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YouTube Introduces Zero-Minute Time Limit Option for Shorts Feed

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YouTube Introduces Option to Completely Hide Shorts Feed

YouTube has added a new option to its time management settings, allowing users to set a daily viewing limit for its Shorts content to zero minutes. This feature effectively removes the Shorts feed from view within the app. It is now available to all parents and is being rolled out to all users, including those with regular adult accounts.

How the Feature Works

The new option allows users to set a daily viewing limit for YouTube Shorts to zero minutes. When the set limit is reached, the Shorts tab within the YouTube app no longer displays videos.

Instead, the tab shows a notification stating "reached your Shorts feed limit."

  • Testing indicates that once the time limit is reached, Shorts content is also removed from the app's Home screen.
  • Setting the timer to zero minutes allows users to effectively ignore or disable the Shorts feed within the app interface.
  • The feature is available on both Android and iOS versions of the YouTube app.

Availability and Rollout

According to YouTube spokesperson Makenzie Spiller, the zero-minute time limit option is "live for all parents, and is currently being rolled out to everyone."

  • The feature was first expanded to parental controls in January 2024, at which time YouTube indicated a zero-minute option was "coming soon."
  • The rollout now includes all users, including those with standard adult accounts.

Background and Development

The zero-minute option is an update to a Shorts timer feature that YouTube originally announced in October 2023.

  • When first announced, the lowest available time limit for the Shorts feed was 15 minutes.
  • In January 2024, YouTube expanded parental control features to include management of children's Shorts viewing time, previewing the forthcoming zero-minute limit.

How to Enable the Timer

Users can activate the Shorts time limit by following these steps within the YouTube app:

  1. Navigate to the app's Settings.
  2. Select "Time management."
  3. Toggle on the "Shorts feed limit" option.
  4. Select a desired time duration from the available options, which now includes zero minutes.