YouTube expands parental controls in the UK and beyond, introduces new quality principles for content recommended to teens

• Streaming service unveils new features for parents to set the amount of time their teens can scroll Shorts on YouTube - an industry first putting parents in control. 

• Parents will also be able to set up a kids or teen account on the YouTube mobile app in just a few taps.

• New research reveals that 86% of UK parents using YouTube’s supervised accounts agree the content their child views is appropriate for their age, and 82% say the tools give them confidence in a safer and more controlled digital environment for their child.

London, January 14th 2026 –  Today, YouTube announced a new set of tools and content standards designed to give parents more control over their teen’s viewing experience. New research reveals that 86% of UK parents using YouTube’s supervised accounts agree the content their child views is appropriate for their age, and 82% say the tools give them confidence in a safer and more controlled digital environment for their child.

Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health, said:

“We believe in protecting kids in the digital world, not from the digital world. That’s why providing effective, built-in tools is so essential, as parents play a critical role in setting the rules for their family’s online experiences.”

After feedback from parents and guidance from independent experts, we’re equipping families with even more tools and protections that are right for them. This builds on a decade of investments to create a healthy experience for young people on YouTube.”

Key updates shared in a new YouTube blog post include:

• Additional controls for mindful teen viewing: Parents can now help teens be even more intentional about how they watch, with a control to set the amount of time spent scrolling Shorts. And soon, they will also have the option to set the timer to zero – an industry-first that gives parents flexibility to, for example, set the Shorts feed limit to zero when they want their teen to use YouTube to focus on homework, and change it to 60 minutes during a long car trip to be entertained. Parents will also be able to set custom Bedtime and Take a Break reminders, building on the existing default-on wellbeing protections for teens. 

• Making it even simpler to get the right experience for the right age: A new sign-up process will make it easier for parents to create a new kid account and switch between family accounts in the mobile app, depending on who’s watching with just a few taps. This makes it easier to ensure that everyone in the family is in the right viewing experience with the content settings and recommendations of age-appropriate content they actually want to watch.

• A blueprint for high-quality teen content: YouTube is introducing new principles to steer teens toward age-appropriate and enriching content. Developed with the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA and supported by experts from University College London, the APA and Boston Children's Hospital, these principles will guide YouTube's recommendation system to raise high-quality videos from creators such as Matt Green - one of the many UK creators who embody these principles. Through his YouTube channel Matt helps his audience study and revise for their exams  with Hip Hop and rap music, blending learning and music to help students pass their exams.

Alongside the new high quality principles for teens, YouTube unveiled a Creator Guide, developed in 

partnership with the streaming service’s Youth & Families Advisory Committee and supported by Save the Children International.

Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL, said: "The mental health of children and young people is a global concern, and in the digital age the content teens encounter online can have both positive and negative impacts. These YouTube Teen Quality Principles give creators a practical, research-informed roadmap for making videos that are developmentally appropriate, emotionally safe, and genuinely supportive of young people. UCL was delighted to partner on this programme to bring evidence-based insights on adolescent development, helping ensure creators understand their wider responsibility to help teens thrive while minimising potential harm."

Rebecca Smith, Global Head of Child Protection, Save the Children International, said: 

“We are pleased to partner with YouTube on the launch of their new Creator Guide, which equips content creators with the knowledge and tools to stay informed, educated and safe online. With the help of this guide, not only can creators make the most out of their own digital experience, but they can support fellow creators as well. This initiative reflects YouTube and Save the Children’s shared commitment to fostering a safer digital environment for all.”

These updates will be rolling out starting today and will expand globally over the coming months.