For parents who have ever watched their child disappear down an endless scroll of short videos, this update will feel like a small but meaningful win.
YouTube has introduced new parental control features that allow parents to fully block Shorts for children and teenagers. The change gives families far more control over how young people use the platform and how much time they spend scrolling.
What’s changed?
Until now, Shorts have been a constant presence across YouTube, even on supervised accounts. With this update, parents can now turn Shorts off completely for kids and teens using supervised accounts.
The setting is managed through Google Family Link, where parents already control screen time limits, content restrictions, and app access. Once Shorts are disabled, children can still watch longer form videos that meet age appropriate guidelines, but the infinite vertical feed disappears.
Why this matters
Short form video is designed to be fast, engaging, and hard to put down. For younger users, that can quickly turn into long sessions of passive scrolling.
By allowing parents to block Shorts entirely, YouTube is giving families a way to:
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Reduce endless scrolling and overstimulation
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Encourage more intentional viewing habits
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Make screen time feel more purposeful rather than automatic
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Support healthier digital routines, especially around bedtime and homework
For many parents, this is not about banning YouTube, but about shaping how it is used.
A bigger focus on digital wellbeing
This update reflects a wider shift in how tech platforms are thinking about children and families. YouTube has increasingly talked about digital wellbeing, age appropriate content, and giving parents practical tools rather than one size fits all solutions.
Importantly, this feature does not force a change on every family. Parents who are happy with Shorts can leave them on. Those who want tighter boundaries now have a clear option to set them.
What parents should know
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Shorts can be turned off entirely for supervised child and teen accounts
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The setting is controlled through Family Link
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Longer form YouTube videos remain available if they meet age guidelines
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Changes can be adjusted at any time as children get older
The bottom line
This is a small feature with a big impact. By letting parents block Shorts, YouTube is acknowledging a reality many families already understand: not all screen time is equal.
For parents trying to raise kids who use technology rather than being used by it, this update offers a simple but powerful new lever of control.
