How to Block YouTube Shorts for Kids (All Devices, 2026)

TL;DR: YouTube Shorts are dangerously addictive for kids—3x more than regular videos. Update (Jan 2026): YouTube now lets parents set Shorts time limits or block them entirely via Family Link—a welcome step, but it only works on supervised accounts and doesn't control which channels kids watch. Best solutions: WhitelistVideo (blocks Shorts + controls channels on all devices), Family Link Shorts Timer (Android/supervised accounts), iOS Screen Time (iPhone/iPad), or browser extensions (desktop). Complete guides below for every device.

Table of Contents

Why YouTube Shorts Are Dangerous for Kids

YouTube Shorts launched in 2020 as YouTube's answer to TikTok. The format: vertical videos under 60 seconds, endless scroll, algorithm-curated feed.

The problem for parents:

• 3x more addictive than regular YouTube according to Stanford Digital Wellness Lab research
• Kids can watch 100+ Shorts per hour (vs. 10-15 regular videos)
• Bypasses age restrictions more easily than long-form content
• Creates compulsive viewing patterns similar to social media doom-scrolling
• Attention span impact: Studies show measurable cognitive decline in kids with excessive Shorts usage

The Science: Why Shorts Are So Addictive

Dr. Anna Lembke, Stanford addiction psychiatrist, explains that short-form video content creates rapid dopamine spikes. Each new Short is a micro-reward, training the brain to expect constant stimulation.

For developing brains (ages 5-17), this is particularly harmful:

• Attention span erosion: Kids struggle to focus on longer tasks
• Sleep disruption: "Just one more Short" turns into hours
• Emotional regulation issues: Content switches too fast to process emotions
• Academic impact: Homework takes longer, reading comprehension decreases

Quick Answer: Best Methods by Device

Important: YouTube now offers Shorts time limits through Family Link (as of January 2026), but only for supervised accounts. Restricted Mode still doesn't block Shorts. For complete Shorts blocking plus channel-level control, use WhitelistVideo. For an overview of all available options, see our comprehensive YouTube parental controls guide.

Method 1: WhitelistVideo (All Devices) - Most Effective

Effectiveness: ✅ Bypass-proof Setup time: 2-5 minutes Cost: Free trial, then $14.99/month

WhitelistVideo takes a different approach: instead of trying to block Shorts (which kids can bypass), it only allows pre-approved YouTube channels. Shorts from non-approved channels are automatically blocked. Learn more about how whitelist-based parental controls work.

Why This Works Best

1. Shorts blocked by default - No endless scroll feed
2. Works on ALL devices - One parent dashboard controls everything
3. Can't be bypassed - OS-level protection, not browser-based (see how kids bypass other YouTube parental controls)
4. Allows educational content - Approve channels like Khan Academy, CrashCourse, etc.

Setup Instructions

For iPhone/iPad:

1. Download WhitelistVideo from the App Store
2. Install on your child's device
3. Sign in with parent account at app.whitelist.video
4. Approve channels - Shorts are blocked unless you specifically approve them
5. Enable Screen Time restrictions to lock down the YouTube app

For Android:

1. Download WhitelistVideo from Google Play
2. Install on your child's device
3. Set up Family Link to prevent uninstallation
4. Approve channels from parent dashboard
5. YouTube Shorts are automatically blocked

For Chromebook:

1. Install WhitelistVideo extension
2. Set up supervised Chrome profile
3. Approve channels from parent dashboard
4. Shorts feed is replaced with approved content only

For Desktop (Windows/Mac):

1. Install WhitelistVideo browser extension
2. Download lock-in installer for bypass-proof protection
3. Approve channels from parent dashboard
4. Kids can only access approved content

Method 2: iOS Screen Time Settings (iPhone/iPad)

Effectiveness: ✅ Very effective Setup time: 5 minutes Cost: Free

Apple's Screen Time can block YouTube entirely or restrict it to specific hours.

Option A: Block YouTube App Completely

1. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
2. Enable restrictions (create a Screen Time passcode)
3. Tap Apps > Set to Don't Allow Apps > Toggle off YouTube
4. YouTube app will disappear from the home screen

Note: This blocks ALL YouTube, not just Shorts. Combine with WhitelistVideo for controlled access.

Option B: Website Restrictions

1. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
2. Tap Content Restrictions > Web Content
3. Select Limit Adult Websites
4. Under "Never Allow," add:
   • youtube.com/shorts
   • m.youtube.com/shorts
5. Kids can still use YouTube but Shorts feed is blocked

Limitation: Tech-savvy kids might find workarounds. For bulletproof protection, use WhitelistVideo.

Method 3: Google Family Link Shorts Timer (NEW — Jan 2026)

Effectiveness: ✅ Effective for Shorts Setup time: 5 minutes Cost: Free Requirement: Child must use a supervised Google account

As of January 2026, Google Family Link now lets parents set a daily Shorts feed time limit or block Shorts entirely for supervised child and teen accounts. This is YouTube's first native Shorts control for parents.

Option A: Via Google Family Link App

1. Open the Google Family Link app on your phone
2. Select your child's profile
3. Tap Controls
4. Tap Content restrictions > YouTube
5. Set the daily Shorts feed limit:
   • 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours for limited scrolling
   • 0 minutes to block Shorts entirely
6. Changes apply immediately across all devices signed into the supervised account

Option B: Via YouTube App (Family Center)

1. Open the YouTube app signed into your linked parent account
2. Tap You (bottom right)
3. Tap Settings > Family Center
4. Select your child's profile
5. Tap Time management
6. Set the daily Shorts feed limit (same options as above)

What Happens When the Limit Is Reached

• A message appears and the Shorts feed stops scrolling for the rest of the day
• Unlike YouTube's "take a break" reminders, this is non-dismissible — your child cannot tap through it
• The limit resets the following day

Additional Family Link Controls

While in the Time management section, you can also:

• Disable Autoplay (child cannot re-enable)
• Set bedtime reminders for YouTube
• Set take-a-break reminders at custom intervals

Limitations:

• Supervised accounts only — your child must be signed into a Google account supervised through Family Link
• Shorts only — this doesn't control which channels or videos your child watches on regular YouTube
• No channel whitelisting — kids can still watch any content from any channel outside of Shorts
• Teens (13+) can opt out of supervision if they choose to manage their own account

For complete protection: Combine Family Link Shorts Timer with WhitelistVideo to block Shorts AND control which channels your child can access. WhitelistVideo's whitelist approach means kids only watch parent-approved content — not just time-limited Shorts.

Method 4: Chromebook Supervised Profiles

Effectiveness: ✅ Effective Setup time: 10 minutes Cost: Free

Chrome's supervised user profiles let you control web access.

Setup Instructions

1. On the Chromebook, click profile icon > Add supervised user
2. Create a profile for your child
3. Go to https://myaccount.google.com/kids
4. Click your child's profile > Manage websites
5. Add youtube.com/shorts to the "Blocked" list
6. Also block m.youtube.com/shorts

Limitation: Kids might access Shorts through the main YouTube feed. For complete control, use WhitelistVideo extension.

Method 5: Browser Extensions (Desktop)

Effectiveness: ⚠️ Moderate (kids can disable) Setup time: 2 minutes Cost: Free

Several browser extensions claim to block Shorts:

Recommended Extensions

• uBlock Origin (free) - Can block Shorts feed with custom filters
• BlockTube (free) - Block Shorts and other YouTube elements
• Unhook (free) - Remove distracting YouTube features including Shorts

Setup Example (uBlock Origin):

1. Install uBlock Origin from Chrome Web Store
2. Click extension icon > Settings
3. Go to My Filters tab
4. Add these lines:

   youtube.com##ytd-reel-shelf-renderer
   youtube.com##ytd-reel-video-renderer
   youtube.com##ytm-shorts-lockup-view-model
   

5. Click Apply changes

Major limitation: Kids can easily disable browser extensions. Not recommended as primary solution.

Why YouTube's Built-in Controls May Not Be Enough

YouTube has made progress on Shorts controls — but gaps remain.

YouTube Shorts Timer via Family Link (NEW — Jan 2026) ✅

• What it does: Lets parents set daily Shorts time limits (15min–2hr) or block Shorts entirely (0 minutes) for supervised accounts
• What works well: Non-dismissible limits, works across all devices on the supervised account, child cannot override
• What it doesn't do: Doesn't control which channels kids watch on regular YouTube. A child can still access any content on the main YouTube feed, search results, and recommendations. Only the Shorts feed is limited.
• Requirement: Child must use a supervised Google account through Family Link

YouTube Restricted Mode

• What it claims: Filters mature content
• What it does for Shorts: Nothing. Shorts appear normally.
• Why: Restricted Mode only filters based on reported content and community guidelines, not format

YouTube Supervised Experience

• What it claims: Age-appropriate content controls
• What it does for Shorts: Shorts still appear, just with content filters (unless Shorts Timer is configured separately)
• Why it's not enough: Content filters are imprecise and don't give parents channel-level control

YouTube Kids App

• What it claims: Safe content for young children
• What it does for Shorts: Shorts appear but supposedly filtered
• Why it fails: Content filters miss inappropriate Shorts regularly (Common Sense Media found 27% failure rate)

Bottom line: YouTube's new Shorts Timer is a welcome step — especially for parents who want to limit (not eliminate) Shorts consumption. But for parents who want complete control over what their kids watch (not just how long), a whitelist-based approach like WhitelistVideo remains the most comprehensive solution.

Device-Specific Troubleshooting

"Shorts are still appearing after I blocked them"

Possible causes:

1. Multiple browsers - Did you block Shorts in Chrome but your kid is using Safari/Edge/Firefox?
2. App vs. browser - YouTube app and YouTube website are separate. Block both.
3. Incognito mode - Most parental controls don't work in private browsing.
4. Smart TV - TVs often have their own YouTube apps that bypass device restrictions.

Solution: WhitelistVideo works across all browsers and apps because it uses device-level restrictions.

"My child uninstalled the blocking app"

For iOS:

• Enable Screen Time restrictions to prevent app deletion
• Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Deleting Apps > Don't Allow

For Android:

• Make the blocking app a Device Administrator
• This prevents uninstallation without parent password

For Desktop:

• Use WhitelistVideo installer which requires admin password to uninstall

"Shorts appear when using school Chromebook"

School Chromebooks are managed by IT administrators. Contact your school's IT department to:

1. Request Shorts be blocked on school devices
2. Ask if they can deploy WhitelistVideo extension to all student devices

Many schools already block Shorts through their device management console.

Comparison: Blocking Methods

*Family Link Shorts Timer works on any device where the child is signed into their supervised Google account.

Key difference: YouTube's Shorts Timer controls how long kids scroll Shorts. WhitelistVideo controls what kids can watch — blocking Shorts entirely while also restricting access to only parent-approved channels. For more on channel-level blocking, see our guide on how to block YouTube channels.

FAQs

Can I block Shorts but allow regular YouTube videos?

Yes, several solutions work:

• Best option: WhitelistVideo — Blocks Shorts by default and lets you approve specific channels for regular videos
• Family Link Shorts Timer (NEW): Set the daily Shorts limit to 0 minutes to block Shorts entirely while keeping regular YouTube accessible. Requires a supervised Google account.
• iOS option: Use Content Restrictions to block youtube.com/shorts URLs while allowing youtube.com/watch
• Browser option: uBlock Origin with custom filters (blocks Shorts feed but allows regular videos)

Will blocking Shorts break other YouTube features?

No. Blocking Shorts only removes the Shorts feed/shelf. Your child can still:

• Watch full-length videos
• Search for content
• Access subscriptions
• Use YouTube Music (separate app)

Do schools block YouTube Shorts?

Many schools do, especially since 2023 when Shorts became a major distraction. Schools use:

• GoGuardian - Blocks Shorts feed on school Chromebooks
• Securly - Filters Shorts content
• Lightspeed - Blocks Shorts during school hours

Contact your school's IT admin to request Shorts filtering.

Can kids access Shorts through third-party apps?

Some third-party apps let kids watch Shorts:

• YouTube ReVanced (Android) - Modified YouTube app
• NewPipe (Android) - Open-source YouTube client
• Cercube (iOS, jailbroken) - Modified YouTube app

These apps bypass parental controls. Solutions:

• iOS: Don't allow app sideloading (avoid jailbreaking)
• Android: Use Family Link to block app installations
• Both: WhitelistVideo filters YouTube at the network level, so third-party apps can't bypass it

YouTube now lets parents limit Shorts via Family Link. Do I still need WhitelistVideo?

Family Link's Shorts Timer is a great addition, but it only solves one part of the problem:

• Family Link: Controls how long kids scroll Shorts (or blocks Shorts entirely). Does NOT control which channels or videos they watch on regular YouTube.
• WhitelistVideo: Blocks Shorts by default AND only allows parent-approved channels. Kids can't watch random content from the algorithm.

If your only concern is Shorts, Family Link's timer may be enough. If you want control over everything your child watches on YouTube — Shorts, regular videos, search results — WhitelistVideo is the comprehensive solution.

They also work well together: use Family Link for Shorts time limits and WhitelistVideo for channel-level control.

Are YouTube Shorts worse than TikTok?

Both are harmful in similar ways:

Advantage of Shorts: Since Shorts are part of YouTube, you can use YouTube-specific parental controls like WhitelistVideo. TikTok requires separate blocking approaches.

Recommended Next Steps

1. Choose your blocking method based on device

   • All devices: WhitelistVideo (most comprehensive)
   • iPhone only: Screen Time + WhitelistVideo
   • Android only: Family Link + WhitelistVideo

2. Test the block

   • Open YouTube on your child's device
   • Try accessing youtube.com/shorts
   • Verify Shorts feed doesn't appear

3. Have a conversation with your child

   • Explain why you're blocking Shorts
   • Share the research on attention span impacts
   • Offer alternatives (educational YouTube channels you approve)

4. Monitor for a week

   • Check if they've found workarounds
   • Ask about their screen time experience
   • Adjust restrictions as needed

Conclusion

YouTube Shorts are designed to be addictive. For children's developing brains, this creates real cognitive and behavioral risks.

The good news: YouTube finally added Shorts controls for parents in January 2026. Family Link's Shorts Timer lets you set daily time limits or block Shorts entirely on supervised accounts — a meaningful step forward.

But Shorts are only part of the problem. The algorithm still controls what your child watches on regular YouTube. For parents who want complete control — Shorts blocked, channels whitelisted, protection that can't be bypassed — WhitelistVideo remains the most comprehensive solution.

Recommended approach:

• Shorts control: Use Family Link Shorts Timer (free, built into supervised accounts) OR WhitelistVideo (blocks Shorts by default)
• Channel control: Use WhitelistVideo to approve specific channels and block everything else
• Best of both: Combine Family Link + WhitelistVideo for layered protection

Get started: Try WhitelistVideo free — blocks Shorts on all devices, allows only approved educational content, bypass-proof protection.