YouTube introduces a daily limit to curb infinite scrolling of Shorts

YouTube, like TikTok and Instagram Reels, aims to keep you watching videos for as long as possible. However, the platform is taking a surprising turn: a new feature is set to help users spend less time watching Shorts.

A time limit for YouTube Shorts

YouTube has announced the rollout of an option to set a daily viewing limit for Shorts on mobile. Once this limit is reached, playback will stop automatically for the rest of the day.

“We’re giving users a new way to manage their time on YouTube and further personalize their experience,” the platform explains. The option can be found in the settings menu, allowing individuals to set their desired maximum viewing time.

When you reach this limit, a message will appear indicating that you’ve hit your quota. You can dismiss it and continue scrolling, but the intent is to encourage a break.

Enhanced parental controls coming soon

YouTube also plans to extend this feature to child accounts through parental controls later this year. In this case, the limit will be non-negotiable: once the time is up, Shorts will be completely blocked until the following day.

This move is timely as several U.S. states — such as New York — are considering measures to restrict young people’s access to social media platforms deemed too addictive.

A first step against doomscrolling

Until now, YouTube offered a “Take a break” reminder, but this new feature specifically targets Shorts, the platform’s most time-consuming format.

Even though this limit can be bypassed, it represents a step in the right direction to help users (especially younger ones) regain control of their screen time.