In this digital age where kids have access to virtually any part of the internet, protecting them from harmful content is more difficult than ever.
YouTube is full of family-friendly videos, but there are also plenty of age-inappropriate ones on the video streaming platform as well
As a parent, the desire to prevent your children from consuming certain objectionable content is understandable. If you’re looking for effective ways to go about it, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can block YouTube channels. By reading this, you’ll learn:
- The different ways to block a YouTube channel, including the powerful Restricted Mode
- Other third-party software and security options available to you to block YouTube channels
- How to completely restrict and/or track your child’s access to YouTube.
Let’s get into it!
Can You Block YouTube Channels?
The short answer is: yes, you can block YouTube channels.
As mentioned above, there’s plenty of content designed for kids, but there are just as many channels that post inappropriate videos as well. Fortunately, blocking these channels is fairly easy.
How to Block a YouTube Channel
The exact process of blocking a YouTube channel depends on which platform you’re working with. We’ll explore all of them in this section:
On Desktop
If your child primarily uses YouTube’s desktop version, here’s how you can block channels:
- Click on the channel you want to block. Below the channel’s profile picture is a row of tabs that read “Home”, “Videos”, “Shorts”, and so on. Find and click the “About” tab.
- Below the “Stats” on the bottom right-hand corner of the “About” tab, you’ll see an icon of a waving flag. Click on the flag, then click “Block user”. A confirmation box will pop up. Click “Submit”.
- If you’ve already created a YouTube Kids account for your children, you’ll see an alternative option under the flag: “Block user for kids”.
- Another pop-up will appear where you can individually block said channel for each of your kids’ profiles (if you have more than one).
From there, the channel in question will no longer be able to comment on videos you’ve posted. Their content may still pop up in your Recommended videos, but you can take action to minimize that:
- Select a video from the channel you don’t want to see
- Click the three dots on the right-hand side of the video
- Tap the “Don’t recommend this channel” button to see less of the channel’s content.
YouTube Restricted Mode
One of the powerful weapons you have in your arsenal is Restricted Mode.
This is an optional feature that automatically screens and weeds out potentially harmful and mature content, so you don’t have to see it when you use the platform. Restricted Mode relies heavily on YouTube’s algorithms.
How to Enable YouTube Restricted Mode on Android
If your child’s primary device is an Android phone, here’s how you can enable Restricted Mode:
- Open the Android app and click on your profile icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Scroll down and click “Settings”, then “General” (at the top of the list).
- Scroll down to “Restricted Mode”. Flip the switch to “On”.
How to Enable YouTube Restricted Mode on the Computer
To activate Restricted Mode on your computer:
- Access YouTube and click on your profile icon in the top right-hand corner.
- A menu will pop up. Scroll down to find “Restricted Mode: Off”.
- Click on the section and flip the toggle to turn Restricted Mode on.
Note that Restricted Mode will be only activated for the browser you’re currently using. You’ll need to manually activate this setting in all browsers that your child has access to.
How to Enable YouTube Restricted Mode on iPhone & iPad
The method for activating Restricted Mode on iPhones and iPads is pretty much identical to that of Android devices:
- Open the app and click on your profile icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Scroll down and tap “Settings”, then “General” (also at the top of the list).
- Find “Restricted Mode” and tap the option to turn it on.
YouTube Kids App
YouTube Kids is a handy app tailored for children. Here’s how you can block channels on your child’s YouTube Kids app:
How to Block YouTube Channels on The YouTube Kids App
- Open the YouTube Kids app and visit the channel you want to block.
- Click the three dots next to the channel’s name.
- Click “Block this channel”. This will prompt you to answer a math equation or enter your custom passcode. Once you’ve done so, the block will then take effect.
Blocking YouTube Channels Using Third-Party Parental Control Apps
Sometimes, parents want a greater degree of control over the content that their young children are consuming.
In case YouTube’s own settings are insufficient, here are other third-party parental control apps available to you:
Qustodio
Qustodio has a special feature for monitoring your child’s YouTube use. You can see what your child has been watching and whether they’ve attempted to access blocked content.
You’ll also be able to monitor what your child has searched for and what videos they’ve watched as a result.
With Qustodio, you can subscribe your kids to educational channels and block content that isn’t productive.
In extreme cases, you’ll also have the ability to block the YouTube app completely.
MMGuardian
MMGuardian allows you to oversee your child’s time on YouTube. It works best when you have the MMGuardian app installed on both your and your child’s devices.
You’ll then be able to block inappropriate channels or the entire app for short periods. If you have more than one child, you can block different content for each.
Bark
Nowadays, children are creating on YouTube just as much as they are watching.
Bark not only helps you protect your child in regard to the content they consume but also helps you to monitor what they post, too.
With Bark, you’ll have access to your child’s searches, watch history, and posts – even if they’re in Incognito mode. Based on what you see, you can then block videos and channels accordingly.
Norton Family
Norton Family allows you to distinguish between screen time for school and for leisure, giving you the freedom to block or restrict YouTube when it’s school hours.
It regularly reports inappropriate sites so you can stop your child from accessing them. You’ll know if there are repeat searches in certain categories, allowing early intervention.
Is There a Way to Block Specific Channels on Your Child’s Device?
Yes, it’s possible to block specific channels on your child’s device. Here are four ways to do so:
Linked Parent Account (Desktop)
Using the app Family Link, you can monitor your children (if they’re under 13) when they’re online.
From your device, you can control what happens on your child’s device, such as setting up a one-hour screen time limit for YouTube. This app is especially handy if you have multiple young children.
Family Link basically acts as a hub for parental controls, so you can activate Restricted Mode, block or unblock videos, and more.
YouTube App
The YouTube app is where it’s all happening.
As you scan the Home page, you’ll see the video recommendations your child is receiving. The more content you block, the more their recommendations will be tailored.
You can also check the History tab to see a chronological list of every video your child has watched. This also applies to their searches.
There are practically infinite channels on YouTube, so you’ll never be able to check through them all.
However, you are able to block individual channels that don’t appeal to you — especially those that your child has frequently been consuming.
YouTube Kids (Home Screen)
YouTube Kids is made with two parties in mind: children, and their parents.
- On the home screen, tap the three vertical dots on the bottom right corner of each video’s thumbnail.
- Select “Block this video”.
You can then also block channels you aren’t a fan of and toggle whether your kid can use the search bar or not (through the padlock button at the lower-right corner).
Blocking from the YouTube Kids Watch Page
The watch page can be found by tapping the “Watch it again” tab on the upper part of the home screen. This will then show you your child’s activity on the app.
If there’s something you want to block:
- Tap on the video
- Click the three dots in the upper-right corner and select “Block”.
Can You Completely Restrict Your Child’s Access to YouTube?
Yes, you can block their access completely.
As a parent, you’ll have this ability when using a third-party app such as Qustodio.
With these apps, you’ll be able to allocate a little YouTube time to your children daily – or even cut it out completely.
Is It Possible to Track the Exact YouTube Videos That Your Child Watches?
Yes, you can track the exact YouTube videos that your child watches. There are a few different ways to do this.
If you’re using YouTube Kids, scroll the home page or log in as a parent. You’ll be able to see what content your children have been consuming.
If your child is using the regular YouTube app instead, visit the History tab to see a chronological list of the videos that they’ve watched.
And again, plenty of good third-party apps allow you to see your children’s watch history from your own device. Some apps will even grant you the power to remotely block channels you deem to be inappropriate.
Other Security Options You Can Try
Aside from the methods we’ve just discussed, here are some other security options you should consider when it comes to protecting your children from harmful content:
Monitor YouTube Usage Regularly
A child can churn through a lot of videos on YouTube very quickly. Now that there are YouTube Shorts on top of long-form videos, there are more chances than ever for inappropriate material to enter your home.
Set timers or keep an eye on the clock to ensure YouTube use doesn’t get out of hand.
Block Offensive Channels Manually
You can’t count on the Youtube algorithm (or the algorithms of third-party apps) to filter out every single harmful video.
To achieve the safest YouTube experience possible for your children, your vigilance is required at all times.
Should you find offensive content that’s somehow slipped through automated algorithms, block these manually and immediately.
Educate Kids on Internet Safety
One way or another, your child is going to encounter YouTube and the Internet. As a responsible parent, take it upon yourself to teach them what to expect and what to avoid.
If there are no parameters set, your children won’t know what’s appropriate to watch and what isn’t.
If they see something that makes them uncomfortable, encourage them to come to you and talk about it. This, along with parenting controls, will result in a safe YouTube experience.
The Bottom Line
YouTube is one of the most popular sites in the world, especially for children. As a parent, managing what they can and can’t see is daunting. However, it’s also extremely necessary.
Using the tools and tips listed above, both you and your child will be able to navigate YouTube safely!