YouTube adds option to completely disable Shorts with zero-minute timer

YouTube is quietly giving users a way to completely eliminate Shorts from the app, and it might be the most impactful update yet for anyone tired of endless scrolling.

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The platform has rolled out an update to its time management settings that allows users to set a zero-minute limit on Shorts, effectively removing the feature from view on both Android and iOS. Previously, the lowest limit available was 15 minutes, but this new option takes things a step further by letting users opt out entirely. Initially designed with parental controls in mind, the feature is now expanding to all users, meaning anyone can now cut Shorts out of their YouTube experience.

The way it works is simple but surprisingly effective. Once the timer is enabled and set to zero, the Shorts feed disappears, meaning no videos, no autoplay, just a notification stating that the limit has been reached. In testing, the change goes even further, with Shorts also being removed from the Home feed, significantly reducing temptation to engage with short-form content. YouTube says the feature is already live for parents and is currently rolling out to standard accounts, positioning it as a broader digital wellbeing tool rather than just a parental safeguard.

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At a time when platforms are doubling down on short-form content, YouTube's offering a built-in "off switch" is notable. Whether users actually take advantage of it is another question, but for those concerned about the pitfalls of doom scrolls, now have an option to prevent potentially countless hours of wasted time.