YouTube has expanded its digital wellness features by introducing the ability to completely hide Shorts from your feed. The platform now allows users to set their Shorts feed limit to zero minutes, a significant step beyond the previous minimum threshold. This new capability gives viewers greater control over their consumption of short-form video content on mobile devices.
The feature builds on YouTube's existing Shorts feed limit system, which debuted in October of the previous year with a minimum 15-minute option. When users reached their time limit, a notification would prompt them to take a break. The company later integrated this tool with parental controls, enabling guardians to manage screen time for younger account holders. The zero-minute option, which YouTube promised would roll out to parents, is now available to all users.
Accessing this feature requires navigating to the YouTube mobile app's Settings page. Users should locate the "Time management" section and proceed to "Daily limits," where the "Shorts feed limit" option is available. Upon selecting zero minutes, users may notice a notification stating that scrolling is paused, though individual Shorts may still appear. A quick app refresh typically ensures short-form videos disappear from the feed entirely.
For those who prefer a middle ground, YouTube offers adjustable time limits ranging from 15 minutes up to two hours daily. This tiered approach accommodates different user preferences—from those seeking to eliminate Shorts consumption entirely to casual viewers wanting moderate engagement controls.
The expansion of these tools reflects growing awareness within the tech industry regarding screen time management and digital wellbeing. YouTube's approach allows users to customize their experience rather than enforcing universal restrictions, giving individual viewers autonomy over their content consumption patterns on the platform.