YouTube Addiction

I am sort of also addicted to YouTube, I don't watch as much as this person every day but on days that I'm off I easily do. Almost all educational content (science, programming, new tech), tech news or essays of various kinds.

I agree with you on all fronts. This issue isn't just with YouTube the numbing down of the mind via digital stimulation has taken a toll on a lot of people. I myself am struggling with the same. I can relate to how easy it is to slip back to the old ritual of consuming endless hours of video content which doesn't even make you feel good.

I thing the key is to consume in moderation. Just like we take care of our body by exercising and limiting junk food, we need to meditate and be aware of our digital media consumption. Someone people don't have this problem but like you and me there are people who are struggling with this problem.

It seems like all ad (and tracking) supported companies know how to do is optimize for engagement, which effectively means becoming addictive. This business model is too easy and too profitable to ever go away, so all we can do is learn to recognize it, and learn how to it responsibly. Like other addictions, sometimes this means restricting, and sometimes this means wholly abstaining.

On the topic of Youtube addiction specifically, "letsblock.it" has some Youtube-specific filters which can be placed in uBlock Origin and help cut down on Youtube's addictiveness:

Hide Youtube shorts: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-shorts

Hide Youtube recommendations: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-recommendations

Hide Youtube videos you've already watched: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-watched

I used to be addicted to youtube, and the most effective method I found to limiting my consumption was using an extension called Unhook. It removes all recommendations and the shorts and trending tabs, so the only videos I can watch are those from channels I'm subscribed to, or videos that I search for.

This is a very dramatic framing. A much more resonable explanation is that YouTube was being used as an escape. 10K Subs is an accomplishment, a real community. The less talked about half of parasocial relationships is the one that goes the other way, where people feel validation from the likes and views they get. Generally, taking a break from an escape means you face the real issues you have been avoiding and ignoring using YouTube. At the same time, I think it's great the author is reflecting and take actionable steps to working on themselves. Stepping away or slowing down is a tough decision once you reach the size this author has.

I have higher weekly hours, in the Youtube app on your phone, you can see weekly view stats. On wednesday my stats say 15 hours. I have ADHD and I leave YouTube running in the background while I work and when I sleep. I know for a fact that 5+ hour on wednesday was "10 Hours of Hotel AC White Noise (High power setting)". 80% of the time it's on in the background, either figuratively or literally white noise.

Taking a break is always beneficial, but I think this might be a situation where an escape becomes unhealthy and makes the situation worse but isn't the underlying cause. I strongly dislike the trend of using the word addiction to describe a bad or unhealthy habit. Unless watching YouTube held you back from performing other life function or you feel physical or mental withdrawal symptoms, I'd hestitate from using that word. Not just a craving, but also some sort of anxiety from being away or cancelling plans with friends or being late to work. People are fulltime Youtubers, being a creator can be everything from a hobby to a profession.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdhL-XuKLY&t=17668s