YouTube Restrictions for Students and Staff

YouTube is a site that has the potential for many learning opportunities. These opportunities can contribute to in-class learning across a range of subjects. As a district, we want our students to have access to these opportunities while ensuring they are safe while online. 

YouTube Background Information:

YouTube defines the restriction levels in the following manner:

• Strict Restricted YouTube access—This setting is the most restrictive. Strict Restricted Mode does not block all videos, but works as a filter to screen out many videos based on an automated system, while leaving some videos still available for viewing. 

• Moderate Restricted YouTube access—This is similar to Strict Restricted Mode but makes a much larger collection of videos available.

• Unrestricted YouTube access—This means both Restricted Modes—Strict and Moderate—are off. This allows users to have unrestricted access to Youtube.

• Can approve videos—This setting allows for users to approve additional videos so that signed-in users in their organization can watch them. Individuals who manually approve videos and channels should share those via links since they won't appear in YouTube search results, homepages, or recommendations. 

An example using the above restrictions in practice:

WSD Applied Restrictions:

In order to ensure that student safety is addressed, WSD has put into place the following restrictions for students and staff using YouTube restriction levels.  

• Elementary and Middle School: Strict Restrictions

• High School: Moderate Restrictions

• Staff: Unrestricted and Can Approve Videos

_{*Content copied from Madison Metropolitan School District Communications}