YouTube Rolls Out New Screen Time Control Feature for Shorts Viewers

YouTube has launched a practical tool designed to help users take control of their viewing habits, particularly when it comes to the platform’s addictive short-form content. The new feature allows viewers to establish daily time boundaries for YouTube Shorts, addressing growing concerns about endless scrolling and unintended screen time accumulation. This development comes as families and individuals increasingly seek ways to balance digital entertainment with other daily activities.
The setup process is straightforward and accessible to anyone with the YouTube mobile app. Users begin by tapping their profile icon located at the top-right corner of the screen, then navigating through Settings to the General section. Within this menu, a new option called “Shorts feed limit” appears, offering several preset time durations to choose from. The interface is designed to be intuitive, requiring just a few taps to activate the monitoring system.
Once activated, the feature operates quietly in the background, keeping track of accumulated viewing minutes throughout each day. When the predetermined threshold is reached, YouTube presents an on-screen notification informing the user that their daily allowance has been exhausted. The notification serves as a gentle reminder rather than a hard barrier, giving viewers the autonomy to decide their next step.
Importantly, users retain complete control even after hitting their limit. The reminder can be dismissed to stop watching, or users can choose to continue viewing if they feel the circumstances warrant it. This flexible approach recognizes that strict restrictions might not suit everyone’s needs, while still providing the awareness necessary for mindful consumption.
The feature is currently available across YouTube’s mobile ecosystem, including Android smartphones and tablets as well as Apple’s iPhone and iPad devices. Desktop users may not have access to the identical functionality at this time. By offering this tool, YouTube demonstrates a commitment to supporting healthier digital habits while maintaining the engaging experience that makes Shorts popular in the first place.