How to Block YouTube Video Search in Google Workspace for Education

Google Workspace for Education (GWFE) is a valuable tool for educators and administrators, providing various features to enhance the learning experience. However, some GWFE users have expressed concerns about students being able to access inappropriate YouTube videos despite the implementation of SafeSearch and blocking the YouTube domain. This article on “how to block video on YouTube” aims to guide GWFE admins and educators on utilizing Safe Doc, a Chrome extension, to block YouTube video search in various Google cloud apps, ensuring a safer online environment for students and compliance with the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

Deploying and Configuring Safe Doc

To get started, you'll need to install Safe Doc following the instructions provided in the "Deploy Safe Doc To Your Students' Chrome Browsers" guide. Familiarize yourself with Safe Doc's configuration process, as it will be essential for enabling the YouTube video search blocking feature.

Enforcing YouTube Video Search Blocking

The YouTube video search blocking feature is controlled by the "EnableVideoSearch" policy in Safe Doc. By default, if the policy value is not set or set to false, the blocking is enforced. However, if the policy value is set to true, the blocking is not enforced. To ensure YouTube video search is blocked, set the policy value to false:

"EnableVideoSearch": { "Value": false }

Blocking YouTube Video Search in Google Slides

In Google Slides, students can access the YouTube video search feature through the "Insert > Video" menu. The "Search" tab within the popup dialog allows them to search for videos using keywords. With Safe Doc installed, this tab will be hidden, preventing students from accessing the search feature. This is another way on how to block videos. However, students can still paste a YouTube URL in the "By URL" section.

Blocking YouTube Video Search in Google Forms

Similar to Google Slides, students can search for videos in Google Forms by clicking the "Add videos" button in the sidebar where questions, titles, or images are added. Safe Doc detects and removes the video search capability while retaining the option to paste a YouTube URL.

Disabling Video Insertion in Google Hangouts

In Google Hangouts, students can search for YouTube videos in a chat dialog by clicking the "YouTube" button in the message edit bar. This opens a photo picker dialog with a "Video search" tab. Safe Doc removes this tab, preventing students from searching for YouTube videos while allowing them to paste a YouTube URL.

Removing Video Insertion in Google Classroom

Google Classroom allows students to explore video search in Google and share videos in class streams, which can sometimes distract their attention. Safe Doc disables the video searching tab while still allowing students to paste YouTube URLs, ensuring a controlled environment.

Blocking YouTube Search in Google Sites

If your domain enables Google Sites, students can search, insert, and watch YouTube videos natively in the Google Sites Editor. Safe Doc blocks YouTube video searching in Google Sites, maintaining a safer online environment.

To Sum It All Up

By leveraging Safe Doc, GWFE admins and educators can effectively how to block video on YouTube in various Google cloud apps, enhancing the security of students' Chromebooks and complying with CIPA regulations. Follow the steps outlined above to deploy and configure Safe Doc, ensuring that YouTube video search is disabled in Google Slides, Forms, Hangouts, Classroom, and Sites. By taking these measures, you can create a safer online learning environment for your students and mitigate the risks associated with accessing inappropriate video content.

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