Large images, bold icons, and search functions give the littl’uns access to a ton of family-focused content, including from famous producers such as DreamWorksTV, Jim Henson TV, and National Geographic Kids. Original content made especially for YouTube Kids is also on the way, the company said on Monday.
To make it easier to find stuff, channels and playlists have been split into four categories: shows, music, learning, and explore, though searching for content via voice or keyboard input is also possible.
As you’d expect, parental controls are a major part of YouTube Kids. These include:
– A timer that lets you set for how long your child can use the app before it automatically closes down, with a password required to relaunch it.
– An audio option that lets you turn off that sometimes highly irritating background music that seems like it’s never going to end.
– A setting that lets you turn off search, leading your kid toward the pre-selected videos featured on the home screen.
– A product feedback section where you can request new features for YouTube Kids or suggest changes.
In a blog post announcing the app, the Web giant describes YouTube Kids as “the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind,” so yes, expect to see child-friendly versions of other Google tools in the not-too-distant future.
YouTube Kids is available now for Android and iOS users. At launch, only those in the U.S. can grab it, but we imagine it won’t be too long before it goes global.
[Source: YouTube]
