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YouTube Expands Teen Controls With Shorts Time Limits, Bedtime Prompts and Youth‑Focused Recommendations

The update responds to concerns about addictive short‑form feeds by strengthening safeguards for minors.

Overview

  • Parents can set specific Shorts screen‑time caps on supervised accounts, from 15 minutes to two hours, with a zero‑minute option rolling out soon, and teens cannot change these limits.
  • Several outlets report that parents can disable Shorts entirely for supervised teen accounts, including temporary blocks during study periods.
  • Guardians can create custom Bedtime and Take a Break reminders, building on well‑being prompts that are already default for users aged 13–17.
  • YouTube will update mobile sign‑up and account switching in the coming weeks to make it easier to create kid accounts and move between family profiles on shared devices.
  • The company published teen recommendation principles and a creator guide developed with its Youth Advisory Committee and child‑development experts, complementing AI age‑assurance efforts and Google’s move to require parental approval before teens end supervision.