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YouTube Addiction

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Re: YouTube Addiction

#11

Post by omgmajk »

juujian wrote: post #5

I have to be honest, whenever I get busy and do not watch any video for a couple of days, and then I get back to youtube, I am somewhat disappointed by the content. And recently the algorithm has been really insistent on having me watch certain videos. I just open the page and see a couple of videos I did not want to watch the last time around.

I also think the algorithm has become worse. It recommends that I watch a lot of stuff that I don't want to see and buries channels that I subscribe to and watch every video of.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#12

Post by lettergram »

I've seen this happen to A LOT of people, particularly with TikTok. What's worse is the algorithms are effectively there to (a) keep you watching and (b) manipulate you (in some cases - i.e. increase addictive tenancies, change mood (see facebook studies on this), etc)

That said, I have seen this cycle both spiral (as in this case) and be broken before. I've also helped a cousin who had this issue.

IMO and this is going to sound harsh, but bare with me -- the problem isn't YouTube, TikTok, etc the issue is you. If you have this "addiction" it's because you're enabled. For instance, I cannot just decide to watch 8 hrs of youtube videos a day, I have to wake up & let the dog out, feed the family, go to work, take the kids to sports classes, spend time with my wife, etc. At the end of the day, I have maybe an hour I could listen to something as I'm doing some maintenance on the house before bed. I'm happy, busy and have purpose. If you have responsibilities you'll be happier -- period. Yes, sometimes it'll suck, it is work after all (I had to clean up my dogs diarrhea the other day -- blah); but the process is rewarding. You can see what you've accomplished, people will care about you and you'll be happier.

Few thoughts on how this can be broken (and how I've seen it done)

1. Uninstall all your social media apps

2. Get an extension on your browser to block social media

3. In an extreme case, change your password to non-sense you don't know and to an email you create on the fly and don't know.

4. Get a pet

5. Make a list of objectives (small to large); make a plan to execute. You can fail, over and over again, but if you work towards them you'll eventually get there.

6. Go outside for a 30-60 min walk every day and force yourself to leave your phone. Cold or hot, doesn't matter. Remember, your ancestors lived outside 24/7, even 100 years ago, there was no AC.

7. Join communities -- could just be people at the gym, a church / w.e., archery club, it doesn't matter, just get social connections

8. Clean your house and room at least once a week and make your bed every day. Discipline is key and once you have a clean house for a while, you'll want to keep it clean.

9. Go to the gym every day if you can. Pick the closest one and just go every day for an hour. Use the machines as they're less likely to hurt you and you don't need any training. Build up to free weights (or if you know how to use them, go for it).

10. Eat healthy -- meat, veg, fruit.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#13

Post by jjj123 »

everdrive wrote: post #6

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 addictio…

> so all we can do is learn to recognize it, and learn how to it responsibly

Or we can regulate it.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#14

Post by breadchris »

suzumer wrote: post #8

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.

i can’t believe how effective this has been for me. I’ve noticed that instead of being continually “interested” in youtube and going down the rabbit hole constantly, i actually get bored of youtube pretty quickly once i have watched all the content my subscriptions have put out. i still spend way too much time on my phone, but i guess i need to have the phone equivalent

Re: YouTube Addiction

#15

Post by sillysaurusx »

knaik94 wrote: post #10

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 ignor…

Hi fellow addict! https://imgur.com/a/TaaKY87

Mine is Star Trek.

It’s not so much an escape as a habit, for me. I started young. When I was 13 or so, I was watching voyager while hacking on game engines. Then I never really stopped.

Nowadays it’s a mix of anime (hello berserk https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD85eRe7NELF7EFIl4YMQOxFw...) and trek. Also gothamchess.

Like you, I don’t see anything wrong with it. Wish I was addicted to books instead, but as far as addictions go, I’d rather it be this than smoking.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#16

Post by sillysaurusx »

lettergram wrote: post #12

I've seen this happen to A LOT of people, particularly with TikTok. What's worse is the algorithms are effectively there to (a) keep you watching and (b) manipulate you (in some cases - i.e. increase addictive tenancies, change mood (see facebook studies on this), etc) That said, I have seen this cycle both spiral (as in this case) and be broken before. I've also helped a cousin who had this issue. IMO and this is go…

TikTok is amazing. You can rip it from my cold dead iPad. :)

My pet Pip! https://imgur.com/a/vAFOZHd

Also, HN is just as much social media as any other. How often do you glance at your karma the moment the site loads?

(Didn’t downvote though.)

Re: YouTube Addiction

#17

Post by ClassyJacket »

This is going to sound sad but I'm aiming to hopefully have a YouTube addiction. I had a severe reddit addiction for many years which wasted the best years of my life, that I recently replaced with a TikTok addiction (reddit banned me anyway). Now I'm trying to step up and wean myself onto longer form video content instead. That's how deep I've gotten myself into this... self-induced ADHD spiral. I can barely even play videogames for more than 20 minutes at a time anymore.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#19

Post by danuker »

breadchris wrote: post #14
suzumer wrote: post #8

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.

i can’t believe how effective this has been for me. I’ve noticed that instead of being continually “interested” in youtube and going down the rabbit hole constantly, i actually get bored of youtube pretty quickly once i have watched all the content my subscriptions have put out. i still spend way too much time on my phone, but i guess i need to have the phone equivalent

In NewPipe, you can customize the main page and disable recommendations (from "Content").

But of course Google won't let it on the Play Store. Here it is:

https://newpipe.net/

Re: YouTube Addiction

#20

Post by lettergram »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #16
lettergram wrote: post #12

I've seen this happen to A LOT of people, particularly with TikTok. What's worse is the algorithms are effectively there to (a) keep you watching and (b) manipulate you (in some cases - i.e. increase addictive tenancies, change mood (see facebook studies on this), etc) That said, I have seen this cycle both spiral (as in this case) and be broken before. I've also helped a cousin who had this issue. IMO and this is go…

TikTok is amazing. You can rip it from my cold dead iPad. :) My pet Pip! https://imgur.com/a/vAFOZHd Also, HN is just as much social media as any other. How often do you glance at your karma the moment the site loads? (Didn’t downvote though.)

I never comment for the karma, nor do I really look at the karma. You can look at my history lol I think it’ll highlight my sentiment about karma.

I’m also not saying this stuff is explicitly bad. I’m simply pointing out I know multiple people with this issue described (hrs and hrs on social media), and provided a path how I’ve seen people successfully overcome it.

Regarding Tiktok, it definitely is interesting in a few ways, but it’s not an overly difficult algorithm. It’s data collection and format. I think it’s mostly the UX/UI focus that makes it different from any of the other apps. Imo it’s less information dense to end users and more addiction focused. My favorite tid-bit is that they know when you’re about to drop off usage so they’ll send you highly ranked content in a notification. Basically, this results in doom scrolling right before sleep.

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