It’s a familiar trap: you open YouTube Shorts to watch just one video, and suddenly, an hour’s gone. To address this endless scroll problem, YouTube is rolling out a new timer feature designed to help users manage how much time they spend on Shorts.
The feature lets users set a daily viewing limit in the app’s settings. Once they hit that limit, a pop-up appears notifying them that their Shorts feed is paused, though, for now, it’s dismissible.
This update comes after Android Authority spotted the timer in development earlier this year. YouTube has since confirmed the rollout, noting that parental controls are not yet included but will arrive next year. Once those launch, kids won’t be able to dismiss the prompt so easily.
This isn’t YouTube’s first move toward digital well-being. The platform has previously added “Take a Break” and “Bedtime” reminders to nudge users away from doomscrolling. These allow users to pause playback after a set amount of time or get reminded when it’s time to log off for the night, though, again, both are voluntary.
While these tools help YouTube appear more mindful about user health, critics note their optional nature means they’re unlikely to truly reduce engagement.
The company manages to signal responsibility while still protecting its core business model, keeping people watching.
That balance matters more than ever: according to Bloomberg Law, nearly 2,000 lawsuits are currently pending in the U.S. against social platforms, accusing them of designing addictive features that harm young users’ mental health.
So yes, YouTube now lets you stop scrolling Shorts, but whether you actually do is still up to you.