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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

#131

Post by anteloper »

Multiplayer wrote: post #120
anteloper wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually a bit of a misnomer at the moment, we need to update our messaging - but you can in fact restrict any websites you want. To do it, open clearspace and tap one of the apps you've already set up. Then click the "websites" section. You'll be able to associate domains there, so whenever that app is unlocked, those websites will be as well. Otherwise they're restricted. Hope this helps! Literally just rol…

This isn't working for me on my macbook with the chrome extension. I've added cnn.com, nytimes.com, etc and I can still get to them on chrome with the extension. I've restarted my browser. Or am I misunderstanding that this is possible?

Yes those won't transfer to the chrome extension yet - they'll just apply locally to your phone. For whichever app you added them to, they'll be restricted when that app is restricted, and when you unlock that app via breathing exercise, those sites will become unlocked as well.

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#132

Post by mustacheemperor »

cocab17 wrote: post #129
mustacheemperor wrote: post #126

I'm a Clearspace user who found this app via a post on HN, and I can't thank the creators enough. I have not fully extracted myself from use of Reddit yet, but it's remarkable how effective this app was at breaking my cycle of opening, scrolling, closing, and reopening less than an hour later. I've tried other screentime management apps, but it seems like something about Clearspace's approach with the centering exerc…

^new favorite username

Haha thanks, first grabbed it on xbox live like 15 years ago and felt kind of like I won the lottery ever since

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#134

Post by anteloper »

moneywoes wrote: post #94

What’s the distinction between the IOS inbuilt feature that does this?

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 specifically: 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

#135

Post by anteloper »

wnolens wrote: post #112

Struggling with this right now and would pay immediately if it were available on Android. Keep it up!

Optimistically targeting end of this year, drop your email here and you'll be the first to know when we're live :)

https://www.getclearspace.com/#newsletter

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#136

Post by anteloper »

renewiltord wrote: post #28

My problem is that I use Chrome to check something reasonable and then find myself exiting this fugue state after I have made a dozen comments on various social media boards like HN or Reddit. When I've tried things that block browser before, they interrupt my normal work. That's frustrating so I disable them. Without sophistication I am never going to use a piece of software that just blocks apps. I hope your softwa…

Thanks for sharing. We think about this problem a lot - basically "how do we allow seamless access to the 'mission critical tool' while stopping the 'weapons grade distraction', because our digital environments have both.

We built a chrome extension that is available for premium users to that eliminates the distracting social feeds on sites, but keeps the useful parts of them. So you can still search and reply to messages on Linkedin, for example, you just won't see the feed. Our main focus is the iPhone app right now, so we haven't been loud about it as a part of our core offering but you may find it useful. Give it a shot here and see if it's helpful. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clearspace/geebjpi...

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#137

Post by renewiltord »

anteloper wrote: post #136
renewiltord wrote: post #28

My problem is that I use Chrome to check something reasonable and then find myself exiting this fugue state after I have made a dozen comments on various social media boards like HN or Reddit. When I've tried things that block browser before, they interrupt my normal work. That's frustrating so I disable them. Without sophistication I am never going to use a piece of software that just blocks apps. I hope your softwa…

Thanks for sharing. We think about this problem a lot - basically "how do we allow seamless access to the 'mission critical tool' while stopping the 'weapons grade distraction', because our digital environments have both. We built a chrome extension that is available for premium users to that eliminates the distracting social feeds on sites, but keeps the useful parts of them. So you can still search and reply to mes…

I installed your Chrome Extension and looked at Youtube. Very good idea!

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#138

Post by anteloper »

renewiltord wrote: post #137
anteloper wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for sharing. We think about this problem a lot - basically "how do we allow seamless access to the 'mission critical tool' while stopping the 'weapons grade distraction', because our digital environments have both. We built a chrome extension that is available for premium users to that eliminates the distracting social feeds on sites, but keeps the useful parts of them. So you can still search and reply to mes…

I installed your Chrome Extension and looked at Youtube. Very good idea!

awesome! love to hear that

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#139

Post by [deleted] »

542354234235 wrote: post #72
martingalex2 wrote: post #23

It is wholly interesting that such a tool is needed. We need a new generation motivated by self-control and at an early age be critical of how technology triggers dopamine responses. I would be interested in seeing clinical classification of app addictions as a real health issue that deserves treatment. The real answer is to put down the phone. We (in this industry) are all complicit in the creation and promulgation…

I would disagree. I don’t think it is on people to just be more “motivated by self-control”. I think it is an industry making a highly addictive product that needs to be properly regulated. Similar to regulating the tobacco industry in how much nicotine could be in cigarettes, the marketing to children, the restriction of the most addictive flavors, etc. The answer cannot just be “to put down the phone” the same as i…

[deleted]

Re: Launch HN: Clearspace (YC W23) – Cut back on screen time

#140

Post by fastball »

anteloper wrote: post #45
fastball wrote: post #31

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, ha…

love this callout, this is definitely on our roadmap. we refer to it internally as "one-tweet." basically - we'd love to be able to either 1. render that single tweet on the shield so you don't even have to enter the app to see it or 2. let you passively stack up all the links you get sent socially, like a reading list, so you can work through them all at once. will keep you posted on which way we go but definitely g…

Nice, glad to hear you're working on it. I think for the specific use-case I mentioned something like solution 1 would be better, since some of these things I want to reply to immediately so I need to consume immediately.
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