How to Block Videos on YouTube: An Entrepreneur‘s Guide

As a small business owner, YouTube can be an invaluable platform for multimedia marketing. However, just like any social channel, you need tools to manage the content. By blocking certain videos and channels, you can create a YouTube experience tailored for your brand and target audience.

The Growing Need for Video Blocking

YouTube sees over 2 billion logged-in users visit each month, watching over a billion hours of video daily [1]. With 500 hours of new content uploaded per minute [2], things can easily get lost in the shuffle. Amassing views and subscribers requires cutting through the noise.

Moreover, 81% of parents with kids under 11 say they worry about age-inappropriate content on YouTube [3]. Entrepreneurs marketing family products/services should enable restrictions.

The ability to block videos allows you to:

  • Eliminate distractions and competing content
  • Ensure brand safety for your target demographic
  • Prioritize videos that nurture your goals

Leveraging YouTube‘s Built-In Controls

YouTube offers its own settings to filter content, no third-party tools required:

Restricted Mode hides mature videos using automated filters. Enable it by:

  • Browser: Click Profile > Settings > Restricted Mode
  • Android app: Settings > General > Restricted Mode
  • iOS app: Tap Profile > Settings > Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode isn‘t perfect, so stay vigilant. But it‘s an easy first step for guarding your channel.

Blocking specific channels also helps control brand safety and focus. To block a channel:

  1. Search for the channel
  2. Open its page
  3. Tap the 3-dot menu
  4. Select "Block user"

Repeat for any channel diverting attention from your goals.

Using Video Blocker Browser Extensions

Video Blocker extensions for Chrome and Firefox expedite the blocking process:

  1. Install the extension
  2. Right-click a video or channel
  3. Select "Block videos from this channel"
  4. Manage your blocklist by clicking the extension icon

I recommend Video Blocker for easily blacklisting categories of content, like competing brands. It only takes seconds to clean up suggestions.

Going Beyond Content Control

You can further optimize by managing comments and video recommendations:

  • Moderate comments through Studio to hide divisive reactions
  • Click "Not interested" on recommendations to improve suggestions
  • Clear watch history and feedback to reset the algorithm

Curating the conversations and videos served alongside your content, ensures your channel remains on-brand, on-topic, and on-message.

Sources

[1] YouTube for Press
[2] [Merrill Lynch Report](https://olui2.fs.ml.com/Publish/Content/application/pdf/GWMOL/ME– dbnamehere-06022022.pdf)
[3] Common Sense Media Survey