How it works
Users view recommended videos, subscribe to channels or upload their own content. A channel is a user’s personal profile page that hosts their videos and identifies them when they post comments. Shorts are vertical videos under three minutes long. A paid YouTube Premium subscription removes adverts and enables background play, which allows a video’s audio to continue playing even if the app is closed or the screen is locked.
Parental controls or safety settings available
Supervised accounts enable parents to filter videos and control what their child can watch, search for and upload. Children under 13 cannot create their own YouTube accounts; parents must set up a supervised account for them using YouTube Family Centre or Google Family Link. Supervised accounts for under-13s offer three content tiers: Explore (9+), Explore More (13+), or Most of YouTube. The Shorts Timer allows parents to set daily scrolling limits or block the feed entirely.
Teenagers (aged 13–17) can manage their own accounts, but their uploads are set to private by default. Under 16s cannot make their accounts public. YouTube states that under-16s are not allowed to livestream without an adult visibly present in the streamIf supervising a teenage account, parents can monitor their teenager’s uploads, comment history, and the number of live broadcasts they produce. Parents can also disable a teenager’s ability to go Live or share their location.
*Users under the age of 13 will require relevant permissions from parents/guardians
