The YouTube Kids app is designed to be a safer and simpler place for children to explore their interests through online video. This separate app is a filtered version of YouTube and has a much smaller set of channels and videos available than the YouTube app and website. We work to identify content that is age-appropriate, adheres to our quality principles, and is diverse enough to meet the varied interests of children globally.
Below are our YouTube Kids policies, which outline what kind of content is eligible to be part of YouTube Kids. Content must comply with these policies for it to appear in YouTube Kids. These policies are designed to exclude content that:
- Is more suitable for viewers aged 13+
- Is age-restricted to viewers 18+
- Violates our Community Guidelines
These policies were designed using feedback from parents and external specialists in child development, children's media, digital learning and citizenship. Based on these policies, videos or channels may be excluded from YouTube Kids to help give our youngest audience a great experience.
Content settings
There are three content settings available in the app: Preschool, Younger and Older. The content that your child will see is based on the setting that you choose when you set up YouTube Kids for your child.
|
Preschool |
Designed with children aged 4 and under in mind |
| Younger |
Designed with children aged 5–8 in mind |
| Older |
Designed with children aged 9–12 in mind |
Content policies
Our policies decide what kind of content is eligible for each content setting. When you choose a content setting for your child, they'll see content eligible for that setting. The setting that you choose will impact what they find in searches or in recommended videos. Our automated systems and human reviewers work to identify suitable content based on the setting that you've selected. Our systems work hard to exclude content not suitable for children, but not all videos have been manually reviewed. If you find something inappropriate that we've missed, you can block it or report it for fast review.
Preschool content setting
Sexual content: Non-romantic expressions of love, such as holding hands or a kiss on the cheek. Age-appropriate educational videos on sexual and gender identity.
Violence: Non-violent and non-scary scripted and animated videos.
Weapons: Age-appropriate videos featuring unrealistic weapons (like water guns) in the context of toy play, gaming, animation.
Dangerous content: Videos featuring stunts performed by skilled individuals with no instructional component (for example, basketball players doing tricks). Arts and crafts videos that involve age-appropriate products or tools such as paint, glue or scissors.
Language: Videos with simple language and everyday vocabulary, but no use of offensive language or profanity.
Sensitive topics: Age-appropriate videos that discuss sensitive issues such as natural disasters, emergencies and climate change, bullying, loss and grief, mental health and personal boundaries. Videos in this setting don't feature graphic imagery or extreme sadness, anger or fear.
Music videos: Age-appropriate music videos with no sexual themes.
Younger content setting
Some videos may include:
Sexual content: Videos with romantic themes, including brief displays of affection and attraction, such as a quick kiss on the mouth.
Violence: Age-appropriate videos related to historical events that are educational but may contain mild violence within the context of the event. Non-graphic, slapstick cartoon violence.
Weapons: Videos featuring historical and classical art with displays of realistic weapons (for example, painting of a samurai sword).
Dangerous content: Videos featuring challenges and pranks that are innocent in nature or stunts that are unlikely to result in harm. Videos with non-focal display of alcohol or tobacco. DIY videos that involve easily accessible products and tools with safety disclaimers.
Language: Videos with simple language, limited use of complex language or explanations and infrequent use of mildly offensive language for this target age group, such as 'oh my God' or 'dumb'.
Diet, fitness and beauty: Makeup tutorials focused on creative and artistic expression. Age-appropriate educational videos on healthy eating and exercise.
Sensitive topics: Age-appropriate videos that discuss sensitive issues such as natural disasters, emergencies and climate change, bullying, loss and grief, mental health and personal boundaries. Videos in this setting don't feature graphic imagery, and focus on positive outcomes and coping strategies.
Music videos: Music videos with display of alcohol or tobacco in the background. Music lyrics with non-sexual romantic themes or mildly offensive language such as 'fool' or 'stupid'.
Older content setting
Some videos may include:
Adult content: Videos that display or discuss non-sexual experiences related to romance and attraction, such as dating or a first kiss. Age-appropriate videos on sex education topics like puberty and reproduction.
Violence: Age-appropriate videos related to current events that are educational but may contain mild violence within the context of the event. Non-graphic violence in scripted and animated videos common in gaming, television shows and movies.
Weapons: Videos featuring unrealistic toy guns in the context of toy play. Realistic-looking weapons in gaming and animated content.
Dangerous content: Dangerous acts performed in a professional setting (like a TV or movie studio) that might result in harm. Videos with infrequent mention or use of alcohol or tobacco. DIY videos that involve easily accessible products and tools or brief use of a sharp object such as a craft knife or saw.
Language: Videos with more complex language or explanations, infrequent use of mild profanity, such as 'damn it' or 'hell' in a non-harassing context.
Diet, fitness and beauty: Videos featuring beauty product reviews, age-appropriate make-up tutorials, and educational content on health and wellness.
Sensitive topics: Age-appropriate videos that discuss sensitive issues such as natural disasters, emergencies and climate change, bullying, loss and grief, mental health and personal boundaries. Videos in this setting don't feature graphic imagery, and focus on positive outcomes and coping strategies.
Music videos: Music videos with sexualised dancing that is not gratuitous and infrequent use of alcohol or tobacco. Music lyrics with mild profanity or infrequent mentions of alcohol or tobacco.
Content with commercial elements
Content with paid product placements or endorsements. We don't allow videos on YouTube Kids that include paid product placements or endorsements. When a creator discloses a paid product placement or endorsement in their video through YouTube Studio, we'll remove the videos from the YouTube Kids app.
Overly commercial content. Content that is overly commercial or promotional is not allowed in YouTube Kids, including:
- Traditional advertisements for products and services uploaded by creators or brands.
- Content that directly encourages the viewer to buy a product.
- Videos focused on product packaging.
- Videos focused on the excessive accumulation or consumption of products.
Deceptive, sensational or clickbait content
We don't allow videos in YouTube Kids that are deceptive, sensational or clickbait. This includes low-quality children's and family content that uses deception, sensationalism and/or manipulation to attract children's attention and entice clicks/views, specifically with:
- Misleading titles and thumbnails
- Sensational titles and thumbnails
- Keyword stuffing in titles (i.e. excessive use of keywords)
- Mash-up of children's themes with no relation to one another