How to report a YouTube channel anonymously if you believe it's violating YouTube's community guidelines

When it comes to the internet, there's a relatively simple idea that a lot of people tend to forget. 

To paraphrase Uncle Ben: With great freedom and power, comes great responsibility. When people forget that (just ask any internet troll) and end up posting offensive content, you can report them and hopefully curb their behavior. 

On YouTube, reporting is completely anonymous, so you don't have to worry about retaliation from the channel you choose to report. But, at the same time, reporting doesn't have immediate repercussions.

For example, if you want to report a video for inappropriate content, it wouldn't be immediately taken down. Someone has to review it and decide if the content truly goes against YouTube's community guidelines, which are often changing and always under scrutiny.  

Though, in some cases, a reported video may get hit with an age restriction to help ensure that it isn't viewed by those who aren't mature enough to see it.

Here's what you'll need to do to report a YouTube channel.

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How to report a YouTube channel

This process is exactly the same, whether you're on a computer or using an iPhone or Android. 

Here's how to do it:

1. Go to youtube.com and sign into your account, if necessary.

2. Go to the page of the channel you want to report.

3. Click on their "About" section.

4. Click the flag icon under the Stats section and select "Report User."

Alternatively, you can also report the channel art or profile picture of the user from that flagging drop-down. 

Or, if more appropriate, you can block specific videos to control what your kids watch, or you can also block certain channels to keep those users from commenting on your videos.  

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to block YouTube channels to keep certain users from commenting on your videos

• How to block or unblock someone on Twitter on a computer or mobile device

• 'Who blocked me on Instagram?': How to figure out if you've been blocked, and by whom

• How to temporarily hide or permanently delete your YouTube account, and erase any trace of yourself from the site