YouTube is giving parents new tools to curb endless scrolling on Shorts, the platform’s TikTok-style video feed.
At a Glance
- Parents can now set time limits or block YouTube Shorts for kids and teens
- Custom Bedtime and Take a Break reminders roll out for supervised accounts
- A streamlined account-switcher aims to stop adult algorithms from drowning in Bluey clips
- Why it matters: Families gain granular control over screen time as global regulators eye child safety
The Google-owned service announced the upgrades on January 14, 2026, building on existing supervision features for teen creators.
Timer and Block Options
Parents who link their child’s account can:
- Set a daily viewing cap for Shorts; the feed stops when the limit is hit
- Block Shorts outright-permanently or temporarily-while keeping educational content available
A quick toggle inside Family Hub activates either choice.
Bedtime and Break Reminders
YouTube is extending two self-help staples to supervised accounts:
- Bedtime reminders dim the screen and mute audio at a parent-set hour
- Take a Break pings users at chosen intervals, nudging them to step away
Adults retain the same opt-in controls for their own viewing.
Easier Account Swaps
Many households share one device, making profile hops inevitable. A coming update compresses the sign-in flow so parents and kids can swap accounts “with just a few taps,” YouTube says. The goal: spare adult recommendation feeds from an onslaught of cartoon sing-alongs.
Broader Child-Safety Push
The moves land amid worldwide scrutiny of how platforms affect minors. TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook already offer similar parental dashboards. Last year YouTube added machine-learning age estimation that guesses whether an account holder is a teen, then tunes the experience accordingly.
YouTube’s teen supervision toolkit also lets parents review uploads, comments and privacy settings for channels run by under-18 creators.
Robert K. Lawson reported for News Of Philadelphia.
