SkieCan YouTube Restricted Mode be forced on for every student device?
Yes. Skie forces YouTube Restricted Mode on through the Chrome policy, so YouTube in the browser hides videos flagged as mature and the student cannot turn it off. It is on by default for Chrome rules and can be set per group. It is a Google filter, so it reduces risk and does not remove it.
Restricted Mode is YouTube's own setting for hiding content that may be unsuitable for younger viewers. Normally it sits in the account menu and any student can switch it off. On a managed device the Chrome policy forces it on at the browser level, so the menu option is locked.
Skie applies it to Chrome on the device, along with SafeSearch and the filtering DNS. That matters because the three work on different layers. DNS blocks categories of domains, SafeSearch cleans search results, and Restricted Mode filters what YouTube itself returns.
Be honest with staff about limits. Restricted Mode relies on Google's automated signals and community flags, so a school should treat it as a filter that reduces exposure, not a guarantee. If YouTube is not needed on a device group, you can leave it out: the browser can be off, restricted or allowed per group, and the YouTube app only works if it is on the group's app list.
A common set-up in a school: Chrome allowed with Restricted Mode for senior students, browser off for primary tablets, and the YouTube app off everywhere. A hostel might allow it only in an evening window using schedules.
Per-channel allow lists are not available yet. If a teacher needs one specific video during a lesson, today the practical route is to give the class a lesson window with the right app, and the team is working on finer controls.