YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform with billions of individuals watching and uploading videos on a daily basis. It was established in 2005 and has revolutionized the way individuals consume videos, with various types of content ranging from entertainment, education, news, and vlogs. YouTube is owned by Google and is characterized by various features that enhance user experience such as subscriptions, suggested content, comments, and live streaming. This guide will explain how to block channels on YouTube step by step, covering various methods, reasons for blocking, and additional tips to enhance your viewing experience.
Key Features of YouTube
- Video Posting and Sharing – They are able to post videos on channels where they enjoy a worldwide audience.
- Subscribing and Notifications – The audience can subscribe to channels that they enjoy and be notified every time there is an upload of videos.
- YouTube Shorts – A brief video clip feature like TikTok, where there is immediate, interactive content creation.
- YouTube Live – A live streaming feature where live interaction with fans is permitted.
- Monetization – Content creators earn through adverts, subscription, and Super Chats.
- Parental Controls – There exists an option labeled Restricted Mode, which blocks minors from accessing material.
- Commenting and Engagement – People interact through likes, dislikes, and leaving comments on the content.
Even though YouTube is such an awesome platform, not everything is well for everyone. There are some content which are offensive, spam, or irrelevant to other people. To have a good web surfing experience, there is a channel blocking feature available on YouTube.
Why Block Channels on YouTube?
Blocking YouTube channels is an excellent method of having a good and spam-free experience. Blocking channels is the users’ choice for numerous reasons like evading spam, removing objectionable content, safeguarding younger users, and evading annoying interactions.
Avoid Spam and Harassment
- Abusive and spammy comments spoil your YouTube experience. Blocking a channel if it keeps posting unwanted comments on your videos or cyberbullies stops it from further interactions, thus keeping the space clean for debates.
Remove Inappropriate Content
- There are some channels that publish bogus information, abusive, or off-color posts you do not want to view. Blocking such channels allows you to personalize your feed according to your interest and what you consider to be proper so that you can have a less distracting surfing experience.
Protect Children
- Parents can block certain channels so that young kids don’t get to watch objectionable videos. YouTube Kids and Restricted Mode provide extra features for parents for a safer viewing experience.
Distract Less
- There are moments when channels you wouldn’t want to watch keep appearing in suggestions. Blocking them keeps you active in content you love, which is positively affecting the overall consumption of useful and beneficial videos.
Negative Interactions Avoid
- Limiting someone from leaving racist, pornographic, or useless comments makes your online community a good and respectful community. It provides a good experience for audiences and creators.
In the second section, we describe the different ways to block YouTube channels.
How to Block a YouTube Channel (Step-by-Step Guide)
Blocking a Channel on PC/Laptop
If you are operating YouTube on a PC or laptop, then follow the below steps in order to block a channel:
Step I: Open the Channel’s Page
- Open YouTube and login into your account.
- Search the channel you are interested in blocking or locate it from a comment they have placed on a video.
- Clicking on their name to open the channel page.
Step II: Go to the Options Menu
- Upon opening the home page of the channel, find three-dot menu (⋮) at the top right of the “Subscribe” button.
- Press on it to receive a dropdown menu.
Step III: Block the Channel
- Click on “Block user.” from the dropdown menu.
- You will be asked in a popup whether you want to block this user.
- Tap “Submit” to continue.
Effect: The instant you block, this channel won’t be able to comment on your videos, nor even reach out to you in any manner. They may however show up as present when looking unless manually taken off suggestion lists.
2. Blocking a Channel on a Phone (Android & iPhone)
If you access YouTube from your tablet or smartphone, it is blocked as shown below:
Step 1: Open the YouTube App
- Launch the YouTube application on your iPhone or Android.
- Ensure you have logged in to your account.
Step 2: Go to the Channel’s Profile
- Search for the channel you wish to block.
- Touch their profile in order to view their channel page.
Step 3: Block the Channel
- Tap on the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top right.
- Select “Block user.”
- Confirm that by tapping on “Block.”
Impact: This will prevent the channel from commenting on your videos but their videos could still show in search results.
How to Block Someone from Commenting on Your YouTube Videos
If you don’t wish to entirely block a channel but only wish to block it from commenting on your videos, proceed as follows:
On Desktop (PC/Laptop)
- Locate a comment left by the user you wish to block.
- Click on the three-dot menu (⋮) beside their comment.
- Choose “Hide user from channel.”
On Mobile (Android & iPhone)
- Find the user’s comment on your video.
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) beside their comment.
- Select “Hide user from channel.”
Effect: This will bar them from commenting on any of your videos, but they can still see your content unless they are blocked fully.
How to Block a YouTube Channel from Showing Up in Recommendations
Despite blocking a channel, YouTube could continue to show its videos on your recommendations. This is how you can block a channel from showing up in your YouTube feed:
Exclude Specific Videos from Your Feed
- When one of the unwanted channel’s videos shows up on your recommendations, tap on the three-dot menu (⋮) by the video.
- Tap on “Not interested” or “Don’t recommend channel.”
Effect: YouTube will stop recommending videos from this channel in the future.
Clear Your Watch History
- If you’ve ever watched a video from a channel, YouTube might continue suggesting similar videos.
- To clear watch history and reset recommendations, go to YouTube History > Clear Watch History.
How to Block a YouTube Channel for Your Child (Parental Controls)
If you are a parent and want to give your child a safe YouTube experience, you can block channels through YouTube Kids or Restricted Mode.
Using YouTube Kids App
- Open YouTube Kids and log in as a parent.
- Go to Settings > Blocked Content.
- Select “Manage blocked channels” and add the channels you want to block.
Activating Restricted Mode
- Open YouTube on a browser or app.
- Scroll down and choose “Restricted Mode: On.”
- This will block possibly inappropriate content.
Also Read: How to Hide Followers on Instagram?
How to Unblock a YouTube Channel
If you want to change your mind and unblock a channel, follow these steps:
On Desktop (PC/Laptop)
- Visit YouTube Studio.
- Click on Settings > Community.
- Under the “Hidden Users” option, locate the channel and unhide it.
On Mobile (YouTube App)
- Visit Settings > Privacy.
- Locate the list of blocked users and unblock the channel.
Final Thoughts
Blocking channels on YouTube will enhance your experience by preventing unwanted interactions, safeguarding your privacy, and keeping your recommendations clean. From spam to harassment to objectionable material, the methods above will allow you to be in control of what you see and with whom your content engages.
FAQs
Will a blocked channel be able to see my videos?
Yes, blocking a channel does not prevent them from watching your videos but keeps them from commenting on your videos. They can still watch your public videos as usual. To prevent them from watching your content at all, you need to set your videos private or unlisted.
Will YouTube inform the channel that I blocked them?
No, YouTube does not notify you when you block a channel. The blocked user will not be notified in any manner of the action. They might notice they cannot comment on your videos anymore.
Is it possible to block more than one channel simultaneously?
No, YouTube does not have a bulk-block feature, so you will have to block each channel individually. Each blocking action must be manually performed from the page or comment area of the channel. This makes you fully responsible for whom you block.
Will blocking a channel erase my past comments on their videos?
No, blocking a channel does not erase any of your previous comments on their videos. Your comments will remain unless you delete them. The blocked channel also keeps any responses they left on your comments.
Can I unblock a channel later?
Yes, you can always unblock a channel via YouTube settings by deleting them from your blocked list. After being unblocked, the channel will once again be allowed to comment on your videos. But they will not know that they were blocked or unblocked.