YouTube has announced a set of updates aimed at giving families more control over how children and teens use the platform, as part of its long-term effort to make online viewing safer and more age-appropriate. The video-sharing platform says teens come to YouTube for a variety of reasons, ranging from studying and following their favorite creators to listening to podcasts or watching sports highlights.

YouTube says that rather than keeping young users away from the digital world, its goal is to protect them while allowing them to explore it responsibly. YouTube has focused its strategy on three main areas, based on recommendations from parents and child development experts – helping kids develop healthy viewing habits, guaranteeing strong security and age-appropriate content, and streamlining account setup so families can choose what experience they want for each child.