YouTube Plans to Put a Pause on Shorts Scrolling

YouTube is reportedly planning to introduce a new feature that would allow users to set daily time limits for watching Shorts videos, in a move aimed at curbing excessive screen time. According to a report by TechCrunch, the upcoming feature would temporarily disable access to Shorts once the set viewing limit is reached.

The beta version of the YouTube app first revealed this feature’s code, discovered by Android Authority. While the feature is not yet publicly available, YouTube confirmed to TechCrunch that it is "something we are considering for future implementation."

Based on the discovered code, the timer will enable users to set a daily limit—such as a few hours—after which Shorts will automatically pause. Interestingly, the code also suggests that users may still be able to view select Shorts even after the timer has expired.

This initiative appears to build on YouTube’s existing "Take a Break" feature, designed to encourage healthier viewing habits for its main video content. Major tech companies including Apple and Google have already integrated similar tools across their platforms to help address concerns about social media addiction.

YouTube’s potential timer feature represents another step toward promoting mindful media consumption, especially as short-form content continues to dominate user engagement patterns.