Is YouTube Safe for Kids?
Age rating is set by App Store, not by Unstar. This page explains it and adds what parents report in reviews. Not affiliated with Google.
What YouTube's age rating means
YouTube is rated 12+ on the App Store, meaning it targets older teenagers, not young children. With parental controls and an honest conversation, many teens use apps like this fine, but the rating exists for a reason.
What parents and users report about YouTube
Users frequently complain about excessive and intrusive ads, including long unskippable ads and inappropriate ad placements during children's content. Many report app performance issues like freezing, especially during live streams or when casting via Chromecast. Others express frustration with YouTube's aggressive promotion of Shorts and Premium subscriptions, as well as the removal of the dislike button.
Summarized from 275 recent 1-3 star reviews. These are user reports, not verified claims.
How to keep your child safe with YouTube
Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set an age limit for apps, require Ask to Buy for purchases, and restrict or remove YouTube if it is above your child's age.
Use Google Family Link to approve installs, set a Play Store content rating limit, require purchase approval, and block or uninstall YouTube on your child's device.
YouTube for kids: frequently asked questions
Is YouTube safe for kids?
YouTube has an official age rating of 12+ on the App Store, aimed at older teens rather than young children. It can be appropriate with guidance, parental controls, and a conversation about what to share and who to talk to.
What age rating does YouTube have?
The App Store rates YouTube as 12+. This is the store's own content rating, set from the app's features and content, not our opinion. Use it as the starting point for whether it fits your child's age.
Can my child use YouTube safely?
If you decide to allow it, use device parental controls: Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions on iPhone, or Family Link and Play Store parental controls on Android. Turn on purchase approval, set age-appropriate content limits, and keep the account under your family group so you can see activity.
How do I block or remove YouTube from my child's phone?
On iPhone, open Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions, then restrict or delete the app and block reinstalling it. On Android, open Family Link, select your child, find YouTube and block or uninstall it. You can also set a store age limit so apps above your child's age cannot be installed.