YouTube Tightens Teen Controls With New Limits on Shorts

YouTube is rolling out a new set of controls aimed at giving parents more say over how teenagers use the platform, as scrutiny around screen time, short-form content, and recommendation systems continues to grow.

The updates introduce limits on Shorts viewing for supervised teen accounts, clearer signals around what YouTube considers higher-quality content for teenagers, and a simplified account setup for families managing multiple users across shared devices.

Together, the changes reflect YouTube’s attempt to strike a balance between creator-driven engagement and growing pressure from parents and child safety advocates.

Shorts Get Time Limits, and an Off Switch

At the centre of the update is tighter control over YouTube Shorts, the platform’s short-form video format that has become a default entry point for younger users.

Parents using supervised teen accounts will soon be able to set limits on how much time teens spend watching Shorts, including the option to reduce access to zero—effectively switching Shorts off when required.

YouTube says the feature is designed to be flexible rather than rigid. Parents can restrict Shorts during school hours or study time while allowing longer access during travel or downtime. The platform is also expanding existing wellbeing features, letting parents customise “Bedtime” and “Take a Break” reminders specifically for teen accounts.

Defining “Quality” Content for Teen Audiences

Beyond time limits, YouTube is also moving to shape what teenagers see.

The company is introducing a new set of principles intended to define higher-quality content for teen viewers, developed with input from a Youth Advisory Committee, academic researchers, and child development specialists.

These guidelines outline traits associated with more suitable content for teens, as well as formats considered lower quality. YouTube says the framework will be shared with creators, signalling what the platform expects when publishing content aimed at younger audiences.

The same principles will influence YouTube’s recommendation systems for teens, with educational and explanatory videos expected to surface more often, while content that falls short of the new standards may appear less frequently.

Simplifying Account Setup for Families

YouTube is also making changes to how families manage accounts across devices.

While users under 18 are already placed into accounts with additional protections, the platform will soon allow parents to create new child accounts through a revised sign-up flow and switch between family accounts more easily within the mobile app.

The update is intended to reduce confusion in households where devices are shared, helping ensure that children and teenagers are consistently using accounts with age-appropriate settings and recommendations.

YouTube says these updates build on more than a decade of work around youth-focused products, including YouTube Kids and supervised experiences for teens.

The platform, however, continues to face questions from parents, regulators, and child safety groups over screen time habits, short-form content loops, and algorithmic recommendations. The latest changes suggest YouTube is responding not just with moderation tools but with more structural controls over usage and discovery.

Whether these measures materially change how teens engage with Shorts remains to be seen, but they mark a clear shift toward giving families more levers inside one of the world’s most influential content platforms.