YouTube, the world’s leading video platform for teens, is unveiling a series of new tools and features aimed at helping parents guide their children’s digital habits while promoting a healthier balance of screen time and learning.
As YouTube continues to be a hub for studying, entertainment, vlogs, podcasts, and sports highlights, the platform is rolling out innovative family-focused updates designed to foster intentional viewing and age-appropriate experiences.
● Shorts Timer: A pioneering feature giving parents precise control over how long teens can watch short-form videos. The timer can be set to zero during study periods or adjusted for leisure, such as weekend downtime or long car rides. In the near future, parents will also be able to permanently disable Shorts if they choose.
● Bedtime and Break Alerts: Parents managing supervised accounts can now personalize reminders, helping teens prioritize rest and breaks reinforcing YouTube’s commitment to digital well-being.
● Seamless Account Management: Acknowledging that many families share devices, YouTube is streamlining account switching. Parents will soon be able to create accounts for multiple children and switch between them effortlessly, ensuring each family member enjoys a personalized experience with content and recommendations tailored to their age.
YouTube is introducing new guidelines for creators to steer teens toward educational, inspiring, and engaging videos.
Developed with global experts, including the American Psychological Association (APA) and Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab, these principles will prioritize channels like Khan Academy, CrashCourse, and TED-Ed ensuring teens access a healthy mix of learning and entertainment.
“At YouTube, we aim to protect children within the digital landscape, not isolate them from it,” said Jennifer Flannery O’Connor, Vice President of Product Management at YouTube. “Over the past decade, we’ve built safeguards based on feedback from parents and experts, focusing on stronger controls, age-appropriate content, and simple account management.”
With these updates, YouTube reinforces its commitment to being a safe, inspiring, and educational environment where teens and families can explore, learn, and enjoy content responsibly.
