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A Tighter YouTube for Kids on the Family Computer
Unbinge is a free browser extension for Chrome and Edge. The Kids profile (about 8 and under) uses a smaller slice of the approved channel list, starts in Focus behind 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).
- Focus mode — watch, channel, embed (including youtube-nocookie iframes), live, and Shorts URLs are checked against the approved list; anything unapproved shows a blocked page. The home feed stays hidden while the mode is on so unapproved thumbnails are not listed. Home, Search, and Subscriptions stay open; playing a video from there is still checked.
- Parent PIN — 4–8 digits, required on Kids. Needed to switch to General (13+), loosen Focus to Explore or Off, or un-hide Shorts and the home feed. Unlock lasts 5 minutes, then settings re-lock.
General (13+) is the broader slice: study plus curiosity picks, starting in Explore. It can opt into the same PIN. Use Kids on the child’s browser and General (13+) on yours.
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 or General (13+). Kids must set a parent PIN before you continue.
Stay in Focus
Focus allows study channels only; Explore widens the shelf with curiosity picks. Distraction filters hide UI on pages that still load. Sync the approved list 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. Keep Kids on a child’s browser — General (13+) has no PIN unless you turn the optional lock on.
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.