In a significant update aimed at improving digital well-being, YouTube is rolling out a new feature that allows users to completely disable Shorts on its mobile app.
The platform has introduced a “zero-minute” Shorts feed limit, enabling users to effectively hide the Shorts section and focus entirely on long-form videos.
A Step to Combat Doomscrolling
The feature is designed to help users manage excessive scrolling habits and regain attention span. Once the zero-minute limit is set, the Shorts tab will stop displaying videos and instead show a notification stating that the user has reached their daily limit.
Earlier, the minimum limit available was 15 minutes, making this update a notable shift toward stronger user control.
According to YouTube spokesperson Makenzie Spiller, the feature is now being rolled out to all users after initially being introduced under parental control settings.
Focus on Online Safety and Screen Time
The move comes amid growing global concerns over screen addiction, particularly among children and teenagers. As part of its broader safety initiatives, YouTube—owned by Google—has been expanding parental control tools.
Parents can now restrict or completely block access to Shorts, ensuring children use the platform more productively, such as for educational content.
How to Turn Off YouTube Shorts
Users can disable Shorts by following these steps:
- Go to Settings
- Click on Time Management
- Scroll to Daily Limits
- Enable Shorts Feed Limit
- Select 0 minutes to completely remove Shorts
Shorts Still Dominates Platform Usage
Launched in 2020, YouTube Shorts has rapidly grown into one of the platform’s most popular features. According to CEO Neal Mohan, Shorts currently generates around 200 billion daily views, highlighting its massive global reach.
AI Features on the Horizon
YouTube is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence to enhance content creation. The platform is expected to introduce AI-powered tools that allow users to create Shorts using their own likeness, generate content through text prompts, and experiment with music creation.
Despite these advancements, the company has emphasised that AI will remain a tool for creativity rather than a replacement for human creators.
Balancing Engagement and Control
While Shorts continues to drive engagement, this new feature reflects YouTube’s effort to strike a balance between user growth and digital well-being, giving users more control over how they consume content.
