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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

#41

Post by qualeed »

root_axis wrote: post #15

More power to you, but I don't understand the psychology of this kind of thing. If I have enough willpower to block a feature why not just use that will power to shut off the app after a while? I understand you're saying it's addictive, but if I were addicted to something then I'm going to be inclined to just remove the blocker. Anyway, this isn't a critique of your work, just my personal perspective.

I've always figured that this type of thing is best used to stop you from getting addicted, not to stop an already-formed addiction. Or on the flip-side, when you've mostly overcome an addiction but need a helping hand to prevent relapse.

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

#42

Post by root_axis »

bobson381 wrote: post #19
root_axis wrote: post #15

More power to you, but I don't understand the psychology of this kind of thing. If I have enough willpower to block a feature why not just use that will power to shut off the app after a while? I understand you're saying it's addictive, but if I were addicted to something then I'm going to be inclined to just remove the blocker. Anyway, this isn't a critique of your work, just my personal perspective.

this is like putting a wall in front of, or just beyond the edge of, the slippery slope. the need to make an intentional choice or pause before doing the "getting stuck scrolling" behavior is an opportunity for you to catch yourself and see if that's what you really want. the platform is designed to capitalize on your slip ups in willpower. you can have great impulse control, but can you have it tirelessly, around th…

I guess my willpower just manifests itself in a different manner. If I lack the impulse control to prevent myself from opening up an app, it seems odd to me to start blocking particular features in the app to manage that impulse.

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

#43

Post by mikeyouse »

BoostandEthanol wrote: post #20
root_axis wrote: post #15

More power to you, but I don't understand the psychology of this kind of thing. If I have enough willpower to block a feature why not just use that will power to shut off the app after a while? I understand you're saying it's addictive, but if I were addicted to something then I'm going to be inclined to just remove the blocker. Anyway, this isn't a critique of your work, just my personal perspective.

Been using YouTube recommendation blockers for a while. Personally I’ve never gone, “oh man I could go for some binge watching!” as much as something piques my interest and I get drawn down video after video of nothing. So removing any sort of advert for a video means it never even crosses my mind to turn off the blocker.

I couldn’t believe how pervasive their recommendations are. We’ve got a little one and he recently developed a plane obsession so I try and watch a few YouTube videos of float planes or biplanes before bed when he’s restless and demanding ‘vrrooom’. You literally can’t use shorts to do it (which they make nearly Impossible to avoid by putting them at the top of the search results and then interspersing them with the normal videos) because after 3 or 4 plane videos they start playing some maga bro science diet video or some AI voiceover video game trash.

I can’t believe how little moral responsibility the employees and management at these companies feel.

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

#44

Post by bryanhogan »

For Instagram I've been using DFinstagram on my Android which removes most features, except chatting and viewing profiles. Also using Firefox with the IGPlus extension which blocks reels. But these make Instagram not feel as smooth or misses some features related to chatting, wish something that has this but still blocks algorithmic suggestions and ads existed.

For YouTube Revanced is very nice, but I also just removed my account, which helped me decrease the amount I spend on YouTube.

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

#47

Post by LPisGood »

notarobot123 wrote: post #24
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?

What guarantees do you have that open source code faithfully reflects what is in the compiled binary?

It’s easier for security researchers to check

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

#48

Post by bluGill »

XorNot wrote: post #31
dkdcio wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can turn off your watch history and YouTube becomes a lot better

No that definitely makes it worse IMO. The insight into what people really trend on YouTube is one I do not want to see.

Turning off watch history also turns off trending of what other people watch.

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

#50

Post by anticrymactic »

widforss wrote: post #13
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.

I got locked into my (100+ y/o) house due to a smart lock soon after purchase. It got promptly removed. I'd much rather leave the door unlocked.

A lot of discussion is about the security of these devices (resistance to false open states). But most of the time the safety (false closed states) has even higher stakes associated to it. Having to wait because some api server is slow is annoying but can quickly become life threatening in a different context. Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure is (imo) often overlooked and probably just as important as the actual implemented security.
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