YouTube has begun rolling out a feature that lets users remove Shorts from the app by setting a daily limit of zero minutes. This marks its most direct step yet to curb short-form video consumption, according to a report by The Verge
The option, now available to parents and gradually expanding to all users, builds on YouTube’s earlier time-limit tools. A YouTube spokesperson told The Verge that it is ‘live for all parents, and is currently rolled out to everyone, including adult accounts.’
Shorts can now be effectively disabled
When the limit is set to zero:
The setting is available under the app’s time management controls.
However, the restriction works differently for different account types. For regular users, it acts as a soft limit that they can easily bypass. For teen accounts under parental supervision, the limit is strict and non-dismissible, fully blocking access to Shorts.
Features evolved over time: This update builds on earlier changes. In October 2025, YouTube introduced time limits for Shorts to help users manage scrolling, stating that, “Shorts are a core part of the YouTube experience,” and that limits would help users “be more deliberate about their viewing habits and manage their time effectively.” At the time, the minimum limit was 15 minutes, and notifications could be ignored.
In January 2026, YouTube expanded these controls to parental settings, allowing families to manage teen usage and signalling that Shorts, with its infinite scroll design, posed distinct challenges compared to long-form video.
The platform first announced the zero-minute option as “coming soon” for parents and is now implementing it more widely.
Rollout still uneven, impact remains uncertain: The feature is being released in phases, with some users yet to receive the update. In some cases, Shorts may still appear individually or may require an app refresh to fully disappear.
The tool gives users more control over screen time and “doomscrolling,” but general users may find it less effective because they can override the restrictions.The stricter enforcement remains largely confined to supervised teen accounts.
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