There’s tons and tons of content on Google’s YouTube video-sharing website. Obviously, some of it is not suitable for young children. That is why the search engine giant released a child-friendly version of its YouTube app for iOS and Android – YouTube Kids.

Shimrit Ben-Yair, mother of two and YouTube Kids Group Product Manager, explained that YouTube Kids is “the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind.”

As an adult, you can use the YouTube website or the YouTube mobile app to access any content you want. Millions of videos are available on the YouTube video-sharing website – video clips, TV clips, music videos, and other content.

Children on the other hand should not have free access to all the content that is available on YouTube. This is where Google’s new YouTube Kids app comes in. It provides access to content that is appropriate for the whole family, it ensures children don’t spend too much time watching videos, and more.

YouTube Kids – Main Features

• Simple design – as it is meant to be used by children, the app has a playful and easy to use design that features large images and bold icons.
• Voice search – if the child is not old enough to type, (s)he can use the built-in voice search function to find videos.
• Child-friendly content – children have access to content that is appropriate for the whole family. Said content is grouped into four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore.
• Parental controls – limit the amount of time your child can spend with the app, turn off background music and sound effects, disable the search function.
• Availability – the app is available for free on Apple’s App Store and on Google Play. It is available right now in the US and will soon be available on Kurio and nabi kids’ tablets.

In related news...

Do you know that there’s a kid-friendly version of Vine called Vine Kids? Available for iOS only, the Vine Kids app provides access to hand-selected videos that are appropriate for a young audience.