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Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

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Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#1

Post by adrianhacar »

I wanted to find a way to use Instagram without ending up scrolling for two hours every time I open the app to see a friend's story.

Most screen time apps I found focus on blocking the app itself instead of the addictive feed, so I created this app to allow me to keep using the "healthy" and "social" features and block the infinite scrolling (Reels)

After implementing the block on Instagram Reels, I got addicted to YouTube Shorts and Reddit feed. So, I extended the app to cover these as well.

To avoid replacing the scrolling for regular feeds, I also added a feature that shows a pop-up when I'm overscrolling in any app. It forces me to stop and think for a minute before I continue scrolling.

I built it on Android Studio, using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose for the UI. I use the Accessibility Service to detect scrolls and navigate out of them. Unfortunately, this only works for Android. There is no way (as far as I know) to do this on iOS.

I'd love to hear your thoughts

Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels
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Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#4

Post by benry1 »

lsd85 wrote: post #2

I just can't authorize an app to have full control on my phone if it's not open-source. What guarantee do I have that you are not selling all my user data?

I understand the position, but I think that's a silly concern here. This is an app that stops you from using social media features that absolutely farm every bit of data out of you they possibly can.

Feels a bit like being afraid to install a smart lock on your front door, so instead you leave it unlocked all the time.

Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#5

Post by _verandaguy »

benry1 wrote: post #4
lsd85 wrote: post #2

I just can't authorize an app to have full control on my phone if it's not open-source. What guarantee do I have that you are not selling all my user data?

I understand the position, but I think that's a silly concern here. This is an app that stops you from using social media features that absolutely farm every bit of data out of you they possibly can. Feels a bit like being afraid to install a smart lock on your front door, so instead you leave it unlocked all the time.

This is a bad take, as much as I don't use social media at this point, people need access to good tools to curb use, and in this case, "good" means "open."

Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#6

Post by NalNezumi »

I would love it.

I'm currently using DFInstagram, which removes home feed. Only downside I see is that is also removes Instagram stories which I do like to check, but I can do that from PC if I want.

As for YouTube I can already remove 99% of the distraction by just putting things to private and completely remove recommendations on home page, but reddit / Twitter / Facebook would be great.

For the social medias I'd love to just have "old mode" where I'm only ever shown stuff posted by people I explicitly follow. Everything went to total garbage when "engagement" became the goodhearts metric, and news feed either throw you astroturf, ads, and rage-bait posts by people I haven't even followed

[1] https://www.distractionfreeapps.com/

Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#8

Post by FireInsight »

lsd85 wrote: post #2

I just can't authorize an app to have full control on my phone if it's not open-source. What guarantee do I have that you are not selling all my user data?

DigiPaws has the headlining feature of the app advertised here, and is open source.

https://github.com/nethical6/digipaws

Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#9

Post by Jaxan »

benry1 wrote: post #4
lsd85 wrote: post #2

I just can't authorize an app to have full control on my phone if it's not open-source. What guarantee do I have that you are not selling all my user data?

I understand the position, but I think that's a silly concern here. This is an app that stops you from using social media features that absolutely farm every bit of data out of you they possibly can. Feels a bit like being afraid to install a smart lock on your front door, so instead you leave it unlocked all the time.

I am afraid to install smart locks. Too much goes wrong with software. I would install a regular lock instead.

Re: Show HN: I built an app to block Shorts and Reels

#10

Post by benry1 »

_verandaguy wrote: post #5
benry1 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand the position, but I think that's a silly concern here. This is an app that stops you from using social media features that absolutely farm every bit of data out of you they possibly can. Feels a bit like being afraid to install a smart lock on your front door, so instead you leave it unlocked all the time.

This is a bad take, as much as I don't use social media at this point, people need access to good tools to curb use, and in this case, "good" means "open."

Can you elaborate why? It sounds like we agree to me. People need access to good tools to curb use, and all else equal, open is definitely better than closed. I just am saying that I'd rather have an effective closed tool than no tool at all
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