YouTube announces “Read-Only” comments for young viewers in supervised accounts

YouTube is a massive source of entertainment and education for everyone. For kids, it is also a place where they can find new passions, satisfy their curiosity, and connect with like-minded people around the world. One of the platform’s most interactive features is the commenting section, but as any experienced YouTube user knows, it can sometimes be a less-than-ideal place for younger viewers.

Email sent by YouTube team announcing the changes

What does “Read-Only” comments mean?

This means that for kids whose accounts are in the “Explore More” and “Most of YouTube” content setting will still see comments below videos, but won’t be able to write their own comments or participate in live chats. Parents who would prefer a completely comment-free experience for their children can switch to the “Explore” content tier in their child’s settings.

Remember, when kids are signed in to YouTube, Google may save data (like their searches) to their account. YouTube says that this data is used to help personalize their experience on all Google services, however, it is important to know that YouTube settings don’t extend to YouTube videos embedded on other sites.

This new approach with comments is a sign that YouTube wants to take meaningful steps to make its vast library of content safer for everyone, particularly the younger ones. If you supervise a child account, it’s worth it to revisit the settings you have chosen for their YouTube experience and make any necessary changes based on these new rules.