YouTube has introduced a new feature allowing parents to link their accounts with their teenagers, aiming to enhance parental involvement in their children’s digital activities while maintaining a balanced level of independence for teens.
Part of YouTube’s Family Centre hub, this feature enables parents to monitor key aspects of their teens’ interactions on the platform, such as the videos they upload, the channels they subscribe to, and the comments they leave.
Additionally, parents will receive email notifications whenever their teens upload new videos or begin livestreaming, fostering opportunities for conversations around responsible content creation.
This initiative expands on YouTube’s existing supervised experiences for younger children and seeks to create a balance between parental oversight and the freedom for teens to explore the platform.
YouTube worked closely with child development experts to develop the feature, emphasizing the importance of open communication between parents and teens about their online activities.
Pediatric expert Ellen Selkie supports the approach, noting that while teens need space to grow, knowing their parents are available for guidance is crucial for their development.
This latest move is part of YouTube’s broader effort to protect younger users, including recent steps to reduce exposure to harmful video recommendations. Published on September 5, the new features demonstrate YouTube’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe and engaging online environment for its younger audience.
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