YouTube

What is YouTube?

YouTube is the world’s largest video platform, owned by Google. It includes YouTube Kids (for younger children), YouTube Shorts (a short-form video format competing with TikTok), live streaming, comments sections and community posts. YouTube is also a search engine — many teens use it to learn, not just to watch.

Age rating: 13 (YouTube Kids is available for younger children).

Why do kids like it?

• Endless content. Gaming, music, tutorials, vlogs — there’s something for everyone.
• Creators they follow like friends. Children develop parasocial relationships with YouTubers and feel they know them personally.
• Shorts for quick entertainment. Short-form video that’s easy to scroll through, just like TikTok.
• A learning platform. Everything from schoolwork to hobbies and creative projects.
• Free to use. No subscription needed for most content.

What are the real risks?

• Algorithm rabbit holes. The recommendation algorithm can gradually escalate content towards more extreme material — from innocent to inappropriate in just a few clicks.
• The comments section. Can contain toxic, hateful or predatory content, especially on videos aimed at children.
• Live streams and live chat. Children can be contacted by strangers in real time during streams.
• Autoplay leads to inappropriate content. Automatic playback can lead children to videos that are not age-appropriate.
• Data collection. Google collects extensive data about viewing habits and search history.
• Excessive screen time. The platform is designed to keep you watching — the “watch next” feature is deliberately habit-forming.
• Misinformation. Not all content is fact-checked, and conspiracy theories spread easily.
• Young creators sharing personal information. Children who make their own videos can unwittingly share their address, school or other details.
• Monetisation pressure on young creators. Children who dream of becoming YouTubers can face pressure about views and revenue.

Settings to check

1. YouTube Supervised Experiences: Create a parent-managed account that lets you control what your child can watch and search for.
2. Restricted Mode: Settings → General → turn on “Restricted Mode” to filter out potentially mature content.
3. Turn off autoplay: Tap your profile picture → Settings → Autoplay → turn off. This prevents endless automatic playback.
4. Disable comments viewing: In supervised accounts, you can restrict access to comment sections.
5. Set reminders and breaks: Settings → General → “Remind me to take a break” and “Remind me when it’s bedtime”.
6. Review watch and search history: Go to My Activity (myactivity.google.com) to see what your child has watched and searched for.
7. YouTube Kids app: For children under 13 — a separate, more controlled environment with curated content.
8. Disable live chat participation: Ensure your child cannot participate in live chat during live streams.
9. Manage ad personalisation: Google account settings → Ad settings → limit personalised ads.

How to talk about it

“What channels do you watch the most? Can you show me some of your favourites?”

“Do you read the comments under videos? Have you ever seen something unpleasant there?”

“Have you ever started watching one video and suddenly spent much longer than you planned? That’s how the algorithm works.”

“Would you like to make your own videos? Then we should talk about what’s wise to share — and what you should keep private.”

Last reviewed: March 2026