How to Make Video Streaming Sites Kid-Friendly: Setting Parental Controls

On-demand video streaming sites have revolutionized the way we consume content. However, they also host adult content that may not be suitable for children. As parents, it's important to protect our kids from inappropriate material and ensure they only access age-appropriate content. In this article, we will explore how to set parental controls on popular video streaming sites to make them safe and kid-friendly.

How to Set Parental Controls on YouTube

YouTube has a dedicated app for kids called YouTube Kids, which is available on both iOS and Android platforms. This app comes with built-in parental controls and filters to ensure that children only watch content suitable for their age. It features kid-friendly content in categories like music and education, and offers additional features such as a timer for screen time, disabling the search function, and limited ads.

If you want to block adult content on the regular YouTube app, you can enable Restricted Mode. Simply sign in to your YouTube account, click on your profile pic, and select Restricted Mode. This will restrict the search results and filter out adult-related content. You can also lock the Restricted Mode to prevent your kids from turning it off.

How to Set Parental Controls on Netflix

Netflix offers soft and hard controls to manage parental controls. With soft controls, you can create multiple profiles and set different maturity levels for each profile. There are four types of maturity levels: suitable for all ages, suitable for older kids, suitable for teens, and mature content. You can customize the profiles based on your children's age and preferences.

To access these controls, go to Netflix and sign in. Click on Manage Profiles and select the Kids profile. Under Allowed TV Programmes and Films, choose the appropriate option based on your child's age. You can also monitor your kids' viewing activity by going to Account and clicking on Viewing Activity.

For additional control, Netflix allows you to set a pin code to access an account that has access to mature content. This ensures that only authorized users can watch content with higher maturity ratings.

How to Set Parental Controls on Hulu

Hulu offers limited options for parental controls. The access to content is based on the age entered in the account profile, but this can be easily changed. Hulu suggests creating a separate profile for kids with the appropriate age restrictions. If you are a Hulu Plus subscriber, there is a Hulu Kids section available for children.

How to Set Parental Controls on Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime provides comprehensive parental control features. You can set a Prime Video Pin to prevent kids from accessing Prime content. Additionally, you can set viewing restrictions based on age categories like Kids, Older Kids, Teens, Young Adults, and Adults. Amazon Prime also allows you to restrict certain categories and block access to all content under them.

If your kids are using different devices, you can block specific devices from accessing Prime content. Amazon Prime also offers a purchase pin restriction to prevent unauthorized purchases. You can monitor your kids' watch history to ensure they are watching appropriate content.

How to Set Parental Controls on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ allows you to set limits on the movies and TV shows that your kids can watch. You can customize these restrictions for each device and maintain control over their viewing habits. To set restrictions, log in to the Apple TV website, go to Settings, and select the desired restrictions for Apple Music, TV Shows, and Movies.

To enhance security, you can set a 4-digit passcode to prevent kids from bypassing these settings.

Wrapping Up

By setting parental controls on popular video streaming sites, you can ensure that your kids only watch age-appropriate content. YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+ offer various options to customize and manage these controls. It's important to regularly monitor your kids' viewing activity and make necessary adjustments to ensure their safety and well-being in the digital world.