Android users can now set up YouTube to remind them to take a break from watching videos

Back in the good old days, parents used to complain about their kids sitting and watching television for hours at a time instead of enjoying the sunshine and fresh air outdoors. Thanks to mobile technology, kids can now be outdoors and still watch a screen, albeit the smaller ones on their phones or tablets. And Google has decided to take over for the parents when they are not around thanks to its new "Digital Wellbeing" initiative introduced this past week at Google I/O. Some of these features will be part of Android P, while others will be found in some of Google's apps.

Once such app where this might be considered a necessity is YouTube. Kids and even adults have spent countless hours watching video after video after video. Unless you are binge watching PhoneArena reviews, the constant viewing of streaming video could rot your brain. How many times can you learn how Burger Chef failed, or watch Chris Chambliss' 1976 pennant winning homer for the Yankees, or even replay Ray Allen's miracle 3-pointer that helped LeBron win his second title with the Heat.

So right now, if you have an Android device, you can set up YouTube to remind you that there are other things in life besides watching streaming videos. Open the YouTube app and click on your image in the top right corner. Once that is done, go to Settings > General > Remind me to take a break. You will get to set the frequency of the reminders from "Never" to as long as 180 minutes (or 3 hours). There are various time options in between (see the screenshot at right). If you don't see this option on your version of YouTube right now, there is no need to panic. This feature has just started rolling out now and should be available for your phone very soon.

The big question is whether you will actually heed the warning on the screen. After all, how many times did you ignore your parents and continue to watch your favorite television shows all day?

source: AndroidGuys