Many parents are frustrated by what shows up on their living room TVs. YouTube Shorts are a big part of the problem. These quick videos are very addictive for kids and often have loud sounds or inappropriate jokes. It’s easy for a child to watch hundreds of them in one sitting. Parents want a way to turn them off, but there’s no simple button to hide the Shorts shelf on most TVs. Unlike phones, smart TVs don’t let you just download a safety app to solve the issue. At Kibosh, we understand how tough this is for families. That’s why we offer a way to manage your network and help you take back control of your TV.

The Problem with YouTube on Smart TVs

Smart TVs from brands like Samsung LG aren’t like mobile phones. They use closed systems, so while you can add apps like Netflix or Hulu, you can’t install third-party parental control apps. Tools such as Bark or Qustodio don’t work on TVs. You’re limited to the settings that come with the TV, which leaves a big gap in home security. Kids know the TV is the easiest place to watch videos without filters, and they can spend hours scrolling through Shorts on devices like Roku or Fire Stick. TV interfaces are designed to keep people watching, not to meet a family’s safety needs.

Limits of Native YouTube Settings

YouTube offers a feature called Restricted Mode, which you can find in the app’s settings on your TV. This mode tries to hide adult content and removes the comments section. It’s a helpful first step for many parents, but it isn’t perfect. It often misses some inappropriate videos, and kids can turn it off with just a few clicks of the remote. Most TVs don’t let you lock this setting with a pin, so if you share a TV, you have to keep turning it on and off. For busy parents, this can be a hassle and easy to forget. Plus, the Shorts feed still shows up even when Restricted Mode is on—it only filters the types of videos, not the Shorts shelf itself.