1. When was YouTube officially launched, and what type of content was it mainly used for?
2. Which tech giant bought YouTube, and in what year?
3. What became mandatory for YouTube users starting January 11, 2011?4. What major change happened to YouTube channel URLs in late 2014?
5. What was the purpose of introducing Google+ integration with YouTube channels?
6. What change did Google make in April 2019 affecting Google+?
7. What new feature was launched by YouTube in November 2022 for channel identification?
8. What is a supervised YouTube account?
9. Name three devices or apps where supervised accounts can be used.
10. What types of videos are disabled in the Explore content setting of a supervised account?
11. Which major YouTube features are restricted in supervised accounts?
12. In which five major countries are Google Assistant-enabled devices with supervised YouTube accounts supported?
YouTube Story for Those Who Don't Know or Feel Confused:
Date | Event |
February 14, 2005 | YouTube launches, primarily for music videos. |
October 9, 2006 | Google acquires YouTube. |
2006 to early 2009 | YouTube operates normally under Google ownership. |
May 6, 2009 | Creating a new YouTube channel requires a Google Account. |
May 2009 to January 11, 2011 | Google encourages linking old YouTube accounts to Google Accounts, calling it an “upgrade.” |
January 11, 2011 | Linking old YouTube accounts to Google Accounts becomes mandatory. |
2011 | YouTube introduces “User ID” and allows custom URLs for channels. |
December 2011 | Unlinked, inactive YouTube accounts without videos are deleted. |
2012 | New YouTube channels created through Google Accounts with /channel/ URLs; /user/ URLs still available later. |
Early 2012 | New channels automatically linked to Google+ Profiles. |
2012 | Google+ requires real names; non-compliance results in account suspension. |
Late Spring 2013 | YouTube channels can link to Google+ Pages. |
May 2013 | Sign-in requires Google Account email, not YouTube username. |
Late 2013 | YouTube switches to Google+ commenting system. |
January 2014 | New and existing channels must stick with Google+ links. |
Mid-2014 | Google+ allows any name to be used. |
Late 2014 | YouTube stops offering /user/ URLs, shifts to /c/ URLs. |
Spring 2015 | Google enhances account security, locking accounts without recovery options accessed from new locations. |
Mid-March 2015 | Tool launches to move YouTube channels between Google+ links. |
2015 | Secret questions for Google Account security are removed. |
Late 2015 | Google begins unlinking YouTube and Google+ profiles from public view. |
2016 | Google+ Pages become “Brand Accounts.” |
2016 to 2018 | Various updates to Google and YouTube account creation processes. |
April 2019 | Google+ is shut down. |
July 10, 2019 | G Suite for Education users lose Brand Account access. |
2020 | Google enhances security measures. |
November 2022 | YouTube introduces @handles to identify channels alongside traditional URLs. |
What does it mean to have someone watch over you on YouTube?
A supervised experience on YouTube refers to a parent-managed version of the standard YouTube and YouTube Music platforms designed for children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age in their country/region).
In a supervised account, parents have the ability to choose a content setting that restricts the videos and music accessible to children under 13. Additionally, supervised accounts modify the available features, default account settings, and the types of advertisements displayed. For more details on setting up a supervised account, refer to the provided information.
Answers to common questions from parents regarding supervised accounts are available, offering insights into the functionalities and controls provided. Children with supervised accounts can utilize the following apps and devices:
• YouTube app and website
• YouTube Music app and website
• YouTube and YouTube Music through Google Assistant-enabled devices
• YouTube app on compatible smart TVs
• YouTube on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
This supervised experience ensures a safer and more controlled environment for young users on YouTube.
Accessibility based on geographic location:
Supervised accounts for YouTube can be utilized on mobile devices, computers, and eligible smart TVs across the following countries/regions:
Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region |
American Samoa | Belgium | Croatia | Guam | Latvia | Panama |
Argentina | Bermuda | Czechia | Guatemala | Liechtenstein | Papua New Guinea |
Aruba | Bolivia | Cyprus | Honduras | Lithuania | Paraguay |
Australia | Bosnia | Denmark | Hong Kong | Luxembourg | Peru |
Austria | Brazil | Dominican Republic | Hungary | Macedonia | Philippines |
Azerbaijan | Bulgaria | Ecuador | Iceland | Malaysia | Poland |
Bangladesh | Canada (excluding Quebec) | El Salvador | India | Malta | Portugal |
Belarus | Cayman Islands | Estonia | Indonesia | Mexico | Puerto Rico |
Belgium | Chile | French Guiana | Ireland | Montenegro | Romania |
Bermuda | Colombia | French Polynesia | Israel | Nepal | Russia |
Bolivia | Costa Rica | Finland | Italy | Netherlands | San Marino |
Bosnia | Croatia | France | Jamaica | New Zealand | Senegal |
Brazil | Czechia | Georgia | Japan | Nicaragua | Serbia |
Bulgaria | Cyprus | Germany | Kazakhstan | Nigeria | Singapore |
Canada (excluding Quebec) | Denmark | Ghana | Kenya | Norway | Slovakia |
Cayman Islands | Dominican Republic | Greece | Latvia | Northern Mariana Islands | Slovenia |
Chile | Ecuador | Guadeloupe | Liechtenstein | Pakistan | South Africa |
Colombia | El Salvador | Guam | Lithuania | Panama | South Korea |
Costa Rica | Estonia | Guatemala | Luxembourg | Papua New Guinea | Spain |
Croatia | French Guiana | Honduras | Macedonia | Paraguay | Sri Lanka |
Czechia | French Polynesia | Hong Kong | Malaysia | Peru | Sweden |
Cyprus | Finland | Hungary | Mexico | Philippines | Switzerland |
Denmark | France | Iceland | Nepal | Poland | Tanzania |
Dominican Republic | Georgia | India | Netherlands | Portugal | Thailand |
Ecuador | Germany | Indonesia | New Zealand | Puerto Rico | Turks and Caicos Islands |
El Salvador | Ghana | Ireland | Nicaragua | Romania | Uganda |
Estonia | Greece | Israel | Nigeria | Russia | Ukraine |
French Guiana | Guadeloupe | Italy | Norway | San Marino | United Kingdom |
French Polynesia | Guam | Jamaica | Northern Mariana Islands | Senegal | United States |
Finland | Guatemala | Japan | Pakistan | Serbia | Uruguay |
France | Honduras | Kazakhstan | Panama | Singapore | Vatican City |
Georgia | Hong Kong | Kenya | Papua New Guinea | Slovakia | Venezuela |
Germany | Hungary | Latvia | Paraguay | Slovenia | Vietnam |
Ghana | Iceland | Liechtenstein | Peru | South Africa | Zimbabwe |
Greece | India | Lithuania | Philippines | South Korea | |
Guadeloupe | Indonesia | Luxembourg | Poland | Spain | |
Guam | Ireland | Macedonia | Portugal | Sri Lanka | |
Guatemala | Israel | Malaysia | Puerto Rico | Sweden | |
Honduras | Italy | Malta | Romania | Switzerland | |
Hong Kong | Jamaica | Mexico | Russia | Tanzania | |
Hungary | Japan | Montenegro | San Marino | Thailand | |
Iceland | Kazakhstan | Nepal | Senegal | Turks and Caicos Islands | |
India | Kenya | Netherlands | Serbia | Uganda | |
Indonesia | Latvia | New Zealand | Singapore | Ukraine | |
Ireland | Liechtenstein | Nicaragua | Slovakia | United Kingdom | |
Israel | Lithuania | Nigeria | Slovenia | United States | |
Italy | Luxembourg | Norway | South Africa | Uruguay | |
Jamaica | Macedonia | Northern Mariana Islands | South Korea | Vatican City | |
Japan | Malaysia | Pakistan | Spain | Venezuela | |
Kazakhstan | Malta | Panama | Sri Lanka | Vietnam |
Access based on geographic location for devices enabled with Google Assistant
Supervised accounts are compatible with Google Assistant-enabled devices in the following geographic locations:
Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region | Country/Region |
Brazil | France | Germany | India | Indonesia | Italy |
Japan | Mexico | Spain | United Kingdom | United States |
Disabled Features:
In the realm of supervised accounts on YouTube, certain features, typically available on the platform, undergo modifications depending on the selected content settings. Collaborating closely with parents and industry experts, we aim to introduce additional features progressively.
Here’s an overview of features that supervised accounts might not have access to:
Watch
- Live stream videos (disabled only for the Explore content setting)
- Posts
Engage
- Comments
- Handles
Additionally, the following features are restricted for supervised accounts:
- Live Chat
Create
- Channel
- Live stream
- Posts
- Public and unlisted playlists
- Stories
- Shorts
- Video uploads
Buy
- Channel memberships
- Creator merchandise
- Donations through YouTube Giving
- Movies & TV Shows
- Super Chat & Super Stickers
YouTube apps
- YouTube Studio
- YouTube TV
- YouTube VR
Furthermore, certain miscellaneous features are not available for supervised accounts, including:
- Adding products on YouTube
- Casting on TV
- Connected gaming accounts
- Incognito mode
- Personalized ads
- Public profile pictures
- Restricted Mode
- Lyrics tab in YouTube Music
Conclusion:
Understanding YouTube’s Journey and the Supervised Experience
YouTube has come a long way since its launch in 2005, transforming from a simple platform for sharing music videos to the world’s largest video-sharing site, integrated deeply with Google’s ecosystem. Along this journey, numerous changes were introduced — from the mandatory linking of YouTube accounts to Google, to URL restructuring, and the eventual phasing out of Google+ integrations. Each shift reflected evolving priorities around identity, security, and platform consistency.
In parallel, YouTube recognized the growing need to create safer environments for younger audiences. The introduction of supervised accounts marked a significant step forward in digital parenting. These accounts offer a customized and controlled version of YouTube, allowing parents to decide what their children can access, while ensuring that age-inappropriate content, live streams, comments, and certain monetization features remain restricted.
Supervised accounts are supported across a wide range of countries and devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile platforms, and Google Assistant-enabled devices. This wide accessibility helps ensure that families around the world can benefit from YouTube in a safer, more mindful way.
Whether you’re a newcomer to YouTube or a parent seeking clarity, understanding these developments helps demystify the platform’s evolution and the tools available today for creating a safer, more secure video experience for users of all ages.
Prof. Mian Waqar Ahmad
Prof. Mian Waqar Ahmad, a dynamic force straddling the realms of academia and digital media. As a distinguished Lecturer in Information Sciences, he imparts knowledge within the academic sphere, igniting the minds of his students. Beyond the classroom, Prof. Mian Waqar Ahmad dons the hat of a seasoned blogger on Worldstan.com, where his insightful posts delve into the intricacies of information sciences. His digital footprint extends even further as a YouTuber, leveraging the platform to share his expertise and make complex concepts accessible to a global audience. Prof. Mian Waqar Ahmad’s journey embodies the fusion of traditional education and contemporary digital outreach, leaving an indelible mark on the evolving landscape of information sciences. Explore his world at Worldstan.com and witness the convergence of academia and the digital frontier.