How to Set Parental Controls on Popular Video Streaming Sites
While on-demand video streaming sites have changed the way we consume content, they also host content that you would like not like your kids to see. Adult content like sex and violent scenes can give your kids a wrong ideas, and ruining their innocence. But, that doesn’t make these streaming sites any bad. Their job is to cater to all sorts of audience. I mean who didn’t like Marvel’s heroes fighting gruesome villains in Hell’s Kitchen!
So, what can you do about it? Use parental controls to ensure they are watching content which is appropriate for their age. In today’s guide, I will cover some of the most popular video streaming sites and show you how to make it “kids friendly” by setting parental controls.
Table of Contents
How to Set Parental Controls on YouTube
If you don’t know it yet, there is a YouTube app just for kids. Yes,YouTube Kidsis available oniOSandAndroidplatforms. This was a smart move on part of Google because now, I can simply lock/passcode protect the YouTube app forcing the kids to use YouTube Kids.
It comes with parental control and filters enabled. It is worth noting that YouTube Kids features content specifically targeted at kids in music, education, and other categories. Otherfeaturesinclude a timer for screen time, disabling search function, and limited ads.
Still, if you want toblock adult content on the YouTube app, there is a way. Follow these steps:
Launch YouTube in your favorite browser and sign in. Click on your profile pic on the top right and selectRestricted Mode.
This will open a drop-down menu with a single toggle option and a message. It will tell you what restricted mode is and how it works. Pretty simple stuff. There is also a disclaimer that basically protects Google in case something slips. Click thetogglebutton.
A simple adult-related search on YouTube confirms that the settings are working as they should be.
If you are usingiOS, click on your profile and underSettings, you will find the Restricted Mode toggle button. For Android users, the option can be found underSettings – General.
Lock YouTube Restricted Mode
Wait, that was too easy. The kids could just turn it off again. To counter this issue, Google provides a lock feature. Simplysign outof your YouTube account in the browser/app and the settings will be locked. Note that settings arebrowser-specific, so you will have to repeat it on every browser.
Also Read:Top 5 Parental Control Apps For Android
How to Set Parental Controls on Netflix
Netflix takes a different approach. There are soft controls and then there are hard controls. Under the soft controls, Netflix will allow you to havemultiple profilesand setmaturity levelsfor each individual profile that will determine the content you’re able to access. There are four types:
Here are the steps:
Go toNetflixandsign in. You will see a screen like this. Click onManage Profiles.
TheKids profilecomes default, but you may make changes as necessary. Click on the Kids profile which should now show anedit button.
UnderAllowed TV Programmes and Films, you will see two options: For little children only and For older children and younger. The first is for really small children who are into animated stuff while the latter is good for teens who can watch Stars Wars and Harry Potter movies. Play around and see which one suits you best. When done, click save and in the next screen, click Done.
Note:Did you noticed theChild option? Clicking on it will restrict all content that is not safe for children under 12 years of age.
You can also monitor what your kids are watching on Netflix by viewing their activity. To do this, go toAccountand scroll to the bottom where it says My Profile. Click onViewing Activity.
This will show you a list of all the shows and movies that your kids have watched. Soft controls allow your kids to watch content that is suitable for them. But things can still slip through the cracks which is where the hard controls come in.
Also Read:How To Watch Netflix Together With Remote Friend (Android | iOS)
The hard control will allow you to set apin codeto access an account that allows access to mature content. To set up Netflix hard controls, which is what I recommend over the above solution, you will need to open thesite in your browser. This doesn’t work on the app.
Go toAccountand scroll down toSettingswhere you will see an optionParental Controls. Click on it.
You will be asked to enter your Netflix accountpassword. Do it and click Continue.
You can now enter a four-digit numerical profilepasscode. You can also set content that will be available without the need for a password.
ClickSave.
Your kids can now only access content that is deemed appropriate for them based on ratings like R, PG, PG-13, TV-14, and so on.
How to Set Parental Controls on Hulu
Hulu to trying hard to be the next Netflix. It has some great content to offer. Setting parental controls on Hulu is easy because there are not enough options anyway.
Hulu clearlystatesthat access to content is based on the age that you have entered in your account profile. You cannot access mature content if you are under17 years old.
How to Set Parental Controls on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime takes this issue more seriously than Hulu and offers a bunch of features to manage parental controls. Let’s take a look.
Log in to yourPrime account, click on your profile, and selectAccounts and Settings.
There are different tabs. Click onParental Controlswhere you can manage everything under a single roof. More organized and easy to access.
The first option isPrime Video Pinwhere you can set a passcode to prevent your kids from accessing Prime content. Unfortunately, Amazon Prime doesn’t allow creating separate profiles for kids like Netflix. Maybe they will read this guide and take a hint?
The next option isViewing Restrictionswhich will let you set an age limit for the type of content your kids can view. To access these videos, you will have to enter thepinyou set up above. There are five categories: Kids, Older Kids, Teens, Young Adults, and Adults. The number on the left represents age.
There is alink belowthat explains how age restriction works and maturity ratings are calculated. Since every country has their own governing body, read what applied toyour country.
Apart from this, Amazon says you can alsorestrict certain categoriesand block access to all content under them. There are four main categories that are governed by MPAA ratings: General, Family, Teen, and Mature. While this is good, I was not able to sort content based on categories in Prime! Amazon Prime does have a separateKids sectionthough which is cool.
If your kid is using a different device than you are, Prime has an additional option toblock certain devices. This option lies just below Viewing Restrictions. Justuntickany device you don’t want to allow access to.
Amazon Prime also offersPurchase Pin restrictionwhich means you will have to enter the pin before you can purchase anything on Prime like shows and movies. You know, kids can go on a buying spree anytime!
In the end, there is aWatch Historytab that works like Netflix where you’re able to keep tabs on what your kids were watching when you were gone. Unlike Netflix, these settings can be changed via the app.
How to Set Parental Controls on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is one of the newer kids on the block but it doesn’t shy away from taking responsibility. If you have kids who watch Apple TV+, you may set a limit for which movies and TV shows they can watch. The best part is that you can adjust this setting for every device and retain full control on the others. The process of restricting the content is similar on all the devices so I’ll just be showing the process on a web browser.
Go to theApple TV websiteand log in by clicking the Sign in button on the top right.
After you’ve logged in,tap the Profileicon on the top right of the page andselect Settings.
Once you’re on the Settings page, scroll down and find restrictions. You can set restrictions for Apple Music, TV Shows, and Movies separately. After making the changes they won’t be able to access the content apart from the assigned age.
To make things more secure, this interface can be locked behind a 4 digit passcode which would prevent the kids from bypassing this setting. You can change that password byfollowing this link.
Wrapping Up: How to Set Parental Controls on Video Streaming Sites
The reason I covered these four sites is that they are currently some of the most viewed on-demand video content platforms that are a hit with the kids and adults alike. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question.
Gaurav Bidasaria
Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem.
He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world.
He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.
