Adults
Staying Safe on YouTube
Staying safe online
Setting privacy and safety controls
YouTube lets you watch videos, follow creators and share your own content. What you post, watch and interact with can shape your online experience. Learning how YouTube works and adjusting your settings can help you stay safe online.
How can videos on YouTube affect you?
YouTube recommendations are personalised. YouTube learns from what you watch, search for and interact with.
While YouTube tries to filter out content that breaks its community rules, you may still see videos that:
Spread misleading information
Use manipulated or AI-generated content
Encourage risky behaviour or set unrealistic expectations
Contain extreme, violent or hateful views
If videos on YouTube start to make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, that is a sign to adjust your settings to protect yourself.
How can you protect yourself on YouTube?
Review your settings to help you manage what you see, who can contact you and how much time you spend on the platform.
Choose what you see
Tap “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend channel” on content you do not want to see more of
Turn on "Restricted Mode" to hide inappropriate content
Filter out or hide comments or keywords that bother you
Unsubscribe from YouTube channels that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
Reset or turn off recommendations by deleting or turning off your watch history
Control who can see your content and interact with you
Review the personal data visible on your channel
Hide your channel to make your channel name, videos, likes, subscriptions and subscribers private
Make your videos and playlists private or unlisted to manage who can find, view or share your content
Pause or turn off comments on your videos
Make your live streams private or unlisted and moderate your live chats
Hide users from your channel to remove their comments and prevent them from creating clips of your videos or live streams
Block accounts you do not want to interact with
Watch your screen time
Set take-a-break reminders, bedtime reminders and a Shorts feed limit to help track and manage your screen time on YouTube
Notice how YouTube makes you feel after long sessions
Take breaks when watching starts to feel overwhelming
What else can you do when something does not feel right?
Sometimes, certain content or interactions may cause discomfort and make you feel unsafe.
When that happens, remember:
You do not have to respond or explain yourself
Saving screenshots or links can help if you want to report harmful behaviour
Blocking or reporting is okay
Getting support early can prevent things from getting worse
Where can you learn more about YouTube’s safety tools?
Visit these resources to find out more about staying safe on YouTube:
YouTube Help Centre: Get help with your account, settings and security, and find answers to common questions
How YouTube Works: Understand how YouTube works, from protecting user privacy to supporting its communities
You can also explore other online safety resources on our website for more advice on staying safe online.