I remember the moment we first downloaded YouTube Kids. It was one of those wet Sunday afternoons when everyone had had enough of each other, and the promise of safe, child-friendly video content sounded like a lifeline. And, to be fair, it has been helpful. But if you’re imagining a utopia of gentle storytelling and wholesome curiosity, the reality is… slightly more robotic.
And occasionally quite odd.
So, is YouTube Kids actually safe? What’s really on there? And how do you make it work for your family without ending up with a Peppa Pig remix burned into your brain?
Let’s take a look.
Is It Actually Safe?
Sort of. YouTube Kids is definitely a step up from handing over the full-fat version of YouTube. It’s built specifically for children and includes filters to block out adult content, comment sections, and search results that might send them down a rabbit hole of chaos.
But while it’s safer, it’s not foolproof. The filtering is algorithm-based, which means it’s pretty good at spotting the obvious stuff – nudity, violence, swearing – but not so hot at identifying bizarre or inappropriate videos that look child-friendly on the surface.
That’s how you end up with things like poorly animated superheroes in strange moral situations, or videos where characters do things that are clearly aimed at racking up views rather than actually teaching or entertaining children in any meaningful way.
The good news is that YouTube is much quicker at removing dodgy content than it used to be. The not-so-good news? Things can still slip through, especially when search is enabled. So yes, it’s safer than regular YouTube. But no, it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it solution.
What Parents Often Get Wrong About YouTube Kids
One of the biggest traps is assuming that YouTube Kids equals a completely safe zone. I get it – when the app is marketed as “made for children,” it’s tempting to think it’s all sorted for you. While there are no inappropriate adverts on the kids app, there are a few common pitfalls that are easy to fall into:
Not setting up age restrictions properly
By default, the app offers three age brackets: Preschool, Younger, and Older. Each one comes with different types of content. But if you skip this step or don’t pay much attention, your four-year-old could end up watching videos aimed at ten-year-olds. Which usually means more YouTubers shouting “What’s up, guys?!” and fewer gentle storytime animations.
Leaving search enabled
Search seems harmless, but it opens up access to a much wider pool of content – including stuff that hasn’t been fully vetted. If you want a more curated experience, switching search off is a wise move.
Not checking what they’re watching
Even with filters in place, some videos are just weird. Not harmful, necessarily, but odd enough to make you wonder how they got approved. I once walked in on a video of someone peeling soap for ten minutes while a robot voice explained colours. Educational? Debatable.
Using it as a babysitter
This one’s understandable – we all need a breather sometimes. But when screen time becomes background noise or default entertainment, it’s easy to lose track of what your child is actually consuming.
How to Set it up the Right Way
The good news is that you can customise the app fairly easily once you know where to look.
Here’s a quick guide to getting started in a way that makes it work better for you and your kids.
Create a Child Profile
Start by setting up a separate profile for your child (or one for each, if you have more than one age group to manage). You’ll need to enter their birth year – this determines the type of content the app recommends.
Choose the Right Age Range
YouTube Kids lets you pick from:
- Preschool (under 5s): Focused on songs, simple stories, and basic learning.
- Younger (5–8 years): A mix of shows, crafts, educational content, and some age-appropriate silliness.
- Older (9–12 years): Includes music videos, gaming content, DIY, and more mature themes – still child-friendly but more like the ‘real’ YouTube experience.
Turn Off Search
This is found in the parental settings. Disabling search limits your child to a handpicked selection of videos and channels that YouTube has vetted. It also prevents them from going rogue with creative spelling attempts that accidentally unlock the weird side of the internet.
Block Unwanted Videos or Channels
If something annoying or unsuitable slips through, you can block it by tapping the three dots next to the video and selecting “Block this video” or “Block this channel.” You’ll need to enter your parental passcode to confirm.
Set Screen Time Limits
YouTube Kids includes a built-in timer so you can cap usage without the usual end-of-video standoffs. When the time’s up, the app locks and shows a “Time’s Up!” message. They’ll still try to negotiate, of course, but at least the app does the heavy lifting.
Review their Watch History
You can view what your child has been watching in the settings menu. It’s a good way to spot if they’ve been fixated on one type of content, or if something weird has slipped into the mix.
Use the “Approved Content Only” Mode
This setting lets you choose exactly what your child can watch by approving individual videos or channels. It’s more work upfront, but great for younger kids or if you really want to lock things down.
The Weird World of YouTube Kids
Even when it’s technically “safe,” YouTube Kids still hosts a lot of strange stuff.
I’m talking:
- Plastic eggs being opened by floating hands
- CGI cars driven by crash test dummies crashing into flames to a soundtrack of screams and dance music
- Toy unboxing videos that go on for an hour and involve no dialogue, just excited squeaking
- Animations that look like they were made in Microsoft Paint, voiced by someone with English as a 3rd language
- Hamsters trying to escape an obstacle course made of toilet rolls and cardboard boxes
Some of it’s fine – harmless filler, good for winding down. But some of it is pure brain rot. The TV equivalent of junk food.
The trouble is, the algorithm rewards things that get watched for long periods, not necessarily things that are good. So unless you step in and steer them towards content that’s genuinely educational or creative, it’s easy for them to fall into a loop of glitter slime and muddy toys being sprayed clean until their eyes glaze over.
There are great channels out there — ones that teach phonics, inspire curiosity, or tell proper stories. But they’re often buried beneath the noise.
Final Thoughts
YouTube Kids isn’t bad. In fact, it’s a massive improvement on the main YouTube app if you’ve got young children. But it works best when you treat it like a toolkit, not a quick fix.
Set it up carefully. Check in regularly. Talk to your kids about what they’re watching and why it matters. You don’t have to hover over them every second, but a little bit of involvement goes a long way.
And if you ever find yourself watching a video of a man whispering at a dinosaur toy while music from a doorbell plays in the background… you’re not alone. We’ve all been there.