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YouTube Addiction

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Re: YouTube Addiction

#241

Post by Dylan16807 »

shenbomo wrote: post #132
bobmichael wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can't willpower through it if it's a defense mechanism employed by your brain to hide underlying pain. Maybe it's time to try something new. Check out Gabor Maté: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=74DDEDmHDvw

The irony of it all is that the "help" to beat this addiction is another youtube link...

It's not very ironic to send that to someone that is claiming "internet addiction" rather than "youtube addiction".

Hell, they can burn it to an audio CD if they want.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#242

Post by phazy »

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.

This, so much!

I solved this problem on mobile with two approaches: 1. Use a content blocker (e.g. 1Blocker on iOS) to block CSS elements 2. Use an Invidious instance which has disabled the recommendations

Re: YouTube Addiction

#243

Post by Shoue »

criley2 wrote: post #188
jdthedisciple wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pro tip: uBlock origin - no ads for no cost :)

Pro pro tip: Creating content on the internet is not free and if a creator says you can watch their video in exchange for watching ads OR paying for premium, if you care about those creators you'll honor that request.

Depending on what type of video you're watching (pay depend on variables), your one view is probably worth a whopping $0.01. At that point you might be better off asking nicely for Patreon subs, considering about 0.5-2% of your followers convert to Patreon subs (and tiers usually start at or above $2), instead of annoying your viewers with horrible ads. Even creator-made shoutouts to products are more pleasant than the jarring built-in YouTube adverts, and that's before you consider that they're immediately skippable. And when you consider all the awful things advertisers are forcing YouTube to do in order to make the platform better for themselves and worse for users, it gets even more spicy.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#244

Post by dathinab »

I'm not sure YouTube addiction is the right term.

It's more like a media addiction.

YouTube is one offender here.

But "short" media is way more addictive(1) weather it's TickTock or YouTube shorts. (1: Easier flow to the next video, shorter attention loops, more randomness between hit and disappointment, etc.)

I don't know how scientific funded the "way more" part is, but from speaking with people and personal experience I would _guess_ the potential for addictive behaviour for short form video is not just slightly (a few %) but hugely larger (like 200%-1000%). Through the long-term binding potential might also be shorter, but then that doesn't mean it's not a problem as you likely would just bounce between short form video and other media in your addictive behaviour (e.g. longer form video).

Re: YouTube Addiction

#245

Post by pmg102 »

aimor wrote: post #237
BizarreByte wrote: post #107

I am seriously addicted to the internet in general and while it may not be an addiction in the physical sense, it has caused major issues in my life. The amount of time I spend on the Internet is insane and no matter how hard I try to will power through it and cut down my usage I always fail. If I ever figure out how to overcome it I'll have to write a book or something, because I've wasted years of my life and misse…

I've struggled with this, probably not to the extent you have, but enough that I recognize my decisions over the last two decades hurt myself mentally, socially, and career wise. I've tried to quit various things and of course eventually return to old habits (quitting does help though, I encourage everyone to at least try). The only method that really works for me is to have other constructive things I genuinely want…

"Just ONE MORE YouTube video, and then I will stop!"

Re: YouTube Addiction

#246

Post by the_only_law »

maksimur wrote: post #174
boredemployee wrote: post #119

I wonder if all the addiction related to internet (porn, gaming, surfing, you name it) has anything to do with our daily routine (aka work) that is so boring that we want an immediate and constant distraction

This is a problem (arguably more so) for unemployed people as well.

Yeah it’s been killing me lately. My sleep schedule is incredibly erratic too because I don’t have anything to do tomorrow, so why not stay up till 4am watching YouTube.

Unfortunately I have some confounding factors rn that make it all the wise.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#247

Post by the_only_law »

boredemployee wrote: post #119

I wonder if all the addiction related to internet (porn, gaming, surfing, you name it) has anything to do with our daily routine (aka work) that is so boring that we want an immediate and constant distraction

I mean if I had something interesting or fun to do that was remotely as accessible as YouTube I’d probably be more interested in that.

Unfortunately “interesting” stuff tends to be really inaccessible and COVID did a great job of killing off “fun” stuff, at least around me.

At the same time I get really complacent really fast if I’m in the same place for more than a few years and I think it’s about time for a “soft” reset again.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#248

Post by Dylan16807 »

aequitas wrote: post #173
vibrolax wrote: post #38

I occasionally watch "let's play" videos as a harm reduced alternative to actually playing games. A half hour spent watching someone play a game/sim totally relieves my FOMO. It also dissipates my urge to build a gaming PC. As a maker and musician, there's tons of inspiring and informative content on YT. I feel that I'm quite net positive on my use of YT to enrich my life.

If you want to make that even more efficient and entertaining you can also watch speedruns, AGDQ 2023 is on right now: https://www.youtube.com/@gamesdonequick/videos

Speedruns are bad at getting the normal feeling of a game across, and encourage watching multiple versions and attempts, and throwing a hundred speedruns together encourages a lot more watching than a trickle of half hour playthroughs as particularly interesting new games come out.

I think this suggestion does the opposite of help.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#249

Post by Dylan16807 »

criley2 wrote: post #188
jdthedisciple wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pro tip: uBlock origin - no ads for no cost :)

Pro pro tip: Creating content on the internet is not free and if a creator says you can watch their video in exchange for watching ads OR paying for premium, if you care about those creators you'll honor that request.

That deal is mostly forced by google, not the will of the creator.

Re: YouTube Addiction

#250

Post by dathinab »

BizarreByte wrote: post #107

I am seriously addicted to the internet in general and while it may not be an addiction in the physical sense, it has caused major issues in my life. The amount of time I spend on the Internet is insane and no matter how hard I try to will power through it and cut down my usage I always fail. If I ever figure out how to overcome it I'll have to write a book or something, because I've wasted years of my life and misse…

> I am seriously addicted to the internet in general and while it may not be an addiction in the physical sense, it has caused major issues in my life.

Interestingly it still can have physical effects. I have seen a case of an person who got addicted to web novels (like every day another short chapter; hit their quirky humor; not porn; clinically depressed). And that person showed effects of withdrawal in their interaction with that media in certain situations. Sure the effects where comparable harmless but still there anyway.

People (probably not you) are often prone to think that addictions to non-classical "drugs" which don't crate a physical/body dependence is mostly harmless not taking it serious at all, but it is not. In case of the person above there where cases where they where unable to function like a normal human sometimes for one or two days because their addiction had fully consumed them. (Through last time I have seen them they where doing better wrt. to this aspect.) Ironically that person had been aware that they where prone to addiction due to there mental health state and staid far away drugs, including smoking, porn and a strict ban on alcohol outside of social gatherings and even there close to never. And then the internet screwed them over.

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