Google is rolling out a new feature that will give businesses greater control over which YouTube content is available to users, and who can control this access.
While admins have always been able to turn individual Google services on and off for employees, with these new YouTube settings, network admins now have more granular control over content.
This includes which videos show up as “recommendations,” which videos are surfaced through search results, and which videos show up at all. Restrictions can also be applied to those on the network who aren’t signed in, but this involves a different process.
With YouTube restricted mode switched on, users on a company domain will only be able to access YouTube content based on the limitations set out by the admin. Someone with “unrestricted” status will be able to browse YouTube unencumbered if they’re signed in, however — even if network-level restrictions are in place.
Above: YouTube settings
So Google Apps administrators, and those who have “approver” status, have full, unrestricted access to YouTube. And within the Google Apps account they can also search for videos to whitelist so that anyone in the company can have access to them. Restrictions can also be implemented by “organizational unit,” meaning some divisions may have different permissions.
Google said this new feature will be rolling out in the next few days.
