Home · Use cases · YouTube for kids
A Tighter YouTube for Kids on the Family Computer
Unbinge is a free browser extension for Chrome and Edge. The Kids (≤8) profile uses a smaller slice of the approved channel list, turns on Education Mode with a parent PIN, and can hide Shorts and other distractions. It is for desktop browsing. It is not YouTube Kids, and it is not a promise that every upload on an allowed channel is right for every child.
The problem
Default YouTube is a feed, not a classroom. Recommendations, Shorts, search, and related videos keep introducing new titles. Blocking one video at a time never catches up. Parents often want a short list of science, stories, and drawing channels — and a lock so those settings are not flipped off from the popup.
How the Kids profile works
- Kids whitelist — only channels tagged for that profile on the shared list (plus any a parent adds locally after unlocking).
- Education Mode — watch, channel, embed (including youtube-nocookie iframes), and live URLs are checked. Home, Search, Shorts, history, playlists, and similar browse pages are blocked so unapproved thumbnails are not listed. Subscriptions stays open; playing a video is still checked.
- Parent PIN — 4–8 digits, required on Kids and Teens. Needed to turn off Education Mode, switch to Adult, approve or delete local channels, or turn off distraction blocking. Unlock lasts until the browser is closed.
Teens (9–14) is the same PIN model with a broader channel slice. Adult/Parent has no PIN and can still open Home and Search; videos stay whitelist-checked if Education Mode is on. Use Adult only on a parent’s browser.
How to set it up
Install on the child’s desktop browser
Follow the get started steps. Extensions do not control the YouTube mobile app.
Choose Kids and set the PIN
Onboarding asks for Kids, Teens, or Adult. Kids and Teens must set a PIN before you continue.
Keep Education Mode on
That is what restricts channels. Distraction filters hide UI on pages that still load. Sync the whitelist from the popup when you need the latest global list.
Add a channel only if you mean it
Local add is instant on this device and also queued for global review. Anyone can suggest a channel on the website. A global listing is a reviewer’s judgement, not a safety certificate for every video.
Limits you should know
A child can still uninstall the extension from browser settings. For stricter control, use a supervised Chrome profile or managed policies. Unbinge does not replace YouTube Kids on phones and tablets. It does not scan every new upload. Channels change; glance at what is playing. Do not install as Adult on a child’s profile — there is no PIN in that mode.
Who it’s for
Families sharing a Windows or Mac computer who want whitelist YouTube for a younger viewer. Teachers who already know which channels belong in a lesson. It is not for locking down a phone, and it is not a substitute for sitting with a very young child.