Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
Youtube Social Networks

YouTube Will Help You Quit Watching Shorts (theverge.com) 63

Posted by msmash from the for-what-it's-worth dept.
YouTube has added a new Shorts feature that makes it easier to manage how much time you're spending watching videos. From a report: Mobile users can now set a customizable daily limit that restricts how long they can scroll Shorts feeds, aiming to help viewers better manage their time instead of endlessly scrolling. When a user reaches their time limit, they will receive a notification saying Shorts has been paused for the day.

This notification is dismissible, however, so it's on the user to honor these self-imposed restrictions.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

YouTube Will Help You Quit Watching Shorts More

YouTube Will Help You Quit Watching Shorts

Comments Filter:

  • Easiest way to help? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Red_Chaos1 ( 95148 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @03:07PM (#65743900)

    Never re-enable them after I specifically turn them off in my feed. Pretty simple, eh?

    • you can turn them off? I want that feature.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by RevRa ( 1728 )

        You can. With a browser plugin called "Short Stop".

        • I also found a file to import into uBlock that completely got rid of them too. I believe I got it from one Chris Titus' videos about a year ago.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by skam240 ( 789197 )

          You needed a plugin? I just clicked the little 'X' in the upper right to close that feature.

          I log in to YouTube though. Maybe you don't?

          • I have known for most you have to clicked the little 'X' every month. Though I have not seem others used it in awhile and with the whole a/b thing and other changes who knows how many and what people get of recent. Do or did you have to close it every month?

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by skam240 ( 789197 )

              Well I can't say I've payed too close attention but I feel I'd notice a once a month annoyance like that. I do feel I had to close it a second time at one point but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

              It's also possible users are getting different results based on plug ins or which browser they use. I know the Brave browser takes care of most of my issues with YouTube pretty well on its own.

      • Just as with their AI deepfake detection system, YouTube has once again created a problem (Shorts addiction) so that it can deliver a solution (this auto-turn-off function).

        I'd actually prefer that it didn't create the problems in the first place.

        YouTube is a trainwreck right now and mid-tier creators are not valued at all. Just look at what they have to put up with [youtube.com]

      • The preferred feature is "Nuke from high orbit"
      • Same here...I don't watch them and they clutter up my subscriptions tab...

        I want a way to TURN THEM OFF completely.....

      • Eh, it's the "I don't want to see this" thing which makes the bar go away, but eventually they turn it back on requiring you to once again tell them you don't want to see it. IMO it should simply stay gone unless/until I go manually enable it.

    • They're all in fucking portrait mode so borderline unwatchable on a pc.

      Are Gen Z ever going to figure out that yes, you can actually turn a phone through 90 degrees?

      • There's a strong demand for short-form use content on mobile. Portrait orientation works better for that situation. Stop blaming users for having preferences that are entirely rational.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Viol8 ( 599362 )

          Yeah,. that'll be why streaming movies on phones is in portrait mode... oh, wait...

      • Are Gen Z ever going to figure out that yes, you can actually turn a phone through 90 degrees?

        Phones are a pain in the arse to turn 90 degrees. There's nothing wrong with vertical video shorts. You're just watching them on the wrong device, all the while complaining that you actually have more screen real estate than the device these videos are targeted at.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by Viol8 ( 599362 )

          "Phones are a pain in the arse to turn 90 degrees"

          Even for you thats a really poor troll. Had a bad day? Have another go.

          • Not at all. You may have a different opinion, but in general the form factor of a phone is designed to be palmed vertically. Turning it horizontally involves gripping it uncomfortably with fingers in a position that makes swiping more difficult. Add to that the number of people who have rotation lock enabled.

            You're so quick to label anything you disagree with as a troll, maybe try engaging your brain just once to see what that feels like. There's a reason people started videoing and watching things vertical

      • Portrait is the correct orientation for what is essentially a moving portrait. The problem is what it's a portrait of. The vertical bars don't hide anything worth seeing. And there's nothing worth seeing between the bars, either.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Viol8 ( 599362 )

          Except most of them are not moving portraits and because of the way our world is built horizontally far more than vertically you can get more information in a landscape format. Film makers knew this 100 years ago. The ONLY reason for portrait is shitty phones with users too dumb to turn them on their sides when filming.

      • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

        by usedtobestine ( 7476084 )

        They're fine to watch on my 55" monitor. They're even more spendid on a 75" monitor bu tthat one uses the youtube tv app and it is not very well designed.

        The best part about youtube shorts, tiktok videos, instagram reels, etc. is that they autoplay and repeat forever. I can tell if my partner is asleep because I'll hear the same short repeat over and over. This is my queue to take it out of her hand, shut it off, plug it in, and put it on the nightstand so she can find it in the a.m.

  • Personally if I'm bored enough to open Shorts, my viewing time is self-limiting because the content is so bad.

  • Why the auto-repeat? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by haruchai ( 17472 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @03:18PM (#65743936)

    give me a way to turn that feature off permanently

    • Yes. I do not understand - at ALL - why the fuck Youtube thinks anybody would want to loop any of this. What was the target audience? Who said, "Yes please, I want to hear short form content on repeat."

      Maybe I'm not the targeted demographic - and that's good, because that targeted group is just plain stupid.

      • Yes. I do not understand - at ALL - why the ... Youtube thinks anybody would want to loop any of this. What was the target audience? Who said, "Yes please, I want to hear short form content on repeat."

        I know people who play Meta videos that do the same. Personally I not a big fan of music for the same reason. A three and half minute or slightly less song and you keep hearing the same chorus.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by antdude ( 79039 )

      Seriously. So annoying!

  • Zero (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @03:24PM (#65743946)

    Can the limit be made zero?

    • Youtube forcing shorts on me made me move to SmatTube app on my chromecast. Now I see no more shorts at all in the UI, completely gone. There are many other great features of SmartTube that make it worth switching to.

  • Block all YouTube shorts. (Score:5, Informative)

    by BenFenner ( 981342 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @03:25PM (#65743950)
    A friendly reminder that I keep an up-to-date UblockOrigin filter list to block all YouTube shorts. Here is the current version:

    www.youtube.com##ytd-guide-renderer a.yt-simple-endpoint[title="Shorts"]:upward(ytd-guide-entry-renderer)
    www.youtube.com##ytd-mini-guide-renderer a.yt-simple-endpoint[title="Shorts"]:upward(ytd-mini-guide-entry-renderer)
    www.youtube.com##ytd-browse #dismissible ytd-rich-grid-slim-media[is-short]:upward(ytd-rich-section-renderer)
    www.youtube.com##ytd-browse ytd-grid-video-renderer:has(span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"])
    www.youtube.com##ytd-browse ytd-rich-item-renderer:has(span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"])
    www.youtube.com##ytd-search ytd-video-renderer:has(span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"])
    www.youtube.com##ytd-watch-next-secondary-results-renderer ytd-compact-video-renderer:has(span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"])
    www.youtube.com##ytd-watch-next-secondary-results-renderer ytd-shelf-renderer:has(span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"])
    www.youtube.com##ytd-browse[page-subtype="subscriptions"] ytd-video-renderer span.ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"]:upward(ytd-item-section-renderer)
    www.youtube.com##ytd-reel-shelf-renderer
    www.youtube.com###content > .ytd-rich-section-renderer.style-scope
    www.youtube.com##grid-shelf-view-model.ytGridShelfViewModelHostHasBottomButton.ytd-item-section-renderer.ytGridShelfViewModelHost:nth-of-type(n+1)
    www.youtube.com###contents > grid-shelf-view-model.ytGridShelfViewModelHostHasBottomButton.ytd-item-section-renderer.ytGridShelfViewModelHost:nth-of-type(n+1)
    www.youtube.com##.ytd-item-section-renderer.ytGridShelfViewModelHost
    m.youtube.com##ytm-reel-shelf-renderer
    m.youtube.com##ytm-pivot-bar-renderer div.pivot-shorts:upward(ytm-pivot-bar-item-renderer)
    m.youtube.com##ytm-browse ytm-item-section-renderer ytm-video-with-context-renderer:has(ytm-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[data-style="SHORTS"])
    m.youtube.com##ytm-browse ytm-item-section-renderer ytm-compact-video-renderer:has(ytm-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[data-style="SHORTS"])
    m.youtube.com##ytm-search ytm-compact-video-renderer:has(ytm-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[data-style="SHORTS"])

  • Insistence (Score:3)

    by JBMcB ( 73720 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @03:29PM (#65743956)
    I never watch shorts. I don't want to watch shorts. Every time YoutTube offers me shorts I tell it I don't want to see them. A week later it recommends shorts again.

    • That's right... you don't *really* think YT is giving you a choice do you?

      I do not make shorts, I do not want shorts but without using plugins I can not avoid shorts. Successful companies are generally built on tailoring their offerings to match the needs/wants of their customers so YT once again proves that WE are not the customers, we are the product!

  • They will show long adds to interrupt the short shorts soon, hope that this measure does not fall short.

    Adds save the day for a better tomorrow .. is the next shareholder day.

  • Allows you to stop seeing them, Forever ;-D

  • ...naked now?

  • If I do that, then I won't see (Score:3)

    by TomR teh Pirate ( 1554037 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @04:05PM (#65744022)
    attractive young women with "vast tracts of land" playing guitar solos from my favorite classic rock songs.

  • Because I can really not see them doing anything like that because they though it was right.

  • I already don't watch them. Don't need any help.

    Hint: filters are wonderful.

  • Quit Watching Shorts

    No more Daisy Dukes?

  • I spend at least an hour a day on TikTok. I don't need every social media platform to try to duplicate that experience with varying levels of success.

  • Once I realized that a mix, once clicked, can never be removed, I deliberately click "not interested" every time I see one in my feed. Allow them to be removed from my account and I might click one, but until then stop showing me them!

  • YT will help itself customize # of ads to the user (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SomePoorSchmuck ( 183775 ) on Wednesday October 22, 2025 @05:59PM (#65744240) Homepage

    This is a powerful data-tracking move for YT that will make them even more profitable.
    Businesses would always rather have a consistent revenue stream that can be planned for and then gamed, rather than being at the mercy of consumer choices on any given day.

    They now can know how much time John intends to spend consuming the feed. You are literally telling them in advance how large a window in the day they have to monetize your eyeballs. So instead of potentially missing the chance to serve x number of ads to John before John suddenly unpredictably exits the app, YT can now calculate ProfitTargetPerUser = JohnsDayLimit / SUM(ProfitEarnedFromAd[n]). All they need to do is have the algorithm check the value of John's limit and then adjust the value of n (ie the length of the interval they graciously allow you to see content between advertisements) to maximize profits.

    This also improves the precision of their inducement PsyOps data analytics, because they can start deliberately testing John's weaknesses by observing what kinds of content they can stack toward the end of John's interval that is most likely to make John continue being monetized after clearing the popup notice. Knowing exactly how to induce people to break their own explicitly-stated rules/morals/willpower and continue behaviors a PsyOp wants them to perform, is an extremely profitable/powerful set of data.

    Oh, and if no one else has realized this yet -- they've successfully moved everyone to streaming TV platforms, and everyone is so dopamine addicted that instead of TV itself being "the opiate of the masses", TV is a thing that people put on in the background while they dopascroll. Since you're streaming via an app or browser (which is tracking/harvesting you), that means they can now aggregate your side-scrolling monetized behavior with your TV-streaming monetized behavior to see exactly which shows you pay the most/least attention to, and eventually they will get around to what is the minimum level of writing/acting/talent/production investment necessary to keep you scrolling the rapidly disappearing seconds of your life away. It's also a great business opportunity to double-dip by gradually re-introducing and increasing the ads on paid streaming services while also showing you ads in your dopascroll, and even syncing those up so you're getting hit with ads on your scroll while getting ads on your stream. If they can just blanket you with enough ads then they can finally Immanentize the Eschaton/Singularity and ascend to the oligopantheon's geosat ringworld or whatever.

  • Nobody fucking asked for garbage ass shorts

  • ... the user to honor ...

    We'll tell doom-scrolling junkies to stop being junkies: That proves it's not our fault when drug-addicts buy more drugs. It's our job to sell more drugs this year, so don't blame us for doing a good job.

  • I *HATE* "shorts". And never watch any.
    I also don't login with YouTube.

    My life was made so much better when I discovered that UBlock Origin (Firefox, of course) can actually hide all the Shorts crap!

    https://github.com/gijsdev/ubl... [github.com]

  • I can't stand the lack of time elapsed/total indicators and forward/backward buttons

  • I use uBlock Origin to block shorts

  • Great, can I set it to zero?

    At least I finally realized that "YouTube Movies" is actually a channel, so it can be blocked from recommendations!

  • I want desktop watchers to be able KILL shorts DEAD, DEAD, DEAD!

    When I click on a subscription that announces a new video, I don't want to watch a 20 second portrait video done with a phone held the WRONG way.

    I tried many extensions to hide that crap, no luck!

  • They only help themselves
  • How about a dont show shorts button and while you at it add a dont show AI generated content.
  • That's all this is so that when laws pass that parents must be able to restrict their child's access, 'look we have a popup for that'.

Slashdot Top Deals

Today's scientific question is: What in the world is electricity? And where does it go after it leaves the toaster? -- Dave Barry, "What is Electricity?"

Close