TL;DR
YouTube added a parental control that lets guardians set a Shorts viewing limit for under-18 accounts, from 15 minutes up to two hours, with a zero-minute option coming soon. Parents can also create and adjust child and teen accounts, set custom Bedtime and Take a break reminders, and YouTube says the changes follow its efforts to identify minors using AI age estimation.
What happened
YouTube rolled out new parental controls that let parents impose a time limit specifically on the Shorts experience for accounts belonging to children and teens. Limits can be set between 15 minutes and two hours; YouTube says a zero-minutes option will be added soon. The company also added the ability for parents to create and modify child and teen accounts and to configure custom Bedtime and Take a break reminders for those accounts. Children and teenagers cannot change or disable the Shorts time limit from their own accounts. The release follows YouTube’s prior work using AI-based age estimation to identify and restrict minors’ accounts, and Google plans an update to the sign-up page in the coming weeks to let parents manually assign an age category when registering new accounts. YouTube framed these moves as part of broader efforts to tighten controls for under-18 users.
Why it matters
- Gives parents a direct tool to limit rapid, short-form video consumption on YouTube’s Shorts feed.
- Prevents minors from bypassing time limits on their own accounts, centralizing control with guardians.
- Continues an industry trend toward stricter default settings and age-based restrictions across social platforms.
- Signals YouTube’s shift from automated age estimation toward more explicit parental involvement at account creation.
Key facts
- Parents can set Shorts time limits for under-18 accounts ranging from 15 minutes to two hours.
- YouTube plans to offer a zero-minute Shorts option soon.
- Kids and teens cannot change or disable the time limit setting on their end.
- Parents can set custom Bedtime and Take a break reminders for child and teen accounts.
- Bedtime and Take a break reminders are also available as optional features for adult users.
- The update adapts a Shorts time limit feature YouTube first introduced in October.
- YouTube has used AI age estimation based on activity and account age to identify minors as part of prior efforts.
- A change to the YouTube sign-up page will let parents manually set a child or teen’s age category; this is rolling out in the coming weeks.
- The move parallels similar restrictions across other platforms, including Meta’s content filters and TikTok’s under-18 time limit.
What to watch next
- Timing and availability of the zero-minute Shorts option as it rolls out (confirmed in the source).
- Rollout of the updated sign-up page that allows parents to set child/teen age categories (confirmed in the source).
- How effective the controls are at reducing minors’ Shorts consumption and whether additional enforcement measures are added (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- YouTube Shorts: Short-form vertical videos on YouTube designed for quick, swipeable viewing sessions.
- Parental controls: Settings that let guardians restrict or manage the content and features available to a child’s account.
- AI age estimation: Algorithms that infer a user's likely age based on behavior, content, or account signals rather than relying solely on self-declared age.
- Take a break reminder: A notification designed to prompt users to pause viewing after a set period of continuous use.
Reader FAQ
Can kids change or disable the Shorts time limit themselves?
No. The source states kids and teens cannot change or disable the time limit setting on their end.
What time limits can parents choose?
Parents can choose limits from 15 minutes up to two hours; a zero-minute option is planned (confirmed in the source).
Will parents be able to set the account category at signup?
Yes. YouTube will allow parents to manually set a child or teen’s age category on the sign-up page in the coming weeks (confirmed in the source).
How does YouTube identify which accounts are minors?
YouTube has used AI-based age estimation informed by users’ activity and account age to identify minors (confirmed in the source).
NEWS STREAMING TECH Parents can put a time limit on YouTube Shorts scrolling Parents will also be able to manually create and adjust child and teen accounts on YouTube. by…
Sources
- Parents can put a time limit on YouTube Shorts scrolling
- New ways to support teens and families on YouTube
- YouTube now has a way for parents to block kids from …
- YouTube adds more parental controls, including a way to …
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