YouTube Made for Kids Setting: Why Comments Turned Off and What to Do

What is the YouTube made for kids setting, and why do comments turn off?

The YouTube made for kids setting is an audience choice that tells YouTube a video or channel targets children. While it is on, YouTube turns off comments, the notification bell, the miniplayer, and personalized ads to follow laws that protect children's data. A missing comment box is therefore not a bug. Instead, it is the direct result of this setting.

You do not need to panic. First, confirm that the setting really causes the problem. Comments can also disappear for other reasons. For example, you may have turned them off by hand, or a single video may carry its own restriction.

Follow this order first:

1. Open YouTube Studio and find the video in your content list.
2. Check the audience information and note who set the label, you or YouTube.
3. If the content truly targets children, leave the setting alone, because the lost features are a deliberate protection.
4. If the content speaks to a general audience, update the setting to the option that fits.
5. Before you save, check whether the change affects one video or the whole channel.

This guide covers this one situation only. Monetization and the yellow dollar icon are separate topics, so we mention them briefly and point you to our other articles.

Which features turn off on made for kids content?

The official YouTube Help page says some features are unavailable on content that you set as made for kids. Below, we summarize the list. However, the platform can update it over time, so open the official page for the current version.

• Comments turn off, and you cannot change the comment setting.
• The notification bell does not appear for viewers, either.
• Miniplayer playback is not available.
• Also, YouTube does not show personalized ads.
• Interaction tools such as cards, end screens, and watermarks do not work.
• Live chat, channel memberships, donations, and merchandise shelves do not work.
• Saving the video to playlists or Watch Later is limited.

Also, the same page notes that a channel-level choice affects extra areas such as posts. In other words, the change goes well beyond comments. The whole interaction layer of the channel looks different.

For example, a teacher who streams live lessons loses live chat once the setting applies. So settle the audience question before you plan a stream.

This list also explains why the setting has so many effects. YouTube limits data collection on children's content, so it switches off every feature that depends on personal data or personal interaction.

Which symptoms point to the made for kids setting as the cause?

Not every comment problem comes from this setting. Reading the symptoms first saves time. The table below compares the common cases and tells you where to look first.

The first two rows give the strongest clue. If the bell and the miniplayer vanish together with comments, you most likely face the made for kids setting. Moreover, you will see the same behavior on many videos of the same channel.

How do you check whether a video is made for kids?

First, you check this in the content list of YouTube Studio. A filter there groups videos by audience status. Menu names change over time, so we describe the logic here instead of exact button text.

The official page groups the statuses into four types: made for kids set by you, set to made for kids by YouTube, not made for kids, and videos with no audience selected. As a result, you can see who applied the label.

This difference matters because it decides your next step:

• If you set the label, you can usually correct it yourself.
• If YouTube set it, first find out whether the setting is still changeable.
• If nothing is selected, you need to choose an option during upload or afterward.

When you check, look at several videos instead of one. That way you quickly learn whether the issue sits at the channel level or the video level.

What is the difference between the channel level and video level made for kids setting?

In short, you set the audience in two places. A channel-level choice covers existing and future videos. A video-level choice affects only that video, and according to the official page it overrides the channel setting.

Which one you pick depends on your content. For example, for a channel where every video targets children, the channel level is practical. For a channel with mixed content, the video level is much safer, because you label each video by its own reality.

For most business channels, the better path is to set the channel for a general audience and to label an individual video separately when it truly targets children.

Which content counts as made for kids?

The decision depends on your content and your viewers. The YouTube Help page on determining your audience lists the factors to weigh. They are not a strict test. Instead, you read them together.

• The subject of the video, for example educational content for preschoolers.
• Whether children are the intended or actual audience.
• Whether child actors or models appear.
• Characters, celebrities, or toys that appeal to children.
• Language that children can follow.
• Activities that attract children, such as simple games or early learning.
• Songs, stories, or poems for children.
• Ads aimed at children and your audience data.

One factor alone may not decide the case. For example, bright colors do not make a video child-directed. On the other hand, if several factors point to children together, you should choose the setting that matches.

Why is a family friendly video not automatically made for kids?

This is the most common mix-up. According to the official page, content that is safe or suitable for all ages is not made for kids by that fact alone. Children who watch by chance do not settle the question either.

Therefore, content that appeals to a general audience and does not target children should carry the not made for kids label. For example, a cooking channel should not choose made for kids just because children may watch. Otherwise, you lose comments and engagement for no reason.

The reverse also holds. Labeling child-directed content as general audience creates a real compliance risk. So base the decision on the question "does the content target children?" and not on "do children watch?"

If you hesitate, look at your audience data, your language, and your visuals together. Still, the official page says plainly that YouTube Analytics was not designed to help you decide, so never treat analytics as your only proof.

How do you change the YouTube made for kids setting?

You change the setting in YouTube Studio. The official help page describes the channel level through the channel and advanced settings area, and the video level through the basic info step of the upload flow or the edit flow in the content list. Menus change, so look for the matching section in your panel.

To change an existing video, the general flow looks like this:

1. Open the content list in YouTube Studio.
2. Select the videos you want to change.
3. Open the edit options and find the audience setting.
4. Choose the option that fits your content.
5. Save the change and check the video again.

If you plan a channel-level change, review all your videos first. A channel setting affects existing and future videos, so one wrong choice labels many videos wrongly at the same time.

Then, wait a few minutes after the change and refresh the page. Then check whether the comment options are selectable again.

What can you do if YouTube set the audience itself?

YouTube uses systems that help find videos clearly aimed at young viewers. However, the official page tells you not to rely on those systems to set your audience. It also says YouTube may override your choice in cases of error or abuse.

According to the help page, if YouTube labels a video made for kids before you set the audience, you can usually change it. If you set the audience and YouTube later detects an error or abuse, the label can lock.

In that case, you can do the following:

• Inspect the audience label of the video in Studio.
• If the page offers a change or appeal option, write your reasons clearly and honestly.
• Prepare a short note that explains whom the content really targets.
• Do not re-upload videos while you wait, because that can count as evading the system.

No result is guaranteed. YouTube decides by its own criteria, and an appeal may fail.

Why is it risky to try to get around the made for kids setting?

Deleting and re-uploading the video, opening a new channel, or using another account may look tempting to bring comments back. However, we do not recommend any of these. They count as evading the rules and put your account at greater risk.

The official page warns that a wrong audience setting can create compliance issues with the FTC or other authorities, and that YouTube may take action on your account. So the goal is not to bypass the setting. The goal is to pick the right one.

In the same way, do not trust strangers who offer to remove the setting for money. Nobody outside YouTube can change its audience decision for you. Moreover, sharing your login details can even cost you the account.

The right path is simple: assess the content honestly, update the setting if needed, and keep the children's content apart on purpose.

How should a business channel decide on the made for kids setting?

Most business channels speak to a general audience. Product demos, customer training, interviews, and service explainers belong to this group. For these channels, not made for kids is usually the right call.

However, the case is more delicate for a brand that sells to children. For example, in a video about toys or kids clothing, who is the target: the child or the parent? If the narration speaks to parents, the video may not be made for kids. However, if language, characters, and visuals appeal to children, you should choose the setting accordingly.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Whom am I talking to in this video: the child or the parent?
2. Does the language, music, or visual style aim at children's interest?
3. Are the ads aimed at children?
4. Will the actors or characters appeal to children?

In short, your goal as a brand owner is not to protect your comment count. It is to classify correctly. Correct classification protects your viewers and your channel in the long run.

If your answers are mixed, keep the decision in writing with its reasons. If a legal doubt remains, talk to your lawyer. This article is not legal advice.

How should educational channels think about the made for kids setting?

However, educational content does not automatically mean made for kids. A university lecture, vocational training, or a language course for adults speaks to a general audience. In contrast, an educational video for preschoolers is one of the examples on the official page.

For educational channels, the key criterion is the target audience. For example, content for teachers or parents differs from content that a child watches directly. Language, visual design, and the type of activity help you tell them apart.

If your educational channel has mixed content, labeling at the video level is usually more accurate. That way you keep comments on for adult lessons and apply the needed protection to the children's videos.

Also, comments are a valuable feedback channel in education. Since comments stay off on made for kids videos, collect feedback in other ways. For example, you can use a page for parents or an email form.

Who carries the legal responsibility for a wrong made for kids label?

According to YouTube Help, setting the audience correctly is the content owner's responsibility. The requirement traces back to a settlement between YouTube, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the New York Attorney General, and to COPPA, the law that protects children's online privacy.

Still, the official page says that an inaccurate setting can lead to compliance issues with the FTC or other authorities, and that YouTube may act on your account. The scope of responsibility, though, varies by country, content, and situation.

Therefore, do not read this section as a legal opinion. This article is not legal advice. If your channel belongs to a company and your content sits close to children, speak with a lawyer.

In practice, do two things: decide honestly and keep your reasons on record. Then you can show why you picked an option if a question comes up later.

How do you manage your community while comments are off?

No comments on a made for kids video does not have to mean a lost connection. You can build engagement in other ways. In practice, this works well on channels that speak to parents.

• Share information and a contact route for parents in the video description.
• Then answer questions in a separate series that does not target children.
• Use a feedback form on your website or in your email newsletter.
• Prepare a short questions and answers page for parents.

If you send viewers elsewhere, measure which source brings visits with the UTM builder. That way you see which route works in place of comments.

The content plan of such channels also differs. For search visibility, read our guide on YouTube SEO and our article on organic Shorts growth.

If you want a team to run your social accounts, look at our social media management service. For audience decisions, still get legal advice separately.

Do comments turn on by themselves when you switch to not made for kids?

When you update the audience to not made for kids, you should be able to choose comment options again. However, do not assume that comments turn on right away. The official page does not describe every detail of this switch, so verify the result in your own panel.

Then, after the change, open the comment settings of the video and pick the option you want. Some videos may have comments off for another reason. In that case, you also need to turn them on again yourself.

Be careful about old comments too. Whether they come back depends on the history of the setting and on how YouTube works. So do not expect that old comments will certainly return.

Monetization and ad labels can also change after this switch. We cover those topics separately in our YouTube monetization guide and our yellow dollar icon article.

What should you check before you change the YouTube made for kids setting in bulk?

A channel-level change can touch hundreds of videos at once. So do not rush. Therefore, the checklist below helps you reduce the risk.

1. Group your videos by topic and target audience.
2. Put the child-directed videos on one list.
3. Put the general audience videos on another list.
4. If the content is mixed, prefer the video level over the channel level.
5. Note the current comment and engagement status before you change anything.
6. Test the change on a few videos and watch the result.
7. Apply it to the rest only after you feel sure.

In short, this order gives you two benefits. First, you avoid a wrong bulk action. Second, you document why each video has its setting.

On large channels, you do not have to finish in one session. Start with new uploads and your most watched videos, then complete the rest later.

Which mistakes happen most often?

The same mistakes repeat year after year. Specifically, most of them come from not knowing what the setting does. The table below puts each mistake next to the right approach.

Most of these mistakes come from rushed decisions. If you assess the situation calmly and move step by step, you solve the comment problem and lower the compliance risk at the same time.

How does the made for kids setting affect which videos YouTube recommends?

YouTube Help says that videos you set as made for kids are more likely to appear next to other kids' videos. So the setting does more than switch off features. It also affects which viewers meet your video.

For that reason, a wrong label hurts in two directions. If you label a general audience video as made for kids, it may miss the right viewers, and you lose comments for nothing. If you label a child-directed video as general audience, you may face a compliance issue.

Therefore, define your target audience before you build your content strategy. Choose title, thumbnail, and tone to match. If a thumbnail problem appears, read our article on the custom thumbnail option not showing.

Still, we cannot promise any numeric effect. Recommendations change over time, so track your own channel data and decide the setting by the real target of the content.

How does the YouTube made for kids setting affect ads?

On made for kids content, YouTube does not show personalized ads. This restriction appears on the official feature list. So before you change the setting, know that your ad setup may change too.

The rules of the monetization program and the meaning of the yellow dollar icon are separate topics. We do not repeat them here, because each deserves its own guide. If you face that case, read our article on the yellow dollar icon.

Also, do not set numeric revenue expectations. Revenue depends on viewers, country, content type, and ad inventory. Check the current terms on the official YouTube help pages.

Also, do not pick the audience setting out of revenue worries alone. Marking content as general audience for money is the riskiest path for compliance. First decide whom the content really targets.

How do you pick the right setting in example scenarios?

The examples below are fictional example scenarios. They also do not describe a real client. Their purpose is to show how the criteria read in practice. In every case, the final decision is yours.

• Recipe channel: With adult narration, a plain kitchen, and general language, the general audience option stands out, even if children watch.
• Preschool song channel: Children's songs, animated characters, and simple repetition point to made for kids.
• Software training channel: If the audience is adult learners and employees, the general audience option fits, even though the content is educational.
• Toy store channel: If the videos use language and characters that appeal to children, made for kids may apply. With narration aimed at parents, the picture changes.
• Family vlog: Even if child actors appear, judge each video by its own audience when it speaks to adult viewers.

However, the common point in these examples is simple. The decision rests on the sum of the clues, not on a single clue. When you are unsure about a video, reread the factor list on the official page.

How do you document the audience decision inside your team?

If several people run the channel, a written audience decision makes your work easier. A new editor then does not change the setting by accident during an upload. Also, you can answer later questions quickly.

A simple decision log is enough. So each row of the table stands for one video or one group of videos.

Add this log to your upload checklist. Also make sure that only authorized people change audience settings.

How can our team help, and where do we draw the line?

We are Talha Aslan and team. We support YouTube channels with content planning, search visibility, and community management. However, we do not decide the legal consequences of an audience setting. That belongs to the content owner and a legal advisor.

For example, our team can review the content structure of your channel, discuss with you which videos may fall into which group, and plan engagement routes that replace comments.

We also share our experience on similar technical problems. For example, read about the custom thumbnail problem or the Reels cover crop issue on another platform.

Safe solutions always run through the official help center. Do not trust outsiders who promise to remove the setting or to recover anything, because nobody can guarantee a result.

What is the quick decision summary for the made for kids setting?

In short, the setting is a classification, not a punishment. If your content truly targets children, comments turning off is an expected and required result. If you speak to a general audience, choosing the right option is your responsibility.

Use the list below as a checklist while you manage the channel:

• First, see the audience information in Studio and who applied the label.
• Verify the list of disabled features on the current official page.
• Choose between the channel level and the video level to fit your content.
• Remember that family friendly does not mean made for kids.
• Instead of evading the setting, fix it through the official route.
• Finally, ask your lawyer when a legal doubt remains.

Finally, settings and menus change over time. Before you act, reopen the set your audience page, the page on determining made for kids content, and the page on checking your video's audience to confirm the current information.