Is YouTube Shorts harmful to children? If so, how do you block YouTube Shorts for kids? This MiniTool Video Converter post will analyze some potential risks of YouTube Shorts and what creative ideas can be used if children need to make Shorts.
YouTube Shorts are vertical videos between 15 and 60 seconds long. They are quick and easy to create. You can add filters, text, and music right in the YouTube app. Once published, viewers can share, comment, like, dislike, or subscribe to these short videos.
YouTube Shorts are similar to Instagram Stories and Snapchat, but Instagram Stories and Snapchat videos disappear after 24 hours, while YouTube Shorts stay on your YouTube channel after they are published. As well as promoting your brand, YouTube Shorts can also convert new viewers into subscribers to your channel.
Is YouTube Shorts Safe for Kids
YouTube Shorts may seem harmless to adults but there are risks for younger children. Here are 2 negative effects that YouTube shorts can have on children.
# The Content May Be Harmful to Children
YouTube Shorts has a wide range of content, but it is not possible to block videos of a particular content. Shorts creators can only set the visibility of YouTube Shorts to private, unlisted, or public. Therefore, when children watch YouTube Shorts, they will inevitably see some inappropriate or unsafe content.
Some bad content on YouTube Shorts may make children curious to imitate it. There may also be inappropriate comments in the comments section of some Shorts. If younger children post YouTube Shorts, they may also be exposed to comments from strangers with bad intentions.
# Children May Become Addicted to Short Videos
The mechanism of short video platforms such as YouTube Shorts is addictive. When you finish watching a video, the next video will be automatically generated. You never know what kind of creativity the next short video will have. Your curiosity will drive you to watch the next short video. Younger children may not have strong self-control, which can lead to an addiction to watching YouTube Shorts.
How to Hide YouTube Shorts for Kids
If your child cannot avoid the risks listed above, we recommend that you turn off YouTube Shorts on your child’s device. There are two ways to block YouTube Shorts.
Method 1: Use Browser Extensions
Many browsers have extensions that can disable YouTube Shorts. Adding extensions is currently the most effective way to block YouTube Shorts. Below are extensions that can be downloaded for different browsers:
For Chrome:
- Hide YouTube Shorts
- ShortsBlocker
For Edge:
- YouTube-Shorts Block
For Firefox:
- Remove YouTube Shorts
- Hide YouTube Shorts
How to add browser extensions:
Chrome is the most used browser. You can follow the steps below to add an extension that can block YouTube Shorts.
Step 1. Navigate to chromewebstore.google.com. Then type the name of the extensions on the search box. Press Enter on your keyboard.
Step 2. Select the extension in the result page.
Step 3. Choose Add to Chrome.
Step 4. Click Add extension in the pop-up window.
After enabling the extension, the Shorts tab will disappear from the left menu bar. Also, the Shorts will not be displayed on the home page or search page.
Maybe you will like this: Extensions to Hide YouTube Thumbnails.
Method 2: Hide YouTube Shorts for 30 Days
Step 1. Navigate to the YouTube website, go to the Home tab.
Step 2. Scroll down until you see the Shorts section.
Step 3. Click the Not interested icon.
This method can help you hide YouTube Shorts from the YouTube homepage for 30 days. However, you won’t be able to remove Shorts from other pages, such as the search results page and the Shorts page. And after 30 days, the Shorts will reappear on the homepage, so you will need to manually hide them again after 30 days.
5 YouTube Shorts Ideas for Kids
Toy Unboxings
Good toys not only bring happiness to children but also improve their intelligence. Children can get traffic to their channel by recording themselves unboxing toys and using toys. It is best to choose some newly released or popular products to unbox so your kids can get more views.
Arts and Crafts
YouTube Shorts gives kids a chance to show off their skills and build confidence. If your child is talented or interested in arts and crafts, you can let him or her post the process of creating an artwork on YouTube Shorts.
Cooking and Baking
Cooking videos have always been popular. If your child can cook or bake, you can record the process and post it on YouTube Shorts. Also, try to participate in the cooking with your child, the content will be very interesting.
Family Vlogs
Although most vlog videos are made by adults, vlog videos made by children are becoming increasingly popular. You can let your kids film family life, family rituals, outings, and more.
Pet Videos
Videos of children and pets are always heartwarming. If your children and pets get along well, why not record their daily interactions and post them on YouTube Shorts? You can also make some videos about how to care for your pet, what products your pet uses, etc.
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Conclusion
This post not only summarizes the negative effects that YouTube Shorts can have on children but also gives ways to hide YouTube Shorts for children. If you are sure that your children will not be influenced by negative factors, this post also gives you some YouTube Shorts ideas for kids.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Mia loves music and art, and likes to listen to music alone in her spare time. Now, Mia is the English editor of MiniTool. She is good at writing YouTube tips, video conversion, and video recording. She is committed to bringing more multimedia knowledge to readers.