Setting Timer to "Zero": Google Launches Radical Solution to Combat YouTube Shorts Addiction

 In response to Pew Research Center studies on the risks of app browsing on sleep, YouTube has added new tools for parents and users to control short-form content consumption. The new feature allows setting sleep reminders and specific breaks ranging from one to two hours, or removing Shorts from the mobile app entirely. A Google spokesperson confirmed that the "zero minutes" option is currently available for supervised accounts and is expected to cover all users during 2026 to promote a more balanced digital environment.