Unfortunately, modern tech can leave children open to various forms of predation. One such topic of hot debate is what minors have access to when they watch YouTube. A lot of what’s available on this platform is not always the best or safest thing for children to see.
This is your official parental control tutorial on how to block YouTube on an iPhone. Such items cover the built-in restrictions on iPhones, parental password protection, setting time limits, and third-party parental control apps.
Built-in iPhone Restrictions
What’s great about Apple is that they build their phones with features parents can use to restrict their children’s access to specific apps and download others that may compromise privacy.
Using Screen Time Features
The most effective of these built-in iPhone restrictions for parents is the Screen Time feature. You must first set this up on the child’s phone. Just go to “Settings.” Then, tap on “Screen Time" and tap again to activate these features. Next, you’ll want to select who the device belongs to: “This is My” or “This is My Child’s” [device].
Parental Password Protection
Before you begin setting restrictions, first set up a password. Simply follow the prompts to set up a Screen Time Passcode for yourself. This will prevent anyone from being able to change your settings once you put them in place. Select “Use Screen Time Passcode” to create this password and re-enter the password to confirm it. Then, enter your Apple ID and its password to secure it. If at any point you forget the Screen Time password, you can use this same feature to reset it.
Manage YouTube via Screen Time
Now, tap “Content & Privacy Restrictions.” Input your Screen Time password and then set the restrictions to the on position. Here, you can set the age range up to nine years old or older. Then, go through the list of available apps, tapping which ones you want to allow and what others you want deactivated.
Also, note that you can delete YouTube completely from the phone and set up the restriction controls so that your child cannot download any apps. But, if you do this, they will still be able to access YouTube on a browser. So, you should also set up these restrictions through a browser like Google Chrome or Safari.
Setting Time Limits
Another feature of Screen Time is the ability to set strict time limits for your child to be able to access the YouTube app. This is particularly useful if your child’s education depends on being able to see videos through the platform. Once they reach the time limit, the app disappears from the user interface. However, your child can request more time, which you can grant or deny via your Apple smart device.
You simply go to Screen Time, enter your password, select “App Limits” and tap “Add Limit.” Next, you’ll want to select the box or dropdown arrow next to “Entertainment.” Tap on “YouTube” and then hit “Next.” Here, you’ll be able to set the time limit, block the app at the end of the limit and you can customize specific days. Once you’ve set all the selections, tap “Add.”
Third-Party Parental Control Apps
Of course, there are additional apps available to use as well. The following list gives a brief overview of the best ones available so far:
- Family Orbit: This is the most popular parental-control app with things like GPS tracking, app usage monitoring, and much more.
- Qustodio Parental Controls: Many parents swear by this app and boast its many easy-to-use features. It includes things like web and app filtering as well as regular activity reports.
- OurPact: What makes this app ideal is that it can cover up to 20 different devices for all your children along with content filtering, location tracking, and monitoring their screen time.
Conclusion
Certainly, smartphones, like iPhones, have their advantages. But, it’s essential to protect children from harmful content on platforms like YouTube. Therefore, you must take the necessary steps to create a safe environment for them while also ensuring they have access to expand their minds and their lives.
