YouTube has introduced supervised kid accounts across the Middle East and North Africa, giving parents greater control over their children’s viewing experience. The new feature includes age-based content settings, enhanced parental controls and an industry-first Shorts feed timer designed to promote healthier digital habits.
DUBAI: YouTube has rolled out YouTube supervised kid accounts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including the United Arab Emirates, as part of its latest effort to create safer online experiences for children. The new accounts are designed for families whose children are ready to move beyond YouTube Kids but still require parental supervision while using the main YouTube app.
The optional feature gives parents greater control over what their children can watch while allowing young users to explore educational and entertainment content in an age-appropriate environment.
What are YouTube supervised kid accounts?
Unlike standard YouTube accounts, YouTube supervised kid accounts are built with additional safeguards that let parents customise their child’s viewing experience. Families can choose from three content settings based on their child’s maturity and interests.
The Explore setting focuses on educational videos, arts and crafts, tutorials and creative content. Explore More expands access to include gaming videos and live streams, while Most of YouTube allows children to watch nearly all content available on the platform, excluding videos rated for adults or considered unsuitable for supervised users.
Parents can adjust these settings at any time and may discontinue supervision if they decide their child is ready for unrestricted access.
What new parental controls are available?
One of the standout additions is the industry’s first Shorts feed timer, which allows parents to set daily limits on time spent scrolling YouTube Shorts. Families can even set the timer to zero, effectively disabling Shorts altogether during periods such as school examinations or study time.
The accounts also include built-in wellbeing features enabled by default for users under 18, including Take a Break reminders and Bedtime notifications that encourage healthier viewing habits.
Several standard YouTube features are restricted for supervised accounts. Children cannot upload videos, post comments or receive personalised advertisements. Autoplay is also disabled by default to give families greater control over screen time.
Why is YouTube introducing these accounts?
According to YouTube, the new feature reflects its long-term commitment to balancing children’s access to educational and creative content with stronger online safety measures. The company says every family has different needs, and supervised accounts are designed to provide flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The launch also builds on existing supervised teen accounts already available across the region. Teen accounts allow parents to link their children’s profiles, receive notifications if a video is uploaded or a live stream begins, and monitor overall channel activity.
Where are the accounts available?
The rollout begins across several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Iraq. Availability will expand gradually across the region and Türkiye from 2 July.
Families can activate the feature through the Family Center within the YouTube app or website, or by using the Google Family Link application. By combining parental supervision with flexible content controls, YouTube aims to help children learn, explore and develop digital skills while giving parents greater confidence in managing their online experiences.
