YouTube is rolling out new parental control features that give parents more power to manage how teens use the platform, especially when it comes to endless scrolling on YouTube Shorts. The updates focus on screen time limits, content quality for teens, and simpler account management for families.
According to a recent YouTube blog post, the changes are designed to promote mindful viewing, encourage educational content, and make it easier for parents to supervise teen accounts.
Parents Can Now Limit or Block YouTube Shorts for Teens
One of the biggest updates targets short-form content consumption. Parents with supervised teen accounts can now:
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Set daily time limits on watching YouTube Shorts
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Soon completely block Shorts for specific periods
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Restrict Shorts during homework hours or bedtime
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Allow limited access during travel or free time
This move addresses growing concerns from parents and experts about excessive scrolling and its impact on teens’ attention and wellbeing.
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New Wellbeing Tools for Supervised Teen Accounts
YouTube is also expanding its digital wellbeing tools for teens. Parents will be able to manage:
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Bedtime reminders
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“Take a Break” alerts
These features build on existing safety tools that are already enabled by default for teen users, helping encourage healthier viewing habits.
YouTube to Promote More Educational Content for Teens
To improve content quality, YouTube is introducing new content principles specifically for teen viewers. These guidelines help distinguish higher-quality and lower-quality videos for this age group.
Developed with input from:
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Youth advisors
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Academic researchers
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Child development experts
Based on these principles, YouTube will adjust its recommendation system to highlight educational and informative content more often.
Trusted sources such as:
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Khan Academy
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CrashCourse
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TED-Ed
are expected to appear more frequently in teen recommendations. This update builds on YouTube’s existing rules for kids under 13 and current safety measures for teens.
Easier Account Setup and Switching for Families
YouTube is also simplifying how families manage accounts. While teens under 18 are already placed in protected accounts, upcoming changes will allow parents to:
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Create kids’ accounts more easily
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Switch between accounts directly within the mobile app
This streamlined setup ensures the right person uses the right account, with age-appropriate settings and recommendations, without complicated steps.
Why This Update Matters
These updates reflect YouTube’s response to feedback from parents and child safety experts who have long raised concerns about:
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Screen time addiction
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Age-appropriate content
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Simpler parental controls
With stronger limits on Shorts, improved recommendations, and easier family management tools, YouTube aims to create a safer and more balanced viewing experience for teens.