With increasing access to smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, children in Nigeria are spending more time online than ever before particularly on streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix. While these platforms offer educational and entertaining content, they also expose children to inappropriate material, misinformation, and addictive content loops.
Parental controls are no longer optional but essential. They allow parents and guardians to filter age-appropriate content, monitor screen time, and create a safer digital environment for their kids.
In this article, we break down how to set up effective parental controls on YouTube and Netflix. Whether you’re a tech-savvy parent or just getting started, this guide provides practical, easy-to-follow steps tailored for Nigerian households.
The Challenge
YouTube is among the top three most visited websites in Nigeria, and Netflix is rapidly growing its market share as data costs reduce and broadband access improves.
This trend raises an important question: How do parents ensure their children are safe while streaming content?
YouTube and Netflix both provide dedicated tools for content filtering and user management but understanding how they work and using them effectively is the real key.
Part 1: Setting Up Parental Controls on YouTube
1. YouTube Kids: The Safer, Simpler Option for Young Children
YouTube Kids is a stand-alone app developed by Google, specifically designed for children under 13. It offers a curated content experience and gives parents control over what their children can watch.
How to Set Up YouTube Kids:
- Download the YouTube Kids app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Sign in using your Google account.
- Create a profile for your child. You’ll be asked to enter their age to help YouTube recommend suitable content.
- Choose from three content categories:
- Preschool (Ages 4 and under)
- Younger (Ages 5–8)
- Older (Ages 9–12)
- You can turn off the search function to prevent kids from looking up new videos.
- Set screen time limits directly within the app.
- Manually block any video or channel you deem inappropriate, even if it’s otherwise approved by YouTube Kids.
This is the most secure option for younger children, as it minimizes exposure to potentially harmful content and removes access to public comment sections.
2. Supervised Accounts on YouTube (For Older Kids and Teens)
For children transitioning to regular YouTube, Supervised Accounts offer a middle ground between total restriction and full access.
Steps to Set Up Supervised Accounts:
- Visit g.co/YourFamily and create a Google Family Group if you haven’t already.
- Add your child’s account to the group.
- Choose one of three supervision levels:
- Explore (9+) – Access to a broader range of videos, including tutorials, vlogs, and educational content.
- Explore More (13+) – Access to even more content, such as live streams and music videos.
- Most of YouTube – For teens ready to explore almost all content except age-restricted material.
- Use Google Family Link (available for Android and iOS) to manage and monitor your child’s activity, including:
- Screen time tracking
- App management
- Content restrictions
- Bedtime scheduling
The Supervised Accounts feature lets kids grow into digital independence while parents maintain visibility and control.
Part 2: Parental Controls on Netflix
Netflix offers parental controls at both the profile and account level, making it easy to restrict content based on your child’s age and interests.
1. Creating a Netflix Kids Profile
Netflix allows parents to create dedicated profiles for children with automatic restrictions based on age-appropriate content.
Steps to Create a Netflix Kids Profile:
- Sign in to Netflix on any device.
- Click “Manage Profiles” and select “Add Profile.”
- Name the profile (e.g., “Tobi”) and check the box that says “Kid?”
- Choose the age range:
- Little Kids (0–6)
- Older Kids (7–12)
- Teens (13–15)
- All Maturity Levels (16+)
Kids’ profiles hide titles with violence, sexual content, or adult themes and offer a simpler user interface.
2. Locking Adult Profiles
To prevent kids from switching to unrestricted profiles, Netflix offers Profile Lock.
How to Enable Profile Lock:
- Visit Netflix.com/YourAccount.
- Scroll to Profile & Parental Controls.
- Select the profile you want to lock.
- Click “Profile Lock” and enter your Netflix password.
- Set a four-digit PIN.
This feature ensures that children can’t easily access inappropriate content by changing profiles.
3. Advanced Content Restrictions
Parents can go beyond basic filters by customizing viewing restrictions.
How to Block Specific Titles and Set Ratings:
- Under your child’s profile settings, go to Viewing Restrictions.
- Select the maximum allowed maturity rating (e.g., “PG” or “12”).
- Enter specific show or movie titles you want to block.
- Disable autoplay if you want to reduce screen time or binge-watching habits.
These controls give you granular control over what your kids can see and help reduce overexposure to screen time.
Real-Life Scenario: How One Nigerian Mum Took Back Control
Ada, a working mum in Abuja, found her 11-year-old son accidentally watching inappropriate prank videos on regular YouTube. She switched to YouTube Kids, turned off the search option, and enabled daily time limits.
For Netflix, she created a Kids profile, set a maturity rating of PG, and added a PIN to her own profile. Within a week, she noticed a difference—not just in what her children watched but also in how much time they spent watching.
Ada’s story isn’t unique. Thousands of Nigerian parents are waking up to the need for active digital parenting—and these tools make it much easier.
Streaming platforms have made enormous strides in offering tools that empower parents. But like any tool, parental controls are only effective when used intentionally and consistently.
By following the steps above, you can:
- Reduce the risk of your child encountering inappropriate content
- Encourage healthier digital habits
- Create a safer and more structured online experience
It’s not about surveillance but supporting and guiding your child’s digital journey.
Have you tried setting up parental controls on YouTube or Netflix? What worked or didn’t for your family?
