YouTube Will Help You Quit Watching Shorts with a Smart Time Limit Feature
YouTube will help you quit watching Shorts by introducing a new tool that lets users take control of their screen time. The platform’s latest update allows mobile viewers to set daily limits on how long they can scroll through Shorts, making it easier to step away from endless video loops and regain time for other activities.
A New Way to Manage Shorts Addiction
The update gives users the option to automatically pause their Shorts feed after reaching a preset time limit. Once the limit is hit, YouTube displays a friendly reminder that Shorts have been paused for the day. This simple yet effective move is designed to help users who struggle with excessive short-form content consumption—a problem that many face across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
While users can dismiss the reminder, the feature encourages mindfulness and personal accountability. YouTube says the goal is to help users make more intentional decisions about their time instead of endlessly scrolling through quick-hit entertainment.
YouTube’s Focus on Healthier Viewing Habits
“Shorts are a core part of the YouTube experience,” the company explained in its announcement. “Setting a scrolling time limit on the Shorts feed allows for exploration while helping users manage their viewing habits more effectively.”
This new feature builds on YouTube’s broader digital well-being initiatives, including screen time tracking and bedtime reminders. By empowering users to control their daily exposure, YouTube signals a growing focus on healthier viewing behaviors—especially as competition from other short-form platforms intensifies.
How to Set Your Shorts Viewing Limit
Users can find the new Shorts time limit option under their YouTube account settings on mobile. From there, they can choose how much time they want to allow per day before Shorts automatically pause. The rollout is gradual, meaning it might take a few days to reach all mobile users worldwide.
YouTube has also confirmed plans to extend this feature to parental controls later this year, allowing parents to set non-dismissable limits for children. This move aligns with YouTube’s ongoing efforts to promote digital balance and protect younger audiences from excessive screen time.
Competing Platforms Offer Similar Controls
YouTube isn’t the first platform to address short-form video overuse. Instagram and TikTok already include optional screen time reminders, but YouTube’s approach feels more proactive. TikTok remains the only one offering similar tools for web users, while YouTube’s focus on mobile reflects where most Shorts engagement happens.
This feature could also serve as a stepping stone for YouTube to introduce more wellness-focused tools, giving users better control across all video formats—not just Shorts.
A Step Toward a Healthier Digital Future
By letting users pause their endless scroll, YouTube will help you quit watching Shorts in a practical, user-friendly way. Whether you’re trying to reclaim focus, manage productivity, or just take a break from constant video consumption, this update is a welcome shift toward more intentional media habits.
As YouTube continues to evolve, this small but meaningful feature could set a new industry standard for balancing engagement with well-being—one short at a time.
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