Safer YouTube UI for Kids

Safer YouTube UI for Kids is a Chrome extension developed by Emerson Design. According to the data from Chrome web store, current version of Safer YouTube UI for Kids is 20230207055522, updated on 2023-02-07.
6,000+ users have installed this extension. 12 users have rated this extension with an average rating of .

Trying to make YouTube slightly safer for kids.

----------------------
DESCRIPTION
----------------------

YouTube's parental controls are pretty much non-existent. Restrictive mode hides some things yes but not nearly enough. Plus there are no tracking/monitoring or filtering methods parents can use. On top of that the "suggested" and "trending" videos very often have content I personally wouldn't want my kids watching.

This extension is a very simple hack to hide most elements on the YouTube site and only show the basics. These lists may change over time but for now here's what is shown/hidden:

----------------------
ITEMS SHOWN
----------------------
* Search Bar
* Playlist menu/list
* Subscriptions

----------------------
ITEMS HIDDEN
----------------------
* Suggested / Next Up videos
* Number of items in the left/side-menu on YouTube site
* The GOD AWFUL "Trending" link
* History link (harder for kids to clear history)
* Video description
* Video comments
* Misc YouTube Header/Footer stuff

----------------------
HOW TO USE
----------------------

1.) Install this extension. Enable it for "Private/Incognito" mode if necessary.
2.) Go to YouTube
3.) Enjoy a VERY minimal/bare-bones YouTube user interface
with 85% of the crap hidden.

----------------------
DISCLAIMERS/NOTES
----------------------

A) Yes this is not super secure and anyone (incl kids)
of a certain age/technical skill will find ways around this
but it's better than nothing for people in my situation with
no other options.

B) Please note that this extension may stop working to varying
degrees in the future if/when YouTube changes their site. I'll
update/fix if possible when time permits and/or I (or others)
are still using this.

C) This extension is not meant to eliminate the need for parental
attention of what their kids are watching on YouTube - it's
just to help make parents' job a little bit easier and less stressful.

D) This extension's toolbar icon is *intentionally* invisible so it's not
immediately obvious where/how to remove it. However it can be removed
in the usual extension/setting location.

E) This extension is similar to the similarly-named extension
"Safer YouTube" by another person but that one didn't go far enough
(for me) in what it hides/shows so that's why I made my own.
Reference: https://goo.gl/TKqRtW.

F) Finally, this is a test/work in progress. Please leave any
ideas/feedback anyone has here:
https://emersondesignlog.blogspot.com/2019/03/safer-youtube-ui-for-kids.html

----------------------
CHANGE LOG
----------------------
1.0.017: YT Channel/YT Studio links removed from dropdown menu

1.0.016: Adjustment requests from an end-user

1.0.015: Resolving a chrome manifest V3/permission issue.

1.0.014: The channel and subscribe buttons are now visible. The show-as-you-type search results is now hidden.

1.0.0.13: Updated extension to V3 of Chrome manifest format. Also added few new YT items to hide on request from an end-user.

20210627211035: Hiding couple additional items on YT home page (some, not all recommended "channels/topics").

20210510075148: Google still rejecting app for configuration reasons (?) - still trying to resolve.

2021042x: Google requested some configuration changes - attempting to resolve.

20210407: Addressing some Chrome technical issue that came up and slight tweak to the extension to hide a couple more things on YT.

20190319: Trying out hiding SUBSCRIBE button and AUTHOR/CHANNEL links.
By the way I *may* eventually make these toggles not global/hard-coded hide/show decision.