YouTube Kids Expands To Australia And Canada

Parents can deactivate the search function in the app so all the kid can see is the videos that are on the homescreen that are recommended by YouTube.

Close to a year after being launched in the USA, Google has made its YouTube Kids app available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

You can find out more details about the YouTube Kids app over at Google Play, the app is now available in the United Kingdom and there other countries mentioned.

The design of YouTube Kids is also very different from the regular version. It’s created to give parents an easier time when deciding what their kids should watch, free of potentially more adult-orientated programming. There is also built-in voice search so children can try to search for videos using their voice if they are unsure how to spell a certain show or character name.

There will be new content aimed to appeal to a United Kingdom and Irish audience specifically, like Octonauts, In the Night Garden and UK YouTubers like Stampylonghead and his Wonder Quest. However there will be a difference in terms of content depending on which country you are living in.

“Google is deceiving parents by marketing YouTube Kids as a safe place for children under five to explore when, in reality, the app is rife with videos that would not meet anyone’s definition of ‘family friendly.'”

The app is available on Android and iOS and serves up content that’s suitable for kids of all ages.

While it’s understandable that YouTube wants to take its time and make the app completely suited for each country before launching, it’s also disappointing for parents around the world who would likely prefer a less-than-perfect YouTube Kids experience over the uncensored access they have to consider giving their kids for now.