Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

gist.github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 51 posts

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#41

Post by TheCapeGreek »

CarlJW wrote: post #24

Great! The more solutions to filter unwanted content on the internet the better. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck having to use a particular platform because that's where the group chat is. I've had great success with Firefox and the Social Focus extension. Works on a number of different sites including YouTube, Reddit and Instagram. https://socialfocus.app/

Haven't checked on it since about mid last year but Facebook settings didn't work with it for me.

LinkedIn has also been especially hard to find a good blocker for to remove the sponsored/suggested posts from the timeline (it's just full of garbage engagement bait hot takes).

I just vibecoded a tampermonkey script to block scrolling on Instagram and also block reels. I also had it redirect from the `/reels/` URL to `/reel` which is just the single video view (for when friends link me memes), but it seems they removed that.

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#42

Post by TheCapeGreek »

Larrikin wrote: post #30
h4kunamata wrote: post #28

Instead of using apps, use Brave browser and you will think that Instagram is a comepletely new social media. I run PiHole + Unbound + OPNSense firewall at home, everything is filtered, plus Brave browser shield filter. I also run GrapheneOS so I banned myself from using apps and use the mobile version instead, duuuuude, Instagram is actually usable. To upload videos however, I must use its app, duuuuude, it is just…

Instead of promoting the Chrome ecosystem, you can just run Firefox with AdNauseum.

Firefox has lost the plot, Orion is close but still has the odd UI bug that makes it tough to recommend, Safari is just Safari.

There is no truly good, independent, feature complete browser out there right now if you want to avoid Chrome and have something that a) works and b) isn't hostile to the userbase.

Brave at the very least said they'd keep supporting Manifest v2 extensions, though not sure how you'd acquire them anymore unless Chrome web store has kept the listings up.

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#44

Post by CarlJW »

hsuduebc2 wrote: post #27
CarlJW wrote: post #24

Great! The more solutions to filter unwanted content on the internet the better. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck having to use a particular platform because that's where the group chat is. I've had great success with Firefox and the Social Focus extension. Works on a number of different sites including YouTube, Reddit and Instagram. https://socialfocus.app/

I would love have something like this on a phone but only solution which I thought of other than stop using the app is decompile whole app, remove the reels and recompile it again which is not very viable solution.

This works on Firefox Mobile. I use it on Android and my Desktop without any issue.

I'll add also, for the odd thing that this doesn't filter, then I use uBlock Origin to filter that particular element.

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#45

Post by CarlJW »

TheCapeGreek wrote: post #40
hsuduebc2 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love have something like this on a phone but only solution which I thought of other than stop using the app is decompile whole app, remove the reels and recompile it again which is not very viable solution.

I use ScreenZen for mobile - it can block specifically short form content so you can stick to the actual social parts.

I use timelimit.io for managing screen time. Nice granular controls and schedule based rules.

I apply the 80/20 rule. 8 minutes allowed, followed by 2 minutes blocked. Then at night I reverse it. 2 minutes allowed, 8 minutes blocked. Just enough time to make one search query and then get off my phone. Or if I do get trapped by something, it's only for a short time.

https://timelimit.io/en/

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#46

Post by CarlJW »

TheCapeGreek wrote: post #41
CarlJW wrote: post #24

Great! The more solutions to filter unwanted content on the internet the better. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck having to use a particular platform because that's where the group chat is. I've had great success with Firefox and the Social Focus extension. Works on a number of different sites including YouTube, Reddit and Instagram. https://socialfocus.app/

Haven't checked on it since about mid last year but Facebook settings didn't work with it for me. LinkedIn has also been especially hard to find a good blocker for to remove the sponsored/suggested posts from the timeline (it's just full of garbage engagement bait hot takes). I just vibecoded a tampermonkey script to block scrolling on Instagram and also block reels. I also had it redirect from the `/reels/` URL to `…

IGPlus worked much better for me on Instagram. https://weblxapplications.com/en/products/igplus

For facebook I love Facebook Purity. Only problem is it's desktop only. https://www.fbpurity.com/

Edit, some things I've been able to us ublock origin for. Like facebook reels. Not 100% clean but enough to stop them from working (no video, just still thumbnail when you open them). In some ways that provides some reinforcement learning to the brain.

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#47

Post by deafpolygon »

HelloUsername wrote: post #37
deafpolygon wrote: post #15

My solution is rather simple: don’t use Instagram.

> My solution is rather simple: don’t use Instagram. Then this post is not for you, why even comment

my response is not for you, why even reply

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#48

Post by Natfan »

CarlJW wrote: post #24

Great! The more solutions to filter unwanted content on the internet the better. Sometimes we find ourselves stuck having to use a particular platform because that's where the group chat is. I've had great success with Firefox and the Social Focus extension. Works on a number of different sites including YouTube, Reddit and Instagram. https://socialfocus.app/

if you're just using meta platforms for the chat functionality, may i recommend beeper.com?

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#49

Post by hsuduebc2 »

throawayonthe wrote: post #35
hsuduebc2 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love have something like this on a phone but only solution which I thought of other than stop using the app is decompile whole app, remove the reels and recompile it again which is not very viable solution.

not that i love this solution but that's exactly what the revanecd project does here are their available patches for instagram: https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.instagram.android

Thanks! Will try.

Re: Show HN: uBlock filter list to blur all Instagram Reels

#50

Post by hbn »

CincinnatiMan wrote: post #21
hbn wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still get a chronological feed if you tap the Instagram logo at the top and click "Following" But you can't turn that mode on as a default, and it essentially kicks you from the normal app hierarchy into a separate barebones screen. I find it's all for naught anyway because my friends have long since stopped making regular posts on Instagram, it's more common to use stories.

Do Stories show up differently than posts? Asking as someone that has not used Instagram beyond looking at a few specific profiles.

Stories are the purpley-yellow rings at the top of the main page with people's profile pictures. Or if you go to their profile you'll see the ring around their profile picture. Stuff you post there stays viewable for 24 hours.

Posts are the stuff that appears in the main feed and your profile permanently (unless you remove it manually)

You can also get into the difference between posts are reels but... they've kinda fuzzied that over the years.

Post reply on HN