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Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

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71–80 of 82 posts

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#71
Most of the notifications are not necessary. It just gives you bad habits and distract you. The addiction you describe is partly created by getting used of all these small notifications sounds that excite you and give you the habit of checking all your accounts in a terrific infinite loop.

When you think about it, it is not human, you have far more things to do than being distract by these little sounds. Most of the applications makes possible to set precisely when you want to be notified or not. Don't worry, even with notifications, you will still be distracted by your kids, cat, neighbors, flying birds and dust.

I don't think the browser extensions are a solution to this. You have to learn to control it by yourself.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#72

Honestly, the easiest way for me is to just use a "dumb" phone. I switched to an old Nokia and love it. I also use the SMS search engine Text Engine ( http://www.textengine.info/ ) if I ever need to look up an address or directions. I definitely feel more productive, and most importantly present in my daily life. Curious to hear if others have had success with other methods or if anyone else has tried going back to a…

Do you miss being able to use the phone for distraction, say for example when stuck in line at the bank? That is why I'm always sneaking a peak at twitter or facebook. Also as lame as it is, I worry about not keeping up with the Joneses on social media and being seen as irrelevant because I don't have an online "presence." I applied for a job via HN a few weeks ago that wanted links to my facebook and twitter account…

I do miss it sometimes, but after that initial FOMO the urge quickly disappears. For me, it helps to know that i'm simply unable to endlessly scroll through Twitter or whatever else. I do still use social media while on my computer and like the intentionality that I now use my computer with.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#73
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kid of phone do you own?

I have a Samsung E-2600. Brilliant phone. The battery lasts for at least two weeks with moderate use and also it's light and compact. I have to admit, every time I see someone pulling out a behemoth with an 5.5" screen to talk puts a smirk on my face. The model is currently obsolete so I guess anyone interested will go for the next in line.

That's awesome. I had a similar one back in the day. Yeah, the phablet trend is a bit silly, but I guess to each his own, right? What would your ideal feature phone be if you could redesign it?

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#74

I'm embarking on a Slow Information Diet modeled after Tim Ferris' Slow Carb Diet. Six days a week, no Twitter, no Facebook, etc. On cheat day (for me, my slow carb diet cheat day and slow information diet cheat days are the same, Friday) I get to read and consume and binge all I want. Because Slow Carb really resonates we me, this concept does to and has worked out well. YMMV of course.

Did you make up the Slow Information Diet yourself, or did you read about it somewhere? I want to emulate it so was curious if there was more written up about it somewhere. Thanks!

Tim Ferriss discussed the idea in the Four-Hour Workweek and on his blog here [1]

[1]. http://fourhourworkweek.com/category/low-information-diet-an...

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#75
post #12

This article has an interesting approach -- the author cut FB cold turkey for 2 weeks, but was able to return and be a more responsible, casual user: http://time.com/3093332/5-things-i-learned-when-i-quit-faceb...

I quit facebook cold turkey every 2-3 months. Slowly it seems to creap back into my life. I noticed I was replacing addictions...apparently this is common.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#76
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Samsung E-2600. Brilliant phone. The battery lasts for at least two weeks with moderate use and also it's light and compact. I have to admit, every time I see someone pulling out a behemoth with an 5.5" screen to talk puts a smirk on my face. The model is currently obsolete so I guess anyone interested will go for the next in line.

That's awesome. I had a similar one back in the day. Yeah, the phablet trend is a bit silly, but I guess to each his own, right? What would your ideal feature phone be if you could redesign it?

I consider the one I own as ideal, so I guess I'd go for that or the next in line, which is probably a Samsung C3750. My needs are quite basic. It has to be light and compact with long battery life and that's all :)

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#77

Honestly, the easiest way for me is to just use a "dumb" phone. I switched to an old Nokia and love it. I also use the SMS search engine Text Engine ( http://www.textengine.info/ ) if I ever need to look up an address or directions. I definitely feel more productive, and most importantly present in my daily life. Curious to hear if others have had success with other methods or if anyone else has tried going back to a…

Do you miss being able to use the phone for distraction, say for example when stuck in line at the bank? That is why I'm always sneaking a peak at twitter or facebook. Also as lame as it is, I worry about not keeping up with the Joneses on social media and being seen as irrelevant because I don't have an online "presence." I applied for a job via HN a few weeks ago that wanted links to my facebook and twitter account…

Can you name and shame the company that wanted your Facebook and Twitter account? That's absurd.

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#78

I uninstalled a bunch of apps and put a domain blocker on chrome. I can get past all of that if I need to, but the extra 5 seconds of work needed to get to 'social' gives me some time to catch myself.

What domain blocker is there available on chrome for mobile?

not sure, i'm an ios guy

Re: Ask HN: How do you manage Facebook/Whats App/Twitter/Email/Etc addiction?

#80
I edit /etc/hosts, and block these sites, Ive been doing this for months with facebook and don't have urges to begin typing "face..." in my url bar anymore.

I really recommend it.

I think a bit part of it for me, was finding another site that interested me enough to not have me thinking "man, I wonder what is saying.

Hope this helps :)

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