What Is YouTube Kids? Everything You Need to Know About the Video Platform for Kids
Reading Time: 5 minutesYouTube Kids is a safe way to let your children watch their favorite content without any worries.
Chances are that you know and use YouTube on a daily basis. However, a lot of the content on YouTube is far from kid-friendly, and oftentimes it can be difficult to control what the little ones see. Fortunately, the introduction of YouTube Kids has given parents and caregivers a little peace of mind.
The YouTube Kids platform is all about being cute, fun, and kid-friendly. Yet, what exactly is the video platform all about, how does it work, and what content is available?
What Is YouTube Kids?
The YouTube Kids platform is a guarded community where kids can safely watch their favorite videos. You can access it on just about any device, from a mobile phone to a laptop or a computer.
And as it is a dedicated kid’s channel, it is limited to only showing video content based on your child’s age group. Plus, with a range of handy and well-designed parental controls, YouTube Kids is great for parents and not just kids.
How Does YouTube Kids Work?
YouTube Kids is a video site for kids that is safe and fun. Furthermore, it is super simple to set up and even easier to navigate, particularly for the little ones. So here’s how parents or caregivers can set up YouTube Kids in just a few short minutes.
First, you can access YouTube Kids from your existing YouTube account under More from YouTube. Alternatively, you can download the free YouTube Kids app on iOS or Android. Then you can move on to setting up your account.
Put in your date of birth, so YouTube Kids can verify that you’re actually an adult. Once you’ve submitted your age, you’ll have to watch a short instructional video and sign in to your YouTube account.
From there, you can add your kids’ personal profiles—you can add up to eight in total. You can even customize each profile to include a name, profile picture, and age. The age group chosen determines what types of videos are available on YouTube Kids, but you can edit the settings later if you’d like.
Download: YouTube Kids for iOS | Android (Free)
What Content Can You Expect to Find on YouTube Kids?
Now that you’ve set up YouTube Kids for your little ones, what content is available for them to watch? There are three main age groups on YouTube Kids—4 and under, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12.
Each age group controls what videos are available for them to watch. For instance, young, preschool-aged kids have access to various video categories such as Shows, Explore, Learning, and Music, while older kids have access to an extra category called Gaming.
What’s more, there is another option where you get to approve the content yourself. By choosing this option, you can manage everything your child is allowed to watch, including only videos, channels, and collections you authorize.
There is a massive library of videos on YouTube Kids, with each category focusing on something different. Shows include episodes and seasons of series from well-known channels like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Music is, of course, all about music, and it is full of official music videos as well as lengthy music compilations.
Learning focuses solely on educational videos from popular channels such as Blippi and Sesame Street. Explore is where kids can find random videos from some of the most popular YouTube channels for kids.
The Recommended category appears after kids have watched a couple of videos and is essentially an array of suggested video content based on what each kid usually likes watching. Last is the Gaming category, which is exclusive to older kids between the ages of 9 and 12.
Does YouTube Kids Have Any Restrictions?
Although there are restrictions on YouTube Kids, they are essential. These restrictions ensure that every parent or caregiver can keep a watchful eye on what their kids are watching. So what restrictions can you assert on YouTube Kids to create a safer online experience for your children?
The first thing you have to decide when you set up a YouTube Kids account is whether to keep the search feature turned on or off. If you permit your kids to use the search function, then they have the freedom to search for any video content that they please. If you turn off the search function, they cannot search for any new videos and are restricted to those that appear on the home page and under the other various categories. Parents or caregivers can switch the search feature on and off as they see fit.
The built-in timer feature is a blessing because excessive screen time for kids can often negatively affect their minds and bodies. The timer allows you to restrict how long kids watch videos and then locks the app when the time is up.
To use it, simply select the lock icon in the bottom right corner of the app, select Timer, and then select a time limit of up to 60 minutes. Unfortunately, it seems you can only use the timer on the YouTube Kids app and not on a laptop or PC.
You can also access various other parental controls by selecting the lock icon. Under parent settings, you can edit each of your kid’s profile settings. In addition to setting a secret passcode for their profile, these settings include what video content they can watch and whether they can use the search feature.
One of the most necessary parental features on YouTube Kids is the ability to block videos and block channels. Although the content is deemed appropriate for each age group, it all depends on your family’s preferences.
Perhaps, you would rather your younger kids didn’t have the option to listen to songs by Billie Eilish or Justin Bieber. If so, select the three-dot icon next to a video or channel and block it. In addition, you can report a specific video if you find it to be inappropriate. Like YouTube’s ‘made for kids’ videos on the main platform, YouTube Kids does not include comments on any of their videos.
However, YouTube Kids also does not include likes and dislikes. It is curated to be incredibly kid-friendly, which means it only includes play, next, and volume buttons along with other basic settings and nothing more. Moreover, each kid’s profile has a Watch it again page where you can keep a close eye on what they’ve been watching recently and what channels they subscribe to.
A Safe, Fun, and Educational Online Video Experience Just for Kids
Sure, some videos are specifically for kids on the regular YouTube platform. But unfortunately, the rest of YouTube certainly isn’t for kids. And sadly, there is absolutely nothing stopping them from accidentally stumbling upon some strange and inappropriate stuff.
The good news is that YouTube Kids is a much safer space for kids to enjoy their favorite shows. Plus, parents can feel more at ease and in control of what their little ones watch.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-youtube-kids-everything-you-need-to-know/
Ref: makeuseof
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