YouTube Filtering
Please note: Check out youtube.lgfl.net for detailed guidance around YouTube filtering and modes in schools.
How is YouTube filtering different to other sites?
YouTube has billions of videos with over a million new videos uploaded every day with a vast array of types of content, some appropriate for schools, some not.
The YouTube website can be allowed/blocked in SchoolProtect (see below) as a whole but Google have set up their own attempt at content filtering that schools can apply.
What are YouTube modes?
Google have set up 3 modes for YouTube:
- Strict Restricted
- Moderate Restricted
- Unrestricted
The unrestricted mode is the same you would get on home broadband with only 18+ videos requiring logging in to view.
Strict and Moderate Restricted modes limit which videos appear and can be viewed. Google does not provide details on what type of content is restricted for each mode.
How do I set the YouTube mode for my school?
YouTube mode is set through DNS settings that usually apply to the whole school network.
LGfL operates 3 sets of DNS resolvers that you can point your server (e.g. domain controller) or clients to. The IP addresses for these are different depending on whether your school is on the 'Inside London' or 'Outside London' network (this does not always follow the geographical location of the school). If you are not sure which network your school is connected to, please contact the support team.
Inside London DNS
Mode
Primary Resolver
Secondary Resolver
Strict Restricted
172.30.178.53
172.30.178.54
Moderate Restricted
172.30.187.53
172.30.187.54
Unrestricted
172.30.187.55
172.30.187.56
Outside London DNS
Mode
Primary Resolver
Secondary Resolver
Strict Restricted
172.30.210.53
172.30.210.54
Moderate Restricted
172.30.210.153
172.30.210.154
Unrestricted
172.30.210.155
172.30.210.156
Can I apply different YouTube modes to different user groups?
Schools who use Google Workspace for Education can set modes for different users who are logged into the Chrome browser, e.g. students on Strict Restricted but staff on Moderate. Certain accounts can also be given permission to 'approve' videos for the school. More detail on this is found at youtube.lgfl.net.
How do I check which YouTube mode is active?
You can visit youtubemode.lgfl.net which will redirect you to the test page that will show you the currently enforced YouTube mode.