Link YouTube with YouTube Kids and supervised accounts

Managing what children see on the Internet can be a real headache. YouTube, YouTube Kids and supervised accounts They offer many options, but they also raise questions: how to link everything, what you see on TV, what you see on your mobile, what can be blocked and what can't… If this sounds familiar, keep reading because we're going to sort everything out.

In this guide you will find, gathered and explained step by step, Everything you need to link YouTube with YouTube Kids and supervised experiencesWhat you need, how to set it up from Family Link and the YouTube app, what exactly you can control, how it works on Smart TVs, consoles and Chromecast, and what legal and technical limitations you should be aware of if your children are not yet old enough to use regular YouTube.

What you need to link YouTube with YouTube Kids and supervised accounts

Before you start tinkering with settings, it's a good idea to be clear about which components are involved. In order to Link and control YouTube, YouTube Kids, and supervised experiences You will need, at a minimum, the following:

• Adult Google AccountThis will be the main parental account from which you configure YouTube Kids, create child profiles, activate supervision, and manage permissions from Family Link or from the YouTube app itself.
• Minor's account or profileIt can be a full Google Account created for the child with Family Link (supervised account) or a YouTube Kids profile within the application, which is not a full account, but a child usage profile associated with your account.
• YouTube Kids app and/or web accessYouTube Kids is available as an app for mobile phones and tablets (Android and iOS) and also as a desktop web version. In both cases, it is based on filtered children's content and in a simplified interface for children.
• Family Link app: is Google's parental control app that lets you Configure content levels, block and unblock videos, decide if your child can use search, pause history, and control many other settings related to YouTube and YouTube Kids.
• YouTube app on your mobile phone or tabletFrom the YouTube app itself, you can also adjust parental settings, both for YouTube Kids and for supervised experiences on regular YouTube, as long as the child's account is under your supervision.

How YouTube Kids works and what you can control

YouTube Kids is designed as a "cut-down" version of YouTube that shows Popular videos and new content adapted for childrenEverything is organized so that children can manage on their own with relative ease, but always starting from an initial configuration that you, as an adult, must create.

On the YouTube Kids app and website, you'll find video collections, channels, and playlists designed for different age groups, with sections for programs, music, learning and explorationEven so, it's not a perfect system, so Google complements automatic filtering with human reviews and your own decisions: what you block or unblock also influences what is shown.

When you allow your child to use YouTube Kids, You need to go through a brief initial setup.To do this, indicate that you are an adult, sign in (if you want to link it to your Google account), and create the child profile. From there, you'll have access to several key parental controls.

Using Family Link and the YouTube Kids app itself, you can, among other things, Choose the age-based content level, activate or deactivate the search. and manage which videos or channels are blocked or re-allowed. These settings make the difference between letting the system recommend videos freely or limiting it to a more restricted and controlled selection.

In addition, the application includes internal tools such as timer to limit screen timeOptions for reporting inappropriate content and, in some cases, a parental-approved content-only mode. All of this is designed to reinforce healthy digital habits as a family.

Change YouTube Kids settings with Family Link

To adjust YouTube Kids from Family Link, it is essential that your child has granted access to the YouTube Kids appWithout that step, some settings menus simply won't appear.

Once you've done that, open Family Link on your device, choose your child, and go to the YouTube or YouTube Kids specific controlsWithin the YouTube Kids settings section, you'll find the main options for tailoring the experience to children:

• Change content classification according to the age or level of maturity you consider appropriate.
• Turn Search on or offThis determines whether the child can freely write and search for videos or will only see content recommended by the system.
• Block or unblock videos for that account or profile, to further refine what appears and what does not.

If you don't see the YouTube Kids option within the Family Link settings card, it's very likely that the app has not been previously configured with your child's profileSo you'll need to first launch YouTube Kids on their device and complete the initial setup.

Change YouTube Kids settings from the YouTube app

You can also manage some YouTube Kids settings by going into the regular YouTube app on your mobileThis is useful if you're already logged into your account and want to do something quickly without opening Family Link.

To do this, open the YouTube app on your device, tap your profile picture (top right) and enter the area of Parental settings or YouTube family controlsThere you can select your child and see the same YouTube Kids settings sections as in Family Link: content level, search, and app access.

When you decide from these menus Remove access to YouTube KidsThe child will no longer be able to use the app or its web version with that child profile. This option is useful if you prefer to switch to a supervised "normal" YouTube experience when the child gets older.

Supervised YouTube experience: an alternative to YouTube Kids

After a certain age, many parents find that YouTube Kids falls short or that their children begin to be interested in content that doesn't fit well with the children's app. At that stage, Google offers the supervised YouTube experienceswhich allow the child to use standard YouTube, but with your control over them.

With a supervised account, your child can access YouTube (and, in some cases, YouTube Music) under certain conditions. content, history, and usage time restrictions that you choose yourself. It's an intermediate form between the closed environment of YouTube Kids and an unsupervised adult account.

The interesting thing is that, when you activate this type of experience, you can choose between three levels of content classification On YouTube: “Explore”, “Explore more” and “Almost all of YouTube”. These ranges go from a still fairly controlled environment to one that is practically complete (although always excluding +18 content).

Additionally, with Family Link you can pause or activate the playback history and search history, decide whether to save it or not, and use that information later to see what your child is watching or to make the recommendation system work more efficiently.

Another crucial point is that, if you were already blocking videos or channels on YouTube Kids, These blocks are automatically transferred to the supervised YouTube account. of the child. Similarly, if you unlock something in YouTube Kids, it will be unlocked in the associated supervised experience.

Changing content ratings on YouTube (supervised)

If you notice that your child is finding the current content level too easy, or you're worried they're viewing things that are too advanced, you have the option to easily modify content classification from their supervised experience.

From Family Link, open the app on your device, select your child, and go to the controls related to YouTube or the YouTube Family Hub. Within the YouTube settings section, tap on Edit and choose the content level that best suits your child's current life stage.

After selecting the new option, the system will ask you to confirm by tapping on SelectTo prevent accidental changes, your child's YouTube experience will then be adjusted to the new category you've chosen.

Change general settings for YouTube and YouTube Kids

In addition to the specific settings for YouTube Kids and supervised accounts, there are a number of General settings that affect both YouTube and YouTube KidsThese are mainly options related to history and autoplay.

From Family Link you can control, for example, if you want pause playback history or search history from your child. This stops YouTube from recording what they watch or search for, which can be useful if you want to avoid generating recommendations based on a single use (for example, if an older cousin has used their account).

You also have the option to activate or deactivate the autoplayThis prevents videos from chaining together on their own and helps avoid excessively long unsupervised viewing sessions.

These general menus also include the option to delete search and playback historyThis clears the record of what the child has viewed or searched for up to that point. Keep in mind that doing this will largely reset personalized recommendations.

Finally, you can use this general configuration to unlock videos you previously blockedHowever, Google makes it clear that content can only be blocked or unblocked if you have previously set up YouTube Kids for your child.

ImportantAlthough you control the history through Family Link, you can only review the child's viewing history in detail directly on their own device. In other words, you won't see a complete list of videos in your app; you'll have to use the child's tablet or phone to see exactly what they've watched.

Add supervision to a Google account the child already had.

There are many cases in which the minor already has one Active Google account created without Family Link (for example, because a false age was entered during registration) and the parents later decide to enable supervision. Google allows this, but with significant effects on the child's previous YouTube activity. If you want to reverse the supervision, see How to remove Google account supervision.

If you add supervision features to an account for a child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country), Google will remove subscriptions and certain YouTube-related content from that account.Specifically, we are talking about:

• Uploaded videos, chats, and comments on YouTube.
• Live chats, posts in the Community tab, playlists, and stories.
• Purchased or rented YouTube videos.

Due to this mass deletion, Google recommends that The child downloads their data before activating supervisionTools like Google Takeout allow you to make a copy of videos, playlists, and other data that would otherwise be lost.

The reason for these measures is that, once an account is marked as supervised minor's accountCertain social and commercial interaction functions are no longer permitted in order to comply with child protection regulations.

How to use YouTube Kids and supervised YouTube on Smart TVs, Chromecast, and game consoles

One of the most troublesome points is how Link YouTube and YouTube Kids on TVThe rules that apply to mobile devices don't always translate in the same way when we talk about Smart TVs, streaming devices (Chromecast, Fire TV, etc.) or video game consoles.

If you want your child to use YouTube Kids on TV, the easiest way is Access the children's profile from the YouTube app on the Smart TV itself or streaming device. To do this, you must have previously created a YouTube Kids profile from the mobile app or the web, using your Google account.

Once the YouTube app on your TV is downloaded and you're logged in with the same account you used to create the child profile, you'll see the typical "Who's Watching?" screen. There you should be able to Select your child's YouTube Kids profile to directly access the children's environment.

If you're already logged into YouTube with another account, you can go to the left sidebar menu, tap your profile picture, and open the accounts page. From there you can Switch to the appropriate YouTube Kids account or profile. so that the child only sees filtered content on TV.

If any of the children's profiles you see are no longer in use, the YouTube app on TV itself allows you to Remove that profile from all devicesso that it no longer appears as an option in future sessions.

Watch YouTube Kids on TV without logging in

There is also the possibility that your child Watch YouTube Kids on TV without signing in with any accountThis option works as a "guest account" and is useful if you prefer not to link your Google account to the living room device.

To do this, open the YouTube app on your Smart TV or console, go to the side menu, select your profile picture, and choose the option to Set up YouTube KidsNext, select “Set up guest account” and follow the on-screen steps to create a child profile that will only be used on that device.

Once set up, the next time you open the accounts page or the “Who’s watching?” screen, This YouTube Kids guest profile will also appear as another option. It behaves like a normal child profile, but it's not tied to a specific Google account.

If at any time you want to remove this guest profile, return to the accounts page, select the administration button located below the child profile, and choose “Remove from this device” to permanently remove it from that TV or console.

Finally, many TVs allow you to set a Parental code within the YouTube app. With that code, you can prevent children from leaving YouTube Kids and freely opening the regular YouTube app, adding an extra layer of security in the living room.

YouTube Kids, accounts for minors and legal limitations

When you create a Adding a Google account to a child under 13 using Family LinkThe child can use YouTube Kids where it's available, but they don't have full access to all the features of standard YouTube. This means they won't be able to create their own YouTube channel, upload public videos, go live, comment, or participate in live chats until they reach the minimum age and supervision is removed.

However, if you add supervision to a Google account the child already had, and that account had used YouTube without restrictions, activating supervision will cause the Deletion of videos, comments, chats, playlists, content purchases, and subscriptions associated with the aforementioned. That's why it's so important to carefully consider when and how to take that step.

In Spain, the minimum age for Having a YouTube channel managed directly by a minor is a requirement for the age of 14.Below that age, it is the parents or guardians who must create and manage the channel, correctly marking the content as directed to a child audience when minors appear or the entire channel is geared towards children.

Globally, YouTube complies with the COPPA law in the United States and equivalent regulations in other countries. This means that content creators must mark if your videos or channels are aimed at minorsand that failing to do so or doing so fraudulently can result in hefty fines and the closure of channels.

The main goal of YouTube is that The YouTube Kids platform becomes the primary environment for children aged 0 to 13.While standard YouTube is reserved for general and adult audiences, with creators responsible for properly labeling their content.

Create and manage a YouTube Kids channel

If you are a parent or guardian and want create a children's video channel To appear on YouTube Kids, you actually need to create a regular YouTube channel from your own (adult) account. The difference lies in the type of content you publish and how you comply with child protection laws.

Ideally, you produce videos that foster positive interests, learning, and developmentwith a tone appropriate for the target age. YouTube Kids acts as a "filter" on YouTube, so that only certain channels and videos that have been flagged and reviewed reach the children's app.

Google decides which channels and videos become part of YouTube Kids through a combination of algorithms and human reviewTherefore, even if you mark your channel as children's, inclusion in YouTube Kids is not guaranteed; it must pass certain quality and suitability checks.

To increase the odds, it's advisable to follow good practices: participate in the YouTube Creators AcademyUnderstand your child audience very well (age, language, cognitive abilities), and optimize titles, descriptions, thumbnails, and tags to clearly explain that it is content for children.

It also helps adapt the content to different regions and culturesSince YouTube Kids is available in numerous countries, avoiding spam, misleading titles, and any questionable practices is key: if you try to sneak in inappropriate content, YouTube will most likely remove it and even penalize the channel.

Also keep in mind that YouTube Kids does not store cookies for advertising tracking purposes Nor does it enable direct communication channels between users, precisely to protect the privacy of minors and avoid inappropriate interactions.

Child profiles, video blocking, and detailed parental controls

Once the basics are set up, you can add user profiles for each minor of the family. Each profile has an associated name, age, and, if you wish, a personalized profile picture or image that only parents should set.

When you enter the month and year of birth, the application itself selects a combination of content recommended for that ageLater, from the settings, you can further refine the content level configuration for each profile.

On the YouTube Kids homepage you'll see several categories, usually focused on children's programs, videos and channels, music for children, learning and explorationIn some age ranges, there is also a video game section with adapted content.

To configure the advanced parental controlsTo do this, you must tap the padlock icon located on the right side of the screen. Doing so opens a dialog box presenting a small math problem or challenge designed to be solved only by an adult.

By entering the correct answer, you will access the parental control menu, where you can Adjust profile privacy, manage blocked videos, change content level, and enable or disable search. and other options related to the child's experience.

If at any time you want to prevent a video or channel you don't consider appropriate from being shown again, simply go to the YouTube Kids home screen, Tap the three dots next to the video and select the block optionYou can do this with individual videos as well as with entire channels.

All the profiles you create for your children will be accessible from the same device, and you'll be able to Switch between them using the profile icon.Each one will have its own recommendations, history, and blocks, depending on age and your settings.

Additional controls and tools for a safer experience

Although YouTube Kids and Family Link cover most needs, there are still families looking for more. more control over what is seen on YouTubeIn such cases, there are third-party solutions such as Kaspersky Safe Kids or similar, which function as additional filters on top of YouTube.

With these tools you can Monitor the searches and videos your child watches on YouTubeThey offer features such as blocking content categories (adult, violence, alcohol, drugs, insults, racism, etc.) and receiving regular activity reports. They typically offer both free and paid versions, with varying levels of functionality.

Furthermore, within the Android ecosystem there are proposals such as Google Kids SpaceSpecifically designed for tablets, Kids Space creates a child-friendly environment on the device with curated content, apps, and games, integrating seamlessly with YouTube Kids to provide a more consistent and secure overall experience.

Google Kids Space, which initially arrived on Lenovo tablets and is now expanding to other manufacturers, It offers collections of recommended apps, books, and videos. for children, always under parental supervision through Family Link.

When it comes down to it, the key is to combine all these tools with an active digital education at home: talk to children about what they watch, explain why some content is not appropriate, and accompany them at the beginning in the use of platforms such as YouTube and YouTube Kids.

With this whole ecosystem of YouTube Kids, supervised experiences, Family Link, and additional controls, any family can build a pretty solid environment in which Children can enjoy age-appropriate videos while adults maintain control about the content, usage time and the device from which it is accessed.