YouTube is introducing a new “parent code” feature on its TV app, providing parents with greater control over their children’s viewing experience. This four-digit PIN adds an extra layer of security, restricting access to content and features that may not be suitable for younger viewers.
With the parent code enabled, users will be required to enter the PIN to:
- Watch YouTube content when signed out
- Access accounts belonging to older household members (typically over 13 years old)
- Remove accounts from the TV device
This feature comes in the wake of YouTube phasing out its dedicated YouTube Kids app on smart TVs. While the standard YouTube app offers parental controls like Restricted Mode, which filters mature content, the parent code provides a more robust solution for managing children’s access.
Parents have expressed concerns about their children potentially encountering inappropriate content on the standard YouTube app. The parent code aims to address these concerns by giving parents greater peace of mind and ensuring a safer viewing environment.
The rollout of the parent code feature is expected to be gradual over the coming days. To set up the code, parents can navigate to the “Settings” menu on the YouTube TV app’s homepage and select the “Parent code” tab.
This initiative by YouTube reflects a broader trend of online platforms prioritizing parental controls and online safety features. The parent code empowers parents with a practical tool to manage their children’s screen time and content access on the platform.
