This article is written for Google Workspace for Education Administrators.

In this article you'll learn how to block YouTube Video search in Google Workspace. Google Slides has a feature to allow k-12 students search on YouTube and insert videos to the presentations. Similarly, Google Forms, Classroom and Sites have this feature too.

Some admins report that with SafeSearch enforced and YouTube domain blocked, students still can circumvent it and watch age restricted videos within Google Workspace for Education. Unfortunately there is no way in Google Admin Console to disable this feature.

Block YouTube Video Search in Google Workspace
Youtube video search in Google Slides exposes students to inappropriate video contents by any keywords
Block YouTube Video Search in Google Workspace
Students could watch age restricted videos in Google Slides without permissions

This article is going to show you how to utilize Safe Doc to block Youtube video search in these cloud apps. It improves security to your students' Chromebooks as well as comply with the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

If you have yet to install Safe Doc, please get a 30 days trial for your school.

Deploy and configure Safe Doc

First of all, you have installed Safe Doc following the instructions of Deploy Safe Doc To Your Students’ Chrome browsers. Then you have understand how Safe Doc Configuration works.

This Youtube video blocking feature is controlled by policy EnableVideoSearch. If the policy value is not set or false, the Youtube video search blocking is enforced. If the policy value is set to true, the blocking is not enforced.

"EnableVideoSearch": {
  "Value": false
}

Block YouTube video search in Google Workspace by our Safe Doc Chrome Extension

Block YouTube Search In Google Slides

In Slides, the YouTube video search feature can activate in the menu Insert > Video. Then the Search tab in the popup dialog will give students the freedom to type any keywords and find videos. With Safe Doc installed, students will no longer see this tab. They don't even know there exists such a search feature.

Safe Doc blocks the Youtube video search feature in Google Slides
Safe Doc blocks the YouTube video search feature in Google Slides

Block YouTube Search In Google Forms

Similarly you can block inserting videos in Forms. Because there are a couple of ways to trigger the video search in Form. I will only show you a more visible example. From the side bar where you add questions, title or images, you will also find a Add video iconbutton to add videos. Then you will find a similar interface as in the Slides. Again, Safe Doc detects and takes away the video search capability while keeping the pasting YouTube URL option.

Block YouTube Video Search in Google Workspace
YouTube video search in Google Forms
Block YouTube Video Search in Google Workspace
Safe Doc blocks the YouTube video search in Google Forms

Remove Video Inserting In Google Classroom

In Classroom, Google allows students to explore videos and share them in class streams using "Announce something to your class" option. This is abused by students, distracting their attentions. As you can see Safe Doc completely removes the video search button in students account.

Students can insert Youtube videos in the Google Classroom
Safe Doc removes YouTube video search in Classroom

Block YouTube Search Option In Google Site

If your domain also enables Google Sites, in the Google Sites Editor, students are able to search, insert and watch Youtube videos natively.

Safe Doc blocks Youtube video searching in Google Sites | block YouTube search google workspace
Safe Doc blocks YouTube video searching in Google Sites

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To protect your students from harmful content, you may also need to Block Image Searching in Google Docs Editors or How to disable explore tool in Google Docs and Slides.