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Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

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Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#12
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

after speaking to users, we figured out that what to replace with is best left to the user based on their choices. a lot of our users keep posting in our forums that they took up weight lifting, exercises, meditation etc. to distract them from their problematic behavior. as to studies, there is very little research on impact of porn. but, our users seem to be happy when they make progress and stay off porn for a long…

So that's a "no" to the question of whether there is any empirical evidence saying that this intervention has a positive effect. Got it. No evidence.

i mean, it's quite qualitative at this point. this is not well understood yet. hopefully, in the coming years, there will be more data on the same.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#13

What are you replacing porn with? Addiction or not, porn is a symptom of urban life, the tabooization of sex (paid or not) and the death of social clubs. Is there research that shows that such "blocking" interventions make people happier?

What does porn have to do with "urban life"? I also don't see a connection to social clubs. Could you elaborate on this?

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#15
Isn’t it like dieting? What I mean is that digital escapism is a symptom, not a problem. Before social media existed, people used to fill up their time with: 1) Having many children 2) Watching TV 3) Excessive alcohol use etc.

Media addiction is a manifestation of something, not the root cause.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#16
post #6

I'm very curious what's your marketing strategy going to be? I have a feeling word-of-mouth isn't gonna work very well

that's true - our space is inherently non viral. we have so far gotten users organically through play store and google search. we are experimenting with paid marketing channels for growth.

There are many organizations (worldwide) that deal with digital addictions; it might be worth reaching out to them as well, or getting known in those circles.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#17
post #6

I'm very curious what's your marketing strategy going to be? I have a feeling word-of-mouth isn't gonna work very well

that's true - our space is inherently non viral. we have so far gotten users organically through play store and google search. we are experimenting with paid marketing channels for growth.

> our space is inherently non viral

There are communities on the internet that are specifically for these issues. Light advertisement with the consent of various moderators would not be bad idea. /r/NoFap comes to mind specifically, but also various religious communities where the desire for NoFap extends more from religious obligations would still find this interesting, I imagine.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#18

Could a user download an app like reddit and watch porn through that app? What about x-rated images on Twitter, Instagram, 500px?

on android, adult content within social media apps will also be blocked. but, in iOS it's quite difficult, user will be able to access adult content on apps.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#19
This is really interesting. Glad to see a new solution.

I do wonder if there's a way to take constant screenshots of the screen, use a ML model to recognize any "porn" and then disable it.

It's a terrible idea but my mind immediately went to it.

Re: Launch HN: Atmana (YC S21) – An app to help cut down on compulsive porn usage

#20
I know this isn't your fault, but I dislike society's tendency of trying to band-aid things instead of solving the actual issue. People wouldn't be addicted to sex if the media wasn't shoving it down your throat 24/7. If I open Netflix now, I guarantee at least half of the recommended shows are about sexual relationships, if not porn/sex worker stories explicitly. You can't get away from it.
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