YouTube Introduces Read-Only Comments for Kids’ Accounts
In a significant move to enhance child safety on its platform, YouTube has announced the introduction of a “read-only” comments option for children’s supervised accounts. This feature, set to roll out in the coming weeks, aims to protect kids from the notorious comments section while still allowing them to engage with the platform.
A Major Shift in Parental Controls
Image Credits: YouTube
The read-only comments feature marks one of the most substantial changes to YouTube’s parental control features since the platform introduced increased protections for minors in 2021. Previously, comments were completely disabled for kids, preventing them from both reading and writing comments. However, YouTube had promised to work with parents and experts to develop an age-appropriate approach for older children.
Tailored Content Settings
The read-only comments feature applies to two of the three content settings available for parents configuring a kid-friendly YouTube experience:
- “Explore More”: Allows kids to explore videos with content ratings for viewers 13 and up.
- “Most of YouTube”: Offers older kids access to most YouTube content, except for age-restricted videos meant for adults only.
By default, children will be able to read comments but not write them under these content settings. Live chat will also be disabled. Parents who prefer to disable comments entirely can switch their child to the “Explore” setting, designed for viewers ages 9 and up.
Parental Control and Monitoring
Parents can view and adjust their child’s settings through the parent settings on YouTube or via Google’s Family Link parental controls app. They can also monitor their child’s activity on the child’s device under the My Activity setting. However, it’s important to note that the YouTube settings selected by parents won’t apply when the child views embedded YouTube content on third-party sites.
Proactive Measures Amid Legislative Pressure
YouTube’s decision to introduce read-only comments comes as Congress continues to pressure tech companies to enhance child safety on their platforms. While lawmakers have been slow to enact new laws, the Kids Online Safety Act and COPPA 2.0 (Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act) have gained bipartisan support. These bills demand more robust parental controls, increased data protection, privacy, and the banning of targeted advertising to kids and teens.
By implementing these new protections by default, YouTube is proactively addressing potential legislative requirements. The platform has also recently introduced other safety measures, such as limits on repeated viewing of certain topics and improved “take a break” and “bedtime” reminders.
As YouTube continues to prioritize child safety, the introduction of read-only comments marks a significant step forward in creating a more secure and age-appropriate online environment for young users.
2 Comments
So, YouTube’s version of “think before you speak” is just not letting kids speak at all!
Because nothing says “fun” like putting a gag order on kids online, right?