YouTube has introduced a new setting that allows users to effectively turn off Shorts by setting a viewing limit of zero minutes. The update expands the platform’s existing time management tools, which previously allowed users to limit Shorts usage but not completely disable it. The company confirmed that the zero-minute option is live for parental controls and is now rolling out more broadly to regular users on Android and iOS. The new option is part of YouTube’s “time management” settings.
The introduction of the Shorts timer comes at a time when online safety of minors has become a critical topic internationally. In January, the Google-owned platform announced changes in its parental controls, particularly around the amount of time children and teens spend watching YouTube Shorts.
Apart from setting up a timer, parents were authorized to block accounts from watching Shorts altogether, either permanently or temporarily, like if a kid is supposed to be using YouTube to study for a test by watching educational content.
Introduced in 2020, YouTube Shorts averages 200 billion daily views, according to CEO Neal Mohan. It is YouTube's most popular medium, and the company has been investing heavily to sustain its viewership. In January, Mohan announced that Shorts viewers might soon see artificial intelligence (AI) versions of their favourite creators when scrolling through their feeds.
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