How to Block a YouTube Channel for Your Child’s Safety

In the vast world of YouTube, it’s possible to find just about anything — from the sweet and the innocent to the … not-so-innocent. If you’re looking up how to block a YouTube channel, you may have discovered that your child has been watching something concerning. The answer depends on what type of YouTube account your child has. To help you figure out what option is best, here’s how to block a channel on YouTube.

How to block a YouTube channel

There are only two ways to truly block a YouTube channel for your child:

• Use a YouTube Kids account. YouTube Kids curates content designed for children from preschool through age 12. Parents also have the option to block specific channels. 
• Set up a supervised account. For older kids, a supervised account allows access to a broader range of content while also giving parents the ability to manage their child’s YouTube experience. For example, you can set content restrictions and block channels. 

The process of blocking channels is the same for both of these account types and can be managed through YouTube parental controls. Follow these steps: 

1. Log in to your linked parent account.
2. Go to the channel page for the YouTube channel that you want to block.
3. Tap the three vertical dots on the right side of any video.
4. Tap Block channel for kids. 
5. A pop-up may surface alerting you that similar videos may still be available on other channels. Tap Continue.
6. Tap Block next to the child you’d like to block this channel for. 
7. Tap Done.

Additional options for restricting YouTube content

If your child doesn’t have a YouTube Kids or a supervised YouTube account, you can’t completely block them from accessing specific channels. However, parents can reduce the likelihood of certain channels appearing in their child’s recommended video feed. Here’s how:

1. Open your child’s YouTube account. 
2. Stay on their main page (the one with the grid of suggested videos), but don’t click on a specific video. 
3. Locate any video from the channel you want to restrict. 
4. Click on the three vertical dots to the right of the video title. 
5. Select Don’t recommend channel.

While this prevents videos from that channel from being recommended to your child, they can still go directly to the channel and view its content. So, this option is less about blocking a channel and more about managing your child’s YouTube algorithm. 

When blocking a YouTube channel isn’t enough

To block, or not to block? That is the question that has plagued parents since the advent of YouTube. (Apologies to Shakespeare.) 

While blocking YouTube channels or restricting them from your child’s feed are valuable tools for parents, it’s important to recognize that these actions alone won’t solve everything. For every inappropriate channel that you block, there are at least five that are just as bad. 

Parents should also take additional steps to monitor their child’s online activity, including setting parental controls and using a monitoring app like BrightCanary. This child safety app uses AI for parents to monitor their child’s online activity, including YouTube history, Google searches, text messages, and social media. 

Tips for managing your child’s YouTube content

In addition to blocking YouTube channels, here are some actions you can take to ensure your child’s experience is safe and age appropriate. 

• Educate your children about online safety. Talk to your children about inappropriate content they might encounter on YouTube, such as sexually-explicit material or content promoting disordered eating. 
• Keep an open-door policy. Be upfront that your children can and should come to you (or another trusted adult) if they encounter anything that makes them uncomfortable. 
• Review their account together. Regularly sit down with your child for a tech check-in, viewing their Youtube feed with them and discussing what you see. Don’t just call out the negative, though — make sure to also reinforce the positive content they’re watching and ask about their interests.  
• Use a monitoring app. BrightCanary uses advanced technology to monitor your child’s online activity. You’ll be alerted if any red flags are detected so you can address the situation with your child. 

The takeaway 

Not all of the videos on YouTube are appropriate for kids. To keep your child safe on the platform, you can take steps such as blocking channels, resetting their YouTube algorithm, reviewing their feed together, and using a child safety app to keep an eye on the content they’re viewing. 

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