Which YouTube Control for Your Family's Devices?

iPhone / iPad household

Use: Apple Screen Time (device level) + WhitelistVideo (YouTube level)

Apple Screen Time handles app time limits and can block YouTube entirely during downtime. WhitelistVideo adds YouTube-specific controls — channel approval, Shorts blocking, comment hiding — that Screen Time cannot provide. Family Link's parent app works on iOS but cannot manage the child's iPhone.

Android household

Use: Google Family Link (device + account) + WhitelistVideo (YouTube level)

Family Link manages the supervised Google account and provides device-level controls. WhitelistVideo adds channel whitelisting, Shorts blocking, and comment control on top. The 0-minute Shorts limit in Family Link also works as a free baseline.

Chromebook

Use: Family Link (device) + WhitelistVideo Chrome extension

Personal Chromebooks use Family Link for account supervision. WhitelistVideo's Chrome extension provides YouTube-specific channel control. School-managed Chromebooks have their own administrator — check school policy before adding tools.

Smart TV

Use: YouTube Kids app (young children) or WhitelistVideo TV app + supervised account

Smart TVs are tricky because most third-party parental controls don't work on them. YouTube Kids has a TV app for younger children. WhitelistVideo has an Android TV app. For other smart TVs, a supervised YouTube account with the Shorts limit set to zero is your best native option.

Desktop (Windows / Mac)

Use: WhitelistVideo browser extension + OS-level child account

Use a Standard (non-admin) account on the computer so the child can't install other browsers or remove the extension. WhitelistVideo's Advanced Protection mode prevents bypassing even if they know the device passcode. On Mac, combine with Screen Time. On Windows, combine with Microsoft Family Safety.

Mixed household (Apple + Android + TV)

Use: WhitelistVideo (cross-platform) + device-native tools per platform

WhitelistVideo is one of the few YouTube controls that works across iOS, Android, Chrome, Edge, and Android TV with synced settings. Use it as the YouTube layer, then add device-native tools (Screen Time on Apple, Family Link on Android) for device-level management.

Try WhitelistVideo — works on all platforms