Staying safe on YouTube

Privacy and security on You Tube

YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform where users can upload, view, share, and comment on videos.

It offers various content, such as music videos, tutorials, vlogs, movie trailers, and live streams. Features include channels for creators, subscriptions for viewers to follow their favourite channels, and monetisation options like ads and memberships.

To make your uploaded videos only visible to your friends, go to ‘My Videos,’ click ‘Edit,’ and switch to ‘Private.’ The default setting allows anyone with your email address to locate your videos. To disable this setting, click the ‘Edit Channel’ button in your account settings. Learn more about Privacy Settings on YouTube(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/157177).

How to secure your Google account

If you run a YouTube channel, follow these guidelines(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9701986?hl=en#zippy=%2Cset-up-a-strong-password-create-passkeys) to secure the Google account linked to your YouTube channel for maximum safety.

Safety features

If you think content is inappropriate, use the flagging feature to submit it for review by YouTube staff. These reports are reviewed 24/7 to determine whether there’s a violation of YouTube’s Community Guidelines(https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/policies/community-guidelines/). If a video violates their guidelines, it gets removed from the site. To report content, click ‘More’ at the bottom of the video and then select ‘Report.’ You can also report a comment or channel(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802027).

​Restricted Mode Quick Guide

Restricted Mode on YouTube helps screen out potentially mature content. To switch it on, click on your profile picture, select ‘Restricted Mode,’ then use the toggle switch in the dialogue box that appears. Learn more about how restricted mode works(https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084).

Advice for parents

YouTube child safety settings

YouTube Kids is a free app and website created by YouTube for a safer, simpler viewing experience for children under 13. Parents can manage their child’s viewing experience using various tools and settings.

Key Features

• Age-appropriate content: Videos are categorised into shows, music, learning, and explore, with filters ensuring suitability for young viewers.
• Parental controls: Parents can create up to eight profiles, set age brackets, approve content, and control search functionality.
• Safety measures: Strong filtering algorithms and manual checks help maintain kid-friendly content. Parents can report inappropriate videos.

For more detailed information, refer to Google’s YouTube Kids Parental Guide(https://support.google.com/youtubekids/answer/6172308).

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