Is YouTube Shorts safe for kids? A feature review for parents

Although they didn’t invent the format, we can thank TikTok for turning short-form videos into a global phenomenon. Since its launch in 2017, TikTok has made it easy for users to create engaging short videos with catchy songs – and, thanks to its powerful algorithm, these videos can quickly reach millions of people’s feeds.

The growing appeal of short-form videos has led other platforms to jump on the bandwagon. Instagram launched Reels in 2020, and YouTube followed a year later with Shorts.

What is YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a feature available on the YouTube app and website that plays vertical videos of 3 minutes or less. Users can interact with the videos by liking, commenting and sharing, and can watch the next one by swiping up. Similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels, the Shorts feed is never-ending with a constant supply of content – and the more you watch, the more tailored to your tastes the videos become.

Is YouTube Shorts available on the YouTube Kids app?

No, YouTube Shorts is integrated into the main YouTube app only. If your children only use YouTube Kids, they won’t be able to access Shorts.

What is the minimum age requirement to watch YouTube Shorts?

Officially, users need to be at least 13 years old to create a Google account and to fully use YouTube and features like Shorts. However, parents can grant children under 13 access to YouTube Shorts through a supervised Google account, which allows them to monitor activity and apply restrictions tailored to the child’s age and maturity level. While an under-13 can watch Shorts via a supervised account, they cannot upload or interact with the videos.

An under-13 could also search for and watch Shorts by simply not logging in.

YouTube Shorts: some of the risks parents need to know

Excessive screen time

Like TikTok and Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts features an “infinite scroll,” meaning there’s a constant stream of fresh, highly engaging short videos. This, combined with a powerful algorithm that curates content based on the viewer’s preferences, can make it extremely difficult to tear oneself away from the screen.

With less developed self-control, teens are more susceptible to compulsive internet use, which has been linked to increased isolation, disrupted sleep, and various mental health issues.

Inappropriate content

Although nudity and sexual content are prohibited on YouTube, they can still find their way onto your teen’s Shorts feed if moderation isn’t quick enough. Also, despite their policies, you can find “borderline” sexual content in Shorts – such as provocative dancing and swimwear/lingerie try-ons.

Videos featuring violence, such as street fights, as well as drug and alcohol use, frequently appear in feeds, along with racist, homophobic, and misleading content.

Echo chambers

An “echo chamber” on social media occurs when an individual is repeatedly shown content that reinforces the same opinions, beliefs, and ideologies, with little to no exposure to differing viewpoints. This can be particularly problematic for teens who are still finding their place in the world and are more susceptible to repeated messaging.

This is a common criticism of Shorts, Reels, and TikTok, as their algorithms continuously recommend content similar to what a user has already watched. Short-form videos also encourage passive – or even mindless – viewing, rather than guiding users to step away from the feed and seek out diverse content.

Cyberbullying

As with regular YouTube videos, all Shorts have a comment section, which can become quite toxic depending on the content. If your teen likes to engage with what they watch, they may be exposed to harmful or hateful comments.

3 tips to make YouTube Shorts safer for teens

For kids and preteens, YouTube Kids is a better choice than the main platform, as it doesn’t offer Shorts and has safety features more tailored for younger viewers.

For teenagers, YouTube restricts content it considers inappropriate for viewers under 18. It’s a good starting point, but we also recommend the following tips to help keep teens safe while exploring Shorts.

1. Set up a supervised experience

YouTube’s supervised experience can be set up through Google’s Family Link, allowing parents to manage content settings for teens and monitor the Shorts they watch. With linked accounts, a parent can choose between 3 content control levels (Explore, Explore More, and Most of YouTube) depending on the child’s age and maturity level. As well as viewing a teen’s watch and search history, a parent can also disable comments and live chat, and set daily screen time limits for YouTube – helping to reduce the risks of excessive screen time.

2. Combine supervision with conversation

As with all parental controls, YouTube’s supervised experience works best when paired with open, ongoing conversations – encouraging cooperation, trust, and responsible online behavior.

You can start the ball rolling by asking about the Shorts they’ve watched lately, what they’ve liked/didn’t like, and even watch them together. Not only can this give you better insight into their viewing habits, but it can also encourage them to come to you if they encounter something troubling.

3. Encourage them to follow screen time reminders

For users aged 13-17, YouTube gives “ Take a break” and “Bedtime” reminders to encourage young users to be mindful about their screen time. Take a break prompts appear after a set period of continuous viewing (default is every 60 minutes), and Bedtime reminders tell users to stop watching and go to bed at a designated time (default is 10:00 PM). You and your teen can agree on fair limits and adjust the defaults via supervised accounts.

YouTube Shorts is a short-form video feature available on the main YouTube app and website. In the same vein as Instagram Reels and TikTok, the videos are usually highly engaging and tailored to a viewer’s tastes, making it easy to spend more time watching than we really want. This can be especially problematic for young minds who may not yet have developed impulse control. Shorts can also expose a teen to inappropriate content, harmful ideology, and cyberbullying.

YouTube’s supervised experience gives parents some support in helping keep their teens safe on the platform, but it’s not foolproof. It requires a teen’s cooperation to set up, and like all forms of parental controls, it’s best combined with open conversations about online safety and screen time boundaries. For parents looking for more comprehensive parental controls, Qustodio allows parents to set daily time limits for YouTube and, if needed, block the app from being opened completely.