YouTube adds parental controls to Shorts to give parents 'more control' says Dr Garth Graham — Tuesday 19 May 2026YouTube has rolled out fresh parental controls for its Shorts feature, allowing families to set viewing limits and guide younger users towards more considered choices. Dr Garth Graham, speaking for the platform, described the changes as a way to hand parents greater oversight amid rising worries over screen time. The update includes options to restrict content and encourage deliberate watching rather than endless scrolling. British households will welcome the move, given the intense debate here over children’s digital habits. With the Online Safety Act now in force, regulators and parents alike have pressed platforms to do more than simply warn about risks. YouTube’s tweaks arrive as Ofcom continues to scrutinise how short-form video affects attention and wellbeing among under-18s, many of whom consume the format daily on phones and tablets. The changes may help ease the daily tug-of-war in UK homes where parents juggle work, school runs and the lure of algorithm-driven clips. By prompting families to review and approve material together, the tools could shift habits towards shared decisions rather than outright bans. Still, some campaigners caution that responsibility should not rest solely with households while platforms refine their designs. Overall the announcement signals a modest but timely concession to British concerns about online safety. Whether it delivers lasting impact will depend on clear communication and genuine ease of use for time-pressed parents across the country.Watch the full video from Sky News below.