Parents Can Now Set Time Limits or Block YouTube Shorts for Teens

YouTube announced on Jan 14 that it will now allow parents to set time limit or completely block their teens’ access to Shorts, its short-form video feature, as part of expanded parental supervision tools aimed at addressing growing concerns about addictive scrolling habits among teenagers.

The new controls enable parents to restrict their teens' Shorts usage anywhere from zero minutes to two hours daily, with flexibility to adjust limits around specific activities such as homework or travel time.

The update responds to concerns that endless scrolling on short videos can be addictive for teens. Parents and lawmakers have increasingly raised alarms about its impact on young users.

YouTube is adding custom bedtime and “take a break” reminders for teens and making it easier for parents to create supervised accounts and switch between teen and adult profiles on shared devices.

YouTube and its parent company Google announced that teen accounts will prioritize positive and safe content, including videos that promote curiosity, life skills, wellbeing, and credible information, while restricting repeated exposure to potentially harmful content.