A YouTube Player Without Shorts, Reels, or Doom-Scrolling
Kivvie completely removes short-form video content. Your kids only see full-length videos from channels you've explicitly approved.
The Problem with YouTube Shorts
Addictive Design
Short-form videos use variable reward patterns—the same psychology behind slot machines—keeping kids in endless scroll loops.
Attention Fragmentation
Rapid content switching trains brains for constant stimulation, making it harder for children to focus on longer educational content.
Unpredictable Content
Algorithmic feeds serve random content. Even with "Not Interested" buttons, inappropriate videos slip through filters.
No Off Switch
YouTube provides no way to permanently disable Shorts. Browser extensions break, and settings reset. The only solution is a different app.
The Kivvie Solution
Shorts Don't Exist in Kivvie
This isn't a setting you toggle. There are no Shorts in Kivvie because we built a player that only shows full-length videos from your approved channel list. No workarounds needed—just peace of mind.
- Zero Shorts, Reels, or short-form content
- No algorithmic recommendations
- No autoplay to unrelated content
- Only full-length videos from approved channels
YouTube vs Kivvie
| Feature | YouTube / YT Kids | Kivvie |
|---|---|---|
| Shorts | Yes (can't disable) | None |
| Algorithmic Feed | Yes | None |
| Autoplay | Yes (hard to disable) | Disabled |
| Comments | Visible | Hidden |
| Content Source | Filtered library | Parent whitelist only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block YouTube Shorts with Kivvie?
Yes. Kivvie removes all Shorts, Reels, and short-form video content by default. This isn't a setting you toggle on—Shorts are architecturally absent from the app. Kivvie was built as a full-length video player that only shows content from channels you've explicitly approved. There is no way for Shorts to appear, even accidentally.
Why are YouTube Shorts harmful for kids?
Short-form videos use variable reward patterns—similar to slot machines—that can affect attention spans and create addictive viewing habits. Research shows children exposed to rapid-fire content may struggle to focus on longer-form educational material. The endless scroll mechanic of Shorts keeps kids watching passively for hours, cycling through algorithmically-served content that parents haven't reviewed. Kivvie eliminates this entirely by only showing full-length videos from parent-approved channels.
How is this different from YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids still shows Shorts and uses algorithmic recommendations to surface content. While YouTube Kids attempts to filter inappropriate content, it doesn't give parents true control over what appears. Kivvie shows zero Shorts, zero algorithmic recommendations, and zero auto-suggested content. Only the specific channels parents have whitelisted ever appear. This is a fundamentally different approach—curated by you, not by an algorithm.
Does Kivvie block Shorts on all devices?
Yes. Shorts are blocked across every platform Kivvie supports. The Android app is available now, and iOS is coming soon. The parent web dashboard at kivvie.app also has no Shorts functionality. Unlike browser extensions or YouTube settings that can break or reset, Kivvie's Shorts blocking is built into the core architecture and cannot be bypassed.
Can my kids still watch full-length videos?
Absolutely. Kivvie is built specifically for full-length video watching. Kids see the latest videos from every channel you've approved, displayed in a clean interface without distractions. There are no comments, no recommendations sidebar, and no autoplay to unrelated content. Just the videos you've chosen, from the creators you trust. Visit our support page to learn how to set up your first approved channels.
Why can't I just disable Shorts in the YouTube app?
YouTube does not provide a permanent way to disable Shorts. The Shorts tab and Shorts in the feed cannot be removed through YouTube's settings. Browser extensions that hide Shorts frequently break after YouTube updates, and restricted mode doesn't address Shorts at all. The only reliable solution is to use a different player entirely—one that was designed from the ground up without short-form content, like Kivvie.
Is Kivvie free?
Yes, Kivvie is completely free to use. There are no subscription fees, no premium tiers, and no ads shown to children. You get unlimited child profiles, unlimited channel approvals, and full Shorts-free viewing at no cost. Sign in with Google to get started in about 2 minutes.
Ready to block Shorts permanently?
Set up Kivvie in 2 minutes. No more doom-scrolling, no more fighting algorithms.
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