In our digital age, ensuring children’s safe and age-appropriate online experience is a top priority for many parents and guardians. Google’s Family Link platform provides a robust set of tools to help monitor and control kids’ access to apps and content, including YouTube Kids.
If you’ve previously blocked or restricted YouTube Kids through Family Link, you may eventually need to unlock it again for your child’s device. Unblocking YouTube Kids is essential for accessing the curated video streaming service designed specifically for youngsters.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for unblocking YouTube Kids via the Family Link app. You’ll learn how to grant permission to browse the kid-friendly video platform while still maintaining oversight through Family Link’s content filtering and screen time management features.
We’ll also explore strategies for setting appropriate guardrails on YouTube Kids to prevent exposure to potentially inappropriate material. From adjusting search filters to approving viewer recommendations, Family Link empowers you to create a secure YouTube experience tailored to your family’s needs.
What is FamilyLink?
Google’s Family Link is a centralized digital hub for managing and monitoring your family’s online activities. At its core, the app allows parents and guardians to create a shared family group, add up to six members, and customize each child’s experience across Google’s products and services.
One of Family Link’s key capabilities is setting reasonable limits and filters tailored to each child’s age and needs. This includes managing screen time, restricting content access, and tracking device locations when needed. These controls extend beyond just YouTube Kids to cover crucial apps and platforms such as:
- Google Play Store
- Google Chrome browser
- Google Search
- Google Assistant
- Google Photos
Family Link provides granular visibility into your children’s usage across these apps and services. You can review activities, adjust settings remotely, and even receive notification alerts for monitoring purposes, empowering you to guide your family’s digital journey responsibly.
Whether managing YouTube Kids or other Google apps, Family Link is a powerful parental oversight tool. It balances engaging content and enforcing healthy boundaries tailored to your family’s values.
How to set YouTube Kids content level
When you open Family Link, you’ll see a quick tutorial. Select the “Parent” option to set up and manage your child’s device. Ensure you have your child’s device and Google account details handy, as you’ll need them during the setup process.
Once your child is added to the platform, follow these steps to control the content they can access. Remember, Family Link is designed for kids under 13 years old.
- Tap the icon in the upper left corner, next to “Family,” to access all members;
- Select the account you want to configure;
- Swipe down and under “Settings,” select “Manage”;
- Among the available Google services, select “YouTube”;
- Tap “YouTube Kids” and choose age;
- Read the recommended content notice and tap “Select”;
- Allow or prevent research from being done by the child;
- Then tap “Finish Setup” to finish.
By choosing not to allow searches, YouTube will only show the content indicated by the platform, videos, and channels between 9 and 12, or the age you chose, and the user will be able to use the app with only approved content on the Android or iOS device.
How to allow or deny search on YouTube Kids
After the initial setup, changing the search option for YouTube Kids is possible. Check below how to allow or prevent search on the platform.
- Open the side menu, as indicated in step one of the tutorial above;
- Choose the account you want to configure;
- Tap “Manage Settings”;
- Select “YouTube,” and a new area will open;
- In the “YouTube Kids Settings” section, change the search to allow or disallow;
- A message at the bottom of the screen confirms the change.
In this way, it is possible to unblock YouTube Kids through Family Link and control the searches that the children of the family do.
