How to Block YouTube Shorts: Protect Kids from Addictive Short-Form Content

Why Parents Are Concerned About YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts has become YouTube's answer to TikTok — and it's engineered using the same addictive design patterns that make TikTok so hard to put down.

The format is simple: videos under 60 seconds that autoplay in an infinite scroll. The algorithm learns what captures attention and serves more of it. For children, this creates a perfect storm:

• Dopamine hits every few seconds — Constant novelty triggers reward pathways
• No natural stopping point — Infinite scroll has no "end"
• Passive consumption — Swipe without thinking
• Algorithm optimization — Content gets increasingly engaging (not educational)

Research from the American Psychological Association links short-form video consumption to reduced attention spans, increased anxiety, and difficulty with sustained focus — effects that are amplified in developing brains.

Method 1: Block YouTube Shorts on Desktop (Browser Extensions)

The easiest way to remove Shorts on desktop computers is using browser extensions:

For Chrome

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store
2. Search for "Hide YouTube Shorts"
3. Install the extension
4. Shorts section disappears from YouTube

Recommended extensions:

• Hide YouTube Shorts
• Unhook - Remove YouTube Recommended Videos
• DF YouTube (Distraction Free)

For Firefox

Similar extensions are available in Firefox Add-ons. Search for "YouTube Shorts blocker" or "Distraction Free YouTube."

Limitation: Browser extensions don't work in incognito mode and can be easily uninstalled by children. They also don't protect mobile devices.

Method 2: Block Shorts on Mobile Devices

Mobile is trickier because YouTube doesn't offer a Shorts disable option, and you can't install browser extensions on the YouTube app.

Option A: Use YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids has a version of short videos, but they're more curated than regular Shorts. For children under 8, this may be sufficient.

Option B: Use Website Instead of App

Access YouTube through a mobile browser (Chrome, Safari) instead of the app. Then use a content blocker that can hide Shorts elements. This is clunky but works.

Option C: Parental Control Apps

Some parental control apps can block access to the YouTube app entirely or limit usage time. You'd then allow YouTube only through controlled methods.

Option D: Whitelist-Based Solution (Most Effective)

WhitelistVideo blocks Shorts by default on all plans and all devices. Since only approved channels are accessible, and Shorts come from the general algorithm, they're automatically blocked.

Method 3: Router-Level Blocking

For tech-savvy parents, you can block Shorts at the network level:

1. Access your router's admin panel
2. Find URL filtering or parental controls
3. Add blocks for: youtube.com/shorts

Limitations: This only works on your home network and can be bypassed using mobile data or VPNs.

Why Whitelist-Based Blocking Is Most Effective

All the methods above have the same fundamental problem: they try to block specific content while allowing the rest of YouTube. This is a losing battle because:

• YouTube constantly changes how Shorts are delivered
• Shorts appear in search results, recommendations, and channel pages
• Kids find workarounds (different devices, accounts, networks)

The whitelist approach flips the model: Block ALL YouTube content by default. Only allow specific channels you've approved. Since Shorts come from the algorithmic feed — not from specific channels — they're automatically blocked.

With WhitelistVideo:

• Shorts are blocked by default (intentional design decision)
• Children can only watch videos from approved channels
• Works across all devices and browsers
• Cannot be bypassed via incognito mode or app switching

Helping Kids Understand Why

Blocking Shorts works best when children understand the reasoning. Age-appropriate explanations:

For younger kids (8-10):

"Shorts are designed to be really hard to stop watching. They trick your brain into wanting more and more. We're going to watch longer videos instead so your brain stays healthy."

For older kids (11-15):

"Shorts use the same psychology as slot machines — they're engineered to be addictive. Research shows they can affect your attention span and focus. Let's be intentional about what content you consume."

Take Action Today

YouTube Shorts isn't going away — if anything, YouTube is pushing it harder to compete with TikTok. As parents, we need to be proactive:

1. Desktop: Install a Shorts-blocking extension today
2. Mobile: Consider YouTube Kids or whitelist-based solutions
3. Long-term: Implement whitelist-based protection for complete control

WhitelistVideo blocks Shorts by default on the free plan. Test it to see how your child responds to a Shorts-free YouTube experience.