YouTube rolls out zero-minute timer option to disable Shorts from homepage

YouTube is rolling out a new zero-minute timer option for its Shorts feature, allowing users to effectively disable the short-form video content from their homepage. The platform confirmed to The Verge that the setting is currently available to all parents and is being distributed to all users. The update expands on YouTube's October introduction of time management tools for Shorts, which originally offered limits between 15 minutes and two hours. Setting the timer to zero minutes removes Shorts from the YouTube homepage while still permitting access through the Subscriptions feed. When users with a zero-minute limit attempt to scroll through Shorts content, they encounter a full-screen notification indicating they have "reached your Shorts limit." Individual Shorts videos remain viewable if selected directly, maintaining some access to the format while reducing passive consumption. The feature represents YouTube's latest effort to provide users with greater control over their viewing experience amid broader industry concerns about social media usage patterns. Parental controls for Shorts have been available since the initial timer launch last fall. YouTube continues developing other Shorts-related features, including tests of creator posts within Shorts feeds and AI-powered avatar creation tools.