I've been using the app for a few months to gatekeep Twitter and Instagram, and my only real issue is that sometimes when those apps are linked to from other places, I just want to be able to quickly see it and then stop my doomscrolling. e.g. if my friend sends me a tweet, I want to be able to click the link, read the tweet, and then be immediately locked out of the app. With the current system, I click the link, have to do the whole 10s breathing exercise + quote, then read the tweet, and I still have a bit of time to mess around in the app before I'm locked out. So I actually end up spending more time distracted in those situations than I otherwise would.
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
#32Love the idea of interrupting the "dopamine loop" with a delay vs. simply tracking or restricting usage. I worked on creating a Chrome Extension several years ago for myself and I can't believe I didn't have this (in retrospect) obvious idea. I have a few concerns: * The UI feels somewhat unpolished for asking me to purchase an annual plan on signup. * I would prefer a free version that is fully featured for a short…
I can relate to this.
I created SuperFocus (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/superfocus-stop-sc...) with a similar idea. Dopamine loop is a big problem. I have tried site blockers / SuperFocus which is a feed blocker but there was something missing and have been looking for the magic solution. Just signed up for Clearspace and immediately felt this is it.
Planning to rewrite SuperFocus later this week to do the same on desktop as most of my time spent is on the desktop browser.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#33Really cool! I did try One Sec, but actually setting up the shortcut to divert is quite tedious, and it only works at the point of opening the restricted app.
I like the UI, just wondering if the 'Breathe' prompt will get old quite quickly. I created an app (https://www.lungy.app) that tries to make each breathing session feel very different, hopefully making it feel fresh each time - I wonder if more variation would work in this case too.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#34Love the idea of interrupting the "dopamine loop" with a delay vs. simply tracking or restricting usage. I worked on creating a Chrome Extension several years ago for myself and I can't believe I didn't have this (in retrospect) obvious idea. I have a few concerns: * The UI feels somewhat unpolished for asking me to purchase an annual plan on signup. * I would prefer a free version that is fully featured for a short…
- fair enough, for some users they reach us at a point of "I'm wholesale re-arranging my digital life RIGHT NOW" so they'd prefer to subscribe annually at signup and remove all barriers to better digital habits while they're in the mindset of habit change. will give this some thought.
- we've been thinking about experimenting with this model. I personally find it annoying forgetting to unsubscribe to things I only wanted to trial but I understand your use case.
- yes you can do this - quick demo here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W7gU6ZhlA-fiLx0T2j5h9A14rdc...
- hmm, you could alter your youtube session options so that your only options are 45 minutes or longer? this wouldn't explicitly prevent you from shorter sessions, but might cause you to think "wait I don't have 45 minutes right now - forget it". would be curious to hear if that works for you.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#35This is something I'll happily pay for. Love to see the freemium model. Can't wait for the Android version
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#36Great work! I think apps like this will be seen as pioneers in the age of getting back our attention.
From somebody else very interested in the topic, with a pending HN application for a startup app in the same space
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#37Really cool! I did try One Sec, but actually setting up the shortcut to divert is quite tedious, and it only works at the point of opening the restricted app. I like the UI, just wondering if the 'Breathe' prompt will get old quite quickly. I created an app ( https://www.lungy.app ) that tries to make each breathing session feel very different, hopefully making it feel fresh each time - I wonder if more variation wou…
This is INCREDIBLY cool. And yes - the breathe screen definitely does get old, but fortunately the friction continues to do its job.
Would you be interested in collabing?
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#38How would your company protect itself against Sherlocking? (when an OS adds features previously available as 3rd party apps) It seems like Google's Digital Wellbeing or the Apple equivalent could steal these features.
Ultimately, this wouldn't be the worst thing. We actually hope that a lot more attention will be paid this issue by the big players (from a personal and mission standpoint). That being said, we don’t actually think the best party to have helping you moderate your engagement with devices is the the one selling you the device.
They may implement some of the same features but will always have to do some internal calculus on providing a smooth user experience and mitigating over-engagement. Our main goal is to equip people to reclaim control over their relationship with their devices - we think this is * probably * best solved by a startup
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#39I’ve been using onesec[1] for a year now it’s been working great for me. Additionally works great on the browser I use.
Onesec uses the shortcut/automation on iOS to intercept app open and not the screen time api you mentioned. So it does take a little time for the initial setup, that’s the only friction I remember from a long time.
Just putting it out there.
I do like the additional social feature here. Would give it a try.
Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time
#40This is something I'll happily pay for. Love to see the freemium model. Can't wait for the Android version
Optimistically targeting end of this year, drop your email here and you'll be the first to know when we're live :)