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Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

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Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#111

Post by madeofpalk »

wpietri wrote: post #104
aylmao wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lets be real though. Youtube binge-watching is not a matter of "forgetting" to take a break. We have clocks— we’ve all been there bingeing and thinking "uh, when the clock hits XX:00 I’ll stop watching" or "I’ll stop after two more videos", etc. Recommended videos are very good though, and always very accessible. There's always another great, tailored video auto-playing after the one we're in. A better effort IMO wou…

Sure. And that's an issue for the YouTube team, but not an issue for the Android team. It's perfectly possible to me that this happened not for cynical reasons, but mainly because the Android people were just doing something they thought good for the user, and nobody powerful was cynical enough to stop them just to juice short-term metrics for one product among many.

Yet the article is titled "Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive" and it was the Google CEO who announced this new effort.

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#112

Post by ghostcluster »

Qwertie wrote: post #63
ghostcluster wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I responded with apprehension and gave an example of a similar initiative that Nintendo has already shipped [0], which has been widely mocked, and I explained why these sorts of nagging notifications are a tricky balancing act (the product doesn't know the context of your use, but can only guess, and it is grating when it gets it wrong). [0] https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/997614-nintendo-3ds/747... https://www.…

It wasn't widely mocked. I have met numerous people who played Nintendo games with this warning and seeing some neckbeards on the threads you linked I had never seen anyone complain about it. Most people just take a break or don't play for extended times to even see the warning.

Only 'neckbeards' had a problem with it? That's simply not true, and the links I provided are full of people explaining why Nintendo's execution was flawed.

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#114

Post by paulddraper »

remir wrote: post #110
paulddraper wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Many things won’t have a bright line “ Agreed. Though how often have you found autoplay by default makes YouTube useful?

For multi-parts videos?

Multi-part videos exist? Just...why?

Youtube videos are up to 12 hours.

That's reminiscent of the good ol' VCR days.

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#115

Post by KirinDave »

gkop wrote: post #99
KirinDave wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, look I don't have data at google scale but my mobile scale info suggests people do not turn their phones off and they won't. You might say, "You should" and I'll say, "And if my family needs to get ahold of me for some emergency? Should I just ignore them calling about some emergency with my three year old daughter for dubious performative gestures?" As for 2, once can imagine a world where Google doesn't want…

Your response advances parent commenter’s point. Addicted people come up with excuses why they can’t stop. If you accept that you’re addicted and decide to end it, you will default to a 90s technology lifestyle and allow technology into your life exactly when you want it. Google’s business would be tremendously damaged if people actually broke the addiction, so they are making superficial product changes that keep us…

> If you accept that you’re addicted and decide to end it, you will default to a 90s technology lifestyle and allow technology into your life exactly when you want it.

This axiomatically assumes it's better or that a pejorative notion of "addiction" is bad. You raising this isn't some kind of brilliant metapoint, it's circular. "You disagree with them and therefore that proves the point!" Hrmm.

I think there are pros and cons to pervasive mobile use. For example: it's realistic for me to run an entirely remote software team. Everyone gets more time with their families, but we can all adequately respond when problems exist. Because of my ability to respond, I spend more time with my daughter than my family ever did, and even when I'm away I can be engaged with her in a way that she recognizes and appreciates. Again, no one else my family had this option in your pastoral 90s. I never saw my family; they were chained to work.

And in the 90s, my requirements for technology to support myself sequestered me from society. I can realistically do my job, take a lunch break and meet friends, and simply resume work wherever that ends. I could not do that before. I see mobile sturation as freedom from being cloistered by my career and interests.

So maybe, just maybe, there are arguments and experiences to consider beyond a feral distaste for google?

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#116

Post by ThomPete »

aylmao wrote: post #98
ThomPete wrote: post #62

Which just means that someone else will step in. People will move towards where they needs are met. People dont want the addiction but they want what they are addicted to and you can't just put the genie back in the bottle again. I view this is a political / strategic positioning to guard against legislation I don't see it having any real effect or being of any significance just as I don't consider addiction the faul…

> Which just means that someone else will step in. People will move towards where they needs are met. People dont want the addiction but they want what they are addicted to and you can't just put the genie back in the bottle again. You're not wrong, but this is more nuanced, because it's the moral scapegoat many use when addressing this issue. Someone at Youtube trying to optimize for watch time might be aware that m…

Aren't you repeating what I said or am I missing something?

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#117

Post by siempohn »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #5

I like all the 3 features mentioned, good they're coming. They really should have been something implementable as an app though. I guess I'll get to test them in 2 or 3 years. (Yeah, this is annoying - Android versions come out really fast, but their support in most phones lags couple of years, even if you just throw away your current one and go buy a flagship.)

Check out http://www.getsiempo.com - we built a launcher that incorporates this thinking throughout the UI. We'd love feedback on the beta!

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#118

Post by siempohn »

sloxy wrote: post #14

Having better default notifications on Android would be a start. Everything off(bar calls & messages) unless turned on by user. every app now wants to notify you about everything.. so every phone i get, i need to go in and turn off notifications for everything bar calls & text messages. Pity they don't sync your preferences when you get a new phone.

Try the Siempo launcher - only product that lets you batch notifications.

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#119

Post by TeMPOraL »

siempohn wrote: post #117
TeMPOraL wrote: post #5

I like all the 3 features mentioned, good they're coming. They really should have been something implementable as an app though. I guess I'll get to test them in 2 or 3 years. (Yeah, this is annoying - Android versions come out really fast, but their support in most phones lags couple of years, even if you just throw away your current one and go buy a flagship.)

Check out http://www.getsiempo.com - we built a launcher that incorporates this thinking throughout the UI. We'd love feedback on the beta!

Thanks! I will play with this.

Based on the website and the PlayStore video, I already love two of your ideas: unbranded icons and batching notifications. Not sure if the former might have much productivity or health impact, but it sure as hell makes the interface looks nicer.

EDIT: I saw a comment on PlayStore about opt-out telemetry in your product. Could you elaborate on exactly what kind of data you're sending? Or do I have to packet-trace it myself?

Re: Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive

#120

Post by wpietri »

madeofpalk wrote: post #111
wpietri wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. And that's an issue for the YouTube team, but not an issue for the Android team. It's perfectly possible to me that this happened not for cynical reasons, but mainly because the Android people were just doing something they thought good for the user, and nobody powerful was cynical enough to stop them just to juice short-term metrics for one product among many.

Yet the article is titled " Google's Plan to Make Tech Less Addictive" and it was the Google CEO who announced this new effort.

Yup. CEOs generally announce things that other people think up and build.
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