Been using this for the past couple of weeks; reduced my instagram usage time by over 80%. Loving the approach you took for this!
Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
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Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#12Why/how is your app better than setting native screen time limits in iOS? Doesn’t that accomplish the same thing (except tapping numbers rather than seeing a quote). (All that said, glad you’re poking at this issue!)
a few ways! but the most succinct answer is that with clearspace, no learned behavior path can become a compulsive habit for quickly getting more scrolling. every configuration of screen time limits we've tried has ended with us learning the quickest behavioral path to more scrolling (ie: quickly tapping "5 more minutes", entering passcode, etc).
more tactically:
1. we hit you with friction every time you enter an app you want to moderate your engagement with. with screen time limits, as long as you're under your budget, you'll get through no problem. in time this means you learn that early in the day is the best time to use social apps. we think this is a second order failure.
2. we let you stack your progress over time with your streak, which seems to be a far better behavioral motivator for staying in line with your goals.
3. we report usage for the apps you actually care about moderating. (I basically ignore my native screen time report, because "being up 25% this week" might mean I went on a long drive and was using maps to navigate, or that I doom-scrolled in bed until 3am.) we try to report data you actually care about (there's a ton we still need to do on this front, but we're getting better at it)
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#13How does Clearspace differentiate itself from One Sec, which has existed in this space for almost two years (if not longer)? I’m particularly interested in: - Is Clearspace cheaper over time? - Does Clearspace work on websites as well as apps? - Does Clearspace require manual Shortcuts setup like One Sec does? - Are there features here that I don’t know I want?
great question. a few ways
1. no, we're more expensive (at least last I checked they were 3.99/mon we're 6.99/mon or 44.99/yr)
2. yes we just rolled out website support this week.
3. no manual shortcut setup. just one click to add an app you want to moderate. (for websites you can go to an app you've added and just type in which web domains should apply to that app.)
4. yes, probably! we can pull you out of app sessions, which I personally find to be a game-changer. friction on the way in is great, but I tend to get lost in suggested content once I'm actually in an app. I need to be ripped out after a few minutes, and we do that. also adding "teammates" to receive automated texts when I'm slipping up has been very helpful for me personally.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#14Been using this for the past couple of weeks; reduced my instagram usage time by over 80%. Loving the approach you took for this!
thank you! these anecdotes are literally what get us out of bed in the morning
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#15The nag/friction that happens every time I try to open the app when I'm under buddget on this has cut down my doomscrolling so much. Really a fan of this approach - Twitter usage is down probably 95%. General stoke on this is really high!
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#16Do the usage limitation controls also apply to Safari and other mobile browsers?
I.e. if I add the Facebook app to clearspace, can I also add friction to using Facebook.com? This looks great by the way
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#17Serious question: are we sure we get a dopamine reward/thing when we do this? Has this been proven?
Not saying this "addiction" does not exist. I like some "drugs" and smoke and my phone is by far the worst and hardest to manage/quit.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#18Do the usage limitation controls also apply to Safari and other mobile browsers? I.e. if I add the Facebook app to clearspace, can I also add friction to using Facebook.com? This looks great by the way
When I had it block the Twitter mobile app, it also blocked twitter.com - I assume the same thing will happen if you block Facebook. The founders have mentioned they're adding support for blocking specific websites soon.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#19Serious question: are we sure we get a dopamine reward/thing when we do this? Has this been proven? Not saying this "addiction" does not exist. I like some "drugs" and smoke and my phone is by far the worst and hardest to manage/quit.
No, it's modern day bloodletting. Dopamine is involved in almost everything and that's why this weird metaphor of 'dopamine fasting' blaming it for random things became popular, however there is no scientific basis for it. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dopamine-fasting-misunde...)
It's not an addiction in any serious sense of the term and it's arguably misleading and disempowering people. Not every habit change needs to be framed as addiction battling.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#20Do the usage limitation controls also apply to Safari and other mobile browsers? I.e. if I add the Facebook app to clearspace, can I also add friction to using Facebook.com? This looks great by the way
yes - you can. this works "out of the box" for safari (ie - if you add facebook, you'll have to go through friction to reach facebook.com on safari without doing anything else.)
we just added support for chrome and other browsers by allowing you to associate domains with apps you've added. so associating facebok.com with your facebook app applies that same friction regardless of browser now.