YouTube is rolling out new parental controls in Canada specifically targeting its short-form video feed, Shorts. The update allows parents to set daily time limits for their teens, including the option to block the feed entirely by setting the timer to zero. This is one of those settings that has taken far too long to implement.
The Shorts Timer is being billed as an industry-first feature. It gives parents the ability to adjust scrolling limits on the fly. This means cutting back on access during school nights or extending it for long trips. Currently, the timer is available for supervised accounts via the Family Center in the app, with a wider rollout to all accounts expected in the coming weeks.
Beyond time limits, YouTube is also tweaking its recommendation algorithm for younger users. The platform says it is now using new guidelines to prioritize “enriching” and age-appropriate content over its standard feed suggestions, explained Dr. Garth Graham,
Director and Global Head of YouTube Health, on Thursday.
“When speaking to families and partners, we hear a consistent message: Parents want better tools to guide their teens’ digital habits. These new features launching across Canada will support teen digital wellbeing, and give parents the tools they need to make the right digital choices for their family.” said Graham, Global Head of Healthcare, YouTube.
To make these tools easier to use, YouTube has also simplified the setup process for family profiles in Canada. This includes a faster way to create child-specific accounts and switch between different family members’ profiles within the app.
YouTube Shorts on a tween and teenager’s smartphone equates to doom scrolling with friends. It’s a big problem as videos are made to be addictive by creators in the quest for ad revenue. This is a positive change from YouTube and they should also extend these limits to its apps on smart TVs including the app on Apple TV.
Now, these changes aren’t just coming out of the blue. They could be spurred by a recent landmark lawsuit in the U.S., where Meta and Google were found guilty by an L.A. jury over the addictive nature of apps like Instagram and YouTube.
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