In a company blog post, YouTube announced a new feature for parents, enabling them to set a time limit on how long children and teenagers can watch Shorts.
Parents will be able to determine the amount of time their child is allowed to scroll through short videos. There is also an option to set the limit to zero, effectively turning Shorts off. This can be used, for instance, during school hours or while doing homework, with more time allowed during travel or breaks.
«This is an industry-first feature that puts parents firmly in control of the amount of short-form content their kids watch,» the company said in a statement.
In addition, parents will be able to set reminders for their children to go to bed or take a break. YouTube explained that its goal is not to ban the digital world, but to help children use it more consciously. The platform has been developing built-in safeguards for young audiences for many years.
Previously, the video-hosting service had already adjusted its recommendation algorithms for teens aged 13 to 17. They no longer receive recommendations for videos that idealize certain body types, as such content can negatively affect self-esteem.
The service will also actively promote valuable content for teenagers, such as educational and scientific videos, as well as informative projects. Entertainment content will be shown less frequently.
