YouTube supervised accounts: a parent guide

There are two kinds of supervision

YouTube now uses the word "supervised" for two different setups. The first is for children under 13, or the local age set by Google. A parent chooses one of three content levels. The second is for teens. It links the teen and parent in Family Center but does not give the teen one of those three filtered catalogs.

That split matters. Many parents read about child content levels and expect the same controls to continue through the teen years.

The three child content settings

Google's current content guide defines these levels:

Explore

Explore generally matches content ratings for viewers age 9 and up. Google positions it as the first move from YouTube Kids into the larger YouTube catalog.

This is not an approval list. YouTube's systems select videos that fit the Explore policy. There is no main-YouTube level aimed below age nine.

Explore more

Explore more generally matches ratings for viewers age 13 and up. It opens more music, gaming, live streams and other videos than Explore.

Children on Explore more can read comments but cannot write them.

Most of YouTube

Most of YouTube includes almost all videos except content marked 18+ and other videos that YouTube excludes from supervised accounts. Google describes this level as suitable for children ready for content aimed at older teens.

Children on this level can also read comments but cannot write them.

What parents can control

The parent can change the content level in Family Link or YouTube Family Center. Current Google help also lists these controls:

• block exact channels from the linked parent account
• disable autoplay
• pause or clear search and watch history
• review watch history on the child's device
• manage YouTube screen time, including a Shorts feed limit

Channel blocking has a key limit. Google says it blocks only uploads from that exact channel. A reupload on another channel and a similar channel remain available if they fit the content level.

What parents often learn late

First, Google says its automated systems are not perfect and will make mistakes. A content level is a wide policy bucket. It is not the same as the parent approving each video.

Second, the three levels do not form a smooth age ladder. Explore begins at a general 9+ fit. Explore more then jumps to 13+. The labels describe broad catalog rules, not a promise that every video will suit every child at that age.

Third, teen supervision is a different product. Google's family comparison says supervised teens can use all of YouTube except age-restricted content. There are no Explore levels for teens. A parent or teen can remove teen supervision.

How to set up a child account

For a child who is ready to leave YouTube Kids:

1. 1
   Open Family Link and select the child.
2. 2
   Open Controls, then Content restrictions, then YouTube.
3. 3

   Choose Explore, Explore more or Most of YouTube after reading Google's full policy for that level.

4. 4

   Review autoplay, history, channel blocks and time controls. Check the child's feed after the change.

Before adding supervision to an existing under-age Google Account, read Google's setup warning. Google says the change can delete existing YouTube videos, comments, chats, posts, playlists and some purchases from that child account. Download anything the child needs first.

When the three levels are not enough

YouTube Kids has an Approve content yourself mode for a true parent-picked catalog. The main YouTube supervised experience does not offer the same full approval model. It gives broad levels plus exact-channel blocks.

Vidward takes a third path on computers. It keeps the regular YouTube site but adds parent-set channel, video, title keyword and format rules in the browser. It can also allow only approved channels. It does not carry those rules into phones, tablets, TVs or consoles.

For a direct tool comparison, read Family Link vs Vidward. If your child is leaving the Kids app, compare the older-kid options.