YouTube is a beautiful thing. It’s a fantastic invention that completely changed the way we use the internet forever. The most popular video streaming platform in the world can help you find whatever you want. Most parents use YouTube to keep their toddlers and kids occupied with cartoons daily. Since kids learn things quickly, it won’t take them long to start browsing YouTube themselves.
However, as we all know, kids shouldn’t be exposed to some things before they get a little older and blocking porn is definitely not about Youtube. But as a parent, it’s your responsibility to filter the content available to your child. Read on and learn how to block YouTube channels you don’t want your kids to watch, and choose which type of channels appear in the search.
How to block YouTube channels on a computer
Download an extension
You can use the Video Blocker extension in three different ways. You can find the channels and videos using “channel,” “keyword,” or “wildcard.” Just type in the name of the YouTube channel you want to hide within the Chrome extension.
Click on the little icon to open the extension and make sure you type the exact name using capital and small letters, as well as symbols.
Deny YouTube video recommendations
This option won’t block entire channels, but it will minimize the chances of them appearing in the recommendation bar. Even so, some videos by those particular channels could still show up, but the one you blocked/not interested won’t.
Block a YouTube user
If you want to know how to limit YouTube time or block a YouTube channel from showing up, you can always blacklist it. Some people are just too rude, or they use an inappropriate language you don’t want your kids to see on the screen. You should know that the same user can create another YouTube account and continue the behavior. You can report them, but they can do it all over again.
- Click on the user you want to block and go to their channel profile.
- Click “About” and click on the flag icon to get to the “block” feature.
- Select “Block User,” and the comments they made will become invisible.
However, they will still be able to watch your videos and vice versa, but at least your kids won’t have to read their comments.
Pause watch history or use YouTube “Incognito” mode
Before we get to the severe ways of blocking YouTube on Android and iOS, there’s one all but a forgotten feature that can be very helpful. YouTube introduced the “Incognito” mode back in 2018 that stops the tracking of the videos you’ve watched. That way, the platform won’t have a record of what your children are watching, so it won’t recommend similar channels. Since it can be counterproductive, use it only as a last resort.
- Open YouTube on a PC and click on the three-line icon in the top left corner of the window.
- Then select “History” and choose “Pause Watch History.”
- Hit “Pause” and YouTube will stop the tracking.
- Uncheck the box, and the monitoring will return to normal.
On phones, the feature is located in the YouTube app’s settings. Go there and tap “History” to get to the “Pause Watch History” slider.
Customize content with YouTube kids
So, is there a way to block a YouTube channel that’s 100% safe and working? The answer is yes! The YouTube Kids app gives you complete control over your child’s YouTube experience. You can customize everything, leaving the sensitive channels and videos away from your kids. Here is what you should do:
- Open the app and tap the small lock icon located at the bottom of the screen.
- Select “Sign in.”
- Select the account you want to use and tap “Send Parental Consent Email.”
- Go to your email and find the activation code.
- Enter the code in the app to complete the process.
The YouTube Premium Kids feature is available only in the US, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Block content
You can block any content within the YouTube Kids app in a few easy steps. When the app is signed in to your profile, entire channels or videos will disappear from the search. Your kids won’t be able to access them at all. You can also find out how to put parental controls on youtube.
From the Home screen:
- Open the app and tap the three vertical dots in the “More” section of a video.
- Select “Block this video.” You can also choose “Block this channel.”
- Enter your passcode or the series of numbers that appear on the screen.
From the Watch Page:
- Repeat the first step from above.
- Select “Block”
- Hit “Block this video” or “Block this channel” in the box that appears.
- Choose “Block” one more time.
- Enter the numbers or your custom passcode.
How to block YouTube channels on a mobile device
If your kids watch YouTube videos on your iPod tablet or iPhone, you should enable the parental controls first. The YouTube app doesn’t come with a Safety mode feature, but it does offer the “SafeSearch” option. You can use it to choose the type of content that returns in the search bar. The Safety mode works much better, so let your kids watch YouTube videos only through the browser. You can also find out how to set up parental controls on Roku.
Here is how you set it up:
- Open the Safari browser and go to www.youtube.com.
- Tap the icon in the top left corner and sign in to your account.
- Tap the icon again and tap the gear icon. Select “On” next to Safety mode.
Filter online content with parental control apps
mSpy is a parental control app that gives you complete control over your child’s device. It tracks their cell phone location without them knowing, keeps track of all social media pages, websites, time, and other details about browsing history. It works on all browsers, and it supports all websites, not just YouTube.
If you’d like to use this parental control app, all you need to do is to buy the plan for your needs, install the app on the device, and track everything from your phone. You will have a complete insight into all actions, making sure nothing goes without notice. Keeping your children safe is the most important thing, after all. Read the full review here before purchasing it.
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