YouTube is a widely popular video-sharing platform that offers a very large amount of content for users of all ages. While it provides an excellent opportunity for teens to explore their interests, learn, and get entertained, it also comes with certain risks. In this news blog, we’ll dive into the main functions of YouTube, why teens are drawn to it, age restrictions, potential risks, and essential safety tips to keep your child safe while using the platform.

Main Functions of YouTube:

1. Watch and Search: Users can easily search for and watch videos on virtually any topic.
2. Create a Personal Channel: You can create your own YouTube channel to upload and share your videos.
3. Interact: Like, comment, and share videos with friends and followers.
4. Subscribe: Stay updated with your favorite YouTubers and channels by subscribing to them.
5. Create Playlists: Organize your favorite videos into playlists for easy access.

Why Teens Love YouTube: YouTube is a treasure trove of content for teens, offering everything from music videos and comedy shows to how-to guides, recipes, and life hacks. Teens use it to follow their favorite vloggers, subscribe to celebrities, and connect with their interests.

Age Restrictions:

• To set up a YouTube account, users must be 18 years old, or 13+ with parental consent.
• In compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ireland has set the Digital Age of Consent to 16.
• However, viewing videos on YouTube does not require signing in. A YouTube Kids app is available for children aged 3-8.

Risks to Be Aware of:

1. Inappropriate Content: With billions of users and constant uploads, not all content is suitable for children. Parents can help by flagging inappropriate videos.
2. Cyber Bullying: Negative comments and bullying can occur in the comments section. Teens can disable comments on their own profiles or channels and block/report users when experiencing harassment.

Tips for Keeping Your Child Safe:

1. Privacy Settings: Discuss video privacy settings with your child. Videos can be set to private or unlisted.
2. Parental Controls: Set age restrictions and parental controls on YouTube.
3. Disable Comments: Consider disabling comments or enabling comment approval to prevent cyberbullying.
4. Use Safety Mode: Activate Safety Mode to filter out mature content from search results.

Useful Links:

• YouTube Family Link: Allows parents to control settings on YouTube Kids.
• In 2021, YouTube introduced Supervised Experiences, enabling a transition from YouTube Kids to supervised access on the main platform. Parents can choose from three content settings: “Explore,” “Explore More,” and “Most of YouTube.”

YouTube is a valuable resource for teens to explore their interests and connect with the world. By implementing the recommended safety measures, parents can ensure that their children have a safe and enjoyable experience on the platform. Stay informed, communicate with your child, and make use of the available tools to make YouTube a positive and educational platform for your family.