YouTube has launched its supervised accounts for children across the Middle East and North Africa, including the UAE. The move introduces a new layer of parental controls directly within the main app, giving families more granular choice over the content accessible to younger users.
Quick Facts
- New supervised accounts launched across the MENA region.
- Features three distinct, age-appropriate content settings.
- Introduces tools like a daily Shorts feed timer.
Parent-Focused Controls and Content Tiers
In a departure from the standalone YouTube Kids app, the new supervised experience is integrated into the main YouTube platform. Parents can now choose from three different content settings for their child’s account.
The “Explore” setting is the most restrictive, focusing on educational videos, tutorials, and arts and crafts. “Explore More” expands this to include gaming content and live streams. The third tier, “Most of YouTube,” includes nearly all videos on the platform except for content marked as 18+ or otherwise deemed inappropriate for the supervised mode.
Beyond content filtering, the new accounts come with built-in tools to manage screen time. This includes a Shorts feed timer, an industry-first feature that allows parents to set daily limits on short-form video consumption or disable it entirely. Standard features like “Take a Break” and “Bedtime” reminders are enabled by default for users under 18, while content creation, commenting, and personalized ad targeting are disabled.
Aligning with New UAE Digital Regulations
The rollout is particularly timely for the region, coming just weeks after the UAE established a new legal framework governing children’s use of social media. The regulations prohibit children under 15 from creating social media accounts and require enhanced parental controls and safer content settings for teens aged 15 and 16. The rules also mandate that platforms implement reliable age-verification systems.
Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube Middle East & North Africa, commented on the platform’s role in the region. “Research by Kantar shows that 95% of viewers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE agree that YouTube has top content in education and learning, while 92% of Gen Z viewers say it has helped them learn new skills.”
Garth Graham, Head of Health at YouTube, added, “It’s essential that we protect young people in – not from – the digital world. Thoughtful safeguards like kid and teen accounts help us continue to give young people a place to learn and explore, while ensuring the right tools and boundaries are in place to keep them safe and give families a choice.”
These new supervised kid accounts join the existing teen accounts and the YouTube Kids app, expanding Google’s suite of tools aimed at creating safer online experiences for families.
About YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform owned by Google. It allows users to upload, view, rate, share, add to playlists, report, comment on videos, and subscribe to other users. It is the second most visited website in the world, right after Google itself.
Source: Zawya
