Is YouTube Safe for Kids?
Age rating is set by Google Play, not by Unstar. This page explains it and adds what parents report in reviews. Not affiliated with Google LLC.
What YouTube's age rating means
YouTube is rated Teen on the Google Play, 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.
Things for parents to check
- YouTube offers in-app purchases. Without a purchase password or spending limit, a child can run up charges. Set up Ask to Buy (iOS) or a Play purchase PIN (Android).
- YouTube shows ads. Ads inside kids' apps can lead to unexpected content or accidental taps that open other stores or links.
What parents and users report about YouTube
Users frequently complain about excessive and unskippable ads, app performance issues including errors and inability to open or update, and compatibility problems with certain devices.
Summarized from 152 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 Teen on the Google Play, 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 Google Play rates YouTube as Teen. 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.