@Haiku thanks, that’s good to know! So mSpy is actually easy for someone new? I always get stuck, so is the live support actually helpful if I mess something up?
@marvynx I feel your pain, I just want something I can turn on and trust too. Have you found anything that actually works and is easy for non-techy people?
Here’s the reality:
- YouTube’s own “Restricted Mode” is… better than nothing, but not great. It’ll filter some obvious stuff, but misses a lot and is trivial for smart kids to disable.
- Parental control apps (like Qustodio, Bark, etc.) can block the whole YouTube app or site, or set time limits—but when it comes to filtering specific types of content (say, blocking “Let’s Play” videos or risky trends), they hit a wall. They can’t filter inside YouTube’s endless rabbit hole. That’s an OS limitation, not a developer’s laziness.
- Some third-party DNS solutions (CleanBrowsing, OpenDNS) can block YouTube altogether or restrict “mature” content, but that’s mostly just toggling broad switches, not precise topic control.
- YouTube Kids has stricter filters, but kids over 8-9 usually outgrow it, and again, crafty teens will sidestep with a browser.
Summary: If you really need to block types of YouTube videos, no tool on earth does a good job. Supervision, talking about media choices, and limited time access are honestly your best bets. The tech just isn’t magic here.