricted Mode on this browser (requires password)
Critical Limitation: Restricted Mode can be bypassed by:
- Using incognito/private browsing mode
- Using a different browser
- Signing out of the Google account
- Using a VPN or proxy
WhitelistVideo solves this by working at the OS level, which cannot be bypassed.
Google Family Link (Supervised Accounts)
For Android devices and Chromebooks. Requires a supervised Google account.
Install Family Link
Download the Google Family Link (opens in a new tab) app on your phone.
Create a Supervised Account
Create a Google account for your child managed by your parent account.
Configure YouTube Settings
In Family Link app:
- Select your child's account
- Tap Controls → Content restrictions → YouTube
- Choose a content level:
- Explore: Ages 9+
- Explore More: Ages 13+
- Most of YouTube: Mature filter only
Link to Devices
Sign in to your child's devices with their supervised account.
Limitations:
- Android/Chromebook focused (limited iOS support)
- Content levels are broad, not channel-specific
- No individual channel blocking
WhitelistVideo: Channel-Level Control
WhitelistVideo provides parental controls that YouTube doesn't offer:
What WhitelistVideo Adds
- Channel Whitelisting — Only approved channels are accessible
- Channel Blocking — Block specific channels permanently
- Shorts Blocking — Block YouTube Shorts entirely
- Bypass Prevention — Cannot be disabled by children
- Cross-Device Sync — Settings apply to all devices
- Request System — Children can request new channels
Setting Up WhitelistVideo
Install the Browser Extension
- Visit the Chrome Web Store
- Click Add to Chrome
- The extension icon appears in your browser toolbar
Download the Parent Dashboard App
- Get the app from Google Play (opens in a new tab) or App Store
- Create a parent account
- Complete email verification
Add Your Child
- Open the Parent Dashboard app
- Tap Add Child → Create Child Account
- Enter your child's name and age
- Note the activation code displayed
Activate Protection
- On your child's computer, click the WhitelistVideo extension icon
- Tap Connect to Parent
- Enter the activation code from your phone
- Protection is now active
Configure Protection Mode
In the Parent Dashboard:
- Tap your child's name → Manage tab
- Choose a protection level:
- Manual (SAFE): Only whitelisted channels allowed
- AI Shield (SECURE): Whitelisted + AI-approved content
- Start adding channels to the whitelist
Enable Advanced Protection (Recommended)
For maximum bypass prevention:
- Go to your child's computer
- Download the Desktop Installer
- Run the installer (requires admin password)
- This enables OS-level protection that cannot be bypassed
Learn more about Advanced Protection →
Combining YouTube's Controls with WhitelistVideo
For comprehensive protection, use multiple layers:
Recommended Setup for Ages 8-12
- Google Family Link: Create a supervised account with "Explore" content level
- WhitelistVideo: Set to "Manual (SAFE)" mode with 10-20 approved channels
- Advanced Protection: Install the desktop app for bypass prevention
Recommended Setup for Ages 13-15
- Google Family Link: Use "Explore More" content level
- WhitelistVideo: Set to "AI Shield (SECURE)" mode for broader access
- Blocklist: Add any specific channels you want blocked
- Advanced Protection: Enable for bypass prevention
Common Questions
Does YouTube have parental controls?
Yes, but they're limited. YouTube offers Restricted Mode (content filter), YouTube Kids (separate app), and Supervised Accounts (via Family Link). None of these allow blocking or approving specific channels — that's where WhitelistVideo fills the gap.
Can I put parental controls on the YouTube app?
The YouTube mobile app has basic Restricted Mode, but it's easily bypassed. For mobile YouTube control, use:
- Google Family Link for Android devices
- Screen Time for iOS devices
- WhitelistVideo's mobile web dashboard for cross-platform control
Why isn't Restricted Mode working?
Restricted Mode only works when:
- The user is signed in to YouTube
- They're using the same browser where it was enabled
- They're not in incognito mode
WhitelistVideo works regardless of sign-in status or browser mode.
Is YouTube Restricted Mode enough for kids?
For most parents, no. Restricted Mode:
- Uses imperfect automated filtering
- Doesn't allow channel-level control
- Is easily bypassed by tech-savvy kids
- Doesn't block YouTube Shorts
WhitelistVideo provides the granular control and bypass prevention that Restricted Mode lacks.
Troubleshooting
Child bypassed Restricted Mode
This is common. Restricted Mode can be bypassed via incognito mode or other browsers. Solution: Install WhitelistVideo with Advanced Protection for OS-level controls that cannot be bypassed.
YouTube Kids shows inappropriate content
YouTube Kids occasionally has filtering failures. For kids over 8, consider switching to regular YouTube with WhitelistVideo's whitelist-only mode — it's more restrictive than YouTube Kids.
Family Link settings not applying
- Ensure the child is signed in with their supervised account
- Check that the device is connected to the internet
- Force close and reopen the YouTube app
- Verify settings in the Family Link parent app
Related Guides
- Block YouTube Channels — Block specific channels
- Approve Channels — Build your whitelist
- YouTube Controls — Configure Shorts blocking
- OS Native Parental Controls — Device-level setup