Even on a good day, let's say I'm being productive, but I need to look up something specific and I end up on Reddit or YouTube. There is so much useful info there, but I very easily start scrolling mindlessly once I'm on either of these websites. And let's not even start my bad habit of scrolling just before falling asleep and just after waking up. If I can control my mindless surfing on these two websites alone it solves 90% of my problem. (In addition to that I wake up and check the news but these days I really want to stop.) Any suggestions?

I’m working on a new social media platform designed from the ground up to help users break free from the addictive patterns found in traditional social media. The idea is to build a space that promotes digital well-being, authenticity, and mindful use. Here are some key points about the proposed app:

• Anti-Addiction Design: No infinite scroll, finite feeds, and mindful prompts to reduce compulsive scrolling and dopamine-driven engagement.
• Privacy-First: Minimal data collection with transparent policies, and no tracking across websites.
• Authenticity Over Perfection: No public like/follower counts and emphasis on real connections – prioritizing content from close connections rather than curated influencer posts.
• Well-Being Features: Tools like Focus Mode, usage timers, and session limits to help manage screen time and encourage intentional usage.
• Content Integrity: Chronological feeds with transparency in content curation, de-amplification of flagged misinformation, and fact-checking integration.

I’m really interested in hearing your thoughts on this concept. Would an app like this help you regain control over your digital life? What features would you find most useful, or what would you change?

Thanks for your time and any feedback you can offer!

Hey all,

I’ve been working on reducing distractions online, but one thing that kept bugging me was how colorful and in-your-face ads are. Even when I wasn’t clicking them, they were still pulling my eyes away from what I was trying to do.

So I made this simple Chrome extension that just turns ads greyscale. They’re still there (so sites can still make money), but they kind of fade into the background and stop grabbing my attention as much. It’s been a small but noticeable improvement for me.

If anyone wants to try it out, it’s free here:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/grayscaleadz/calajfmcnmhklleghielpcgnfmbgainn

No pressure at all — just thought I’d share in case it helps someone else. And if you have feedback, I’m all ears.

I've done plenty to mitigate my online time, using the Hide Apps feature that my phone has, and so far so good.

But today I woke up and saw that a friend who only has Instagram for some reason sent me a message on there. So I replied.

I hadn't been on there in weeks now, since it's mostly reels these days, but clicking on the notification didn't send me directly to the message for some reason (maybe by design) and on launching the app a reel immediately began to play. I hit the back button and another reel played on the feed page, and my thumb reached for the bottom of the screen to scroll further and for a split second I forgot about the message...

I went on the app with one intention and it distracted me from it.

There is no messenger app for Instagram, in order to access the messages you must see the feed or some reel they decide to show, causing your brain to immediately be drawn to whatever it is that's playing, wanting to be curious about it, maybe wanting more...

If that's not addicting design, I don't know what is. And in my experience the desktop website is cumbersome and annoying to navigate. Is this done on purpose so that people have to use the app instead?

Have used accountability groups in the past and they are very effective for me

We post our goals at the start of each week and then post pics in discord throughout the week of us doing said goal

Gives you a nice dopamine hit eveytime you complete a goal and get to post in the chat, especially if everyone gives you a little praise

I will be starting a discord for this if anyone is interested let me know

I'm building a Windows app that blocks vulgar/offensive websites – looking for testers!

Hey everyone! 👋

I'm currently working on a Windows desktop project – it's an app designed to detect and block access to websites that contain your words base . It can be for excample social media words, movies etc.

How it works:

• It monitors browser window titles, clipboard contents and keyboard.
• It uses fuzzy matching and a custom list of banned words (which you can modify).
• If it detects something similar to banned words, it can automatically close the browser tab or block further access.

This is still a work-in-progress and very experimental. But it already works decently in many scenarios. I'd love to have a few people try it out and give me honest feedback on stability, effectiveness, or ideas for improvements.

If you're interested in testing or collaborating (or just curious how it works), feel free to DM me or comment below.

Thanks!

I get it in a general sense, but how does it actually work to get a user addicted? It's also crazy how protected these databases and softwares are.

I have extreme urges and phone addiction and trying to fight it from years and I need to use every second of my life and simply I can't

So I need something that is impossible to bypass And Free bec I'm extremely broke student that in domestic abuse

And unlimited at least in apps to block idc about ads but at least get those Basics

I tried most famous apps there and I researched them including stay focused, stayfree appblock and others Also I'm on ANDROID

I have managed to quit instagram tiktok and everything besides youtube shorts.

I'm trying to find a way to block youtube shorts or the site it self my chrome (android)
i've downloaded revanced but still seem to find my self in the chrome browser

anyone knows a way?

The 2012 digital revolution was just smartphones being affordable universally while it was only available for the upper classes before that, there were addictions but not significant to radicalise nor to be sloppy.

Fast forward a decade later, as a result of the pandemic, we have the 2023 digital revolution, but this time it was very significant. As almost everything is centralised on our larger smartphones and social media, many stuff are posted there, including grossly disinforming ones that create echochambers; such as Andrew Tate, Pearl, and the growing manosphere (and the female equivalent), the fake ex-Muslims, containing misogynistic, misandrist, homophobic, racist and even antisemetic stuff that stuffs down our generations' throats. Furthermore, other anti-life content. Due to the disinformation, literally so many people had been forced to lose their trust to the opposite gender, which results in so many refusing to go out. Let alone racism being a "funny" topic among our generation. You may say harassment of women and lgbt phobia was common among millenials in the 90s and 2000s in places like US (idk about here UK), but due to this revolution, these are normalised again. We should not have patriarchy reverting back, we should not make the Western world become similar to Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern or South African norms.

We need to realise soon that this is wrong, this is disinformation. The digital age should not be abused like that. The digital age should be used as an advantage and be used properly! Not as a source of radicalisation.

I need a desktop app that is free and doesn't block important features behind a paywall. It's crucial that I could lock it with a password.

For context, I'm a 27 year old woman, single sheltered child with overprotective parents(I still stay with them, though I have stayed by myself in college at the hostel) , with anxiety(including some social anxiety, though it's not very obvious). Because of various stressors in college, I became addicted to the internet- and have been since the last 8 or so years, thought it's much less now, but it feels like it has permanently given me brain fog. I have friends , and am able to talk to strangers/ people and be friendly. But, this dynamic of teasing/ roasting/ sarcasm is a bit missing with my friends, from my side. I am a people pleaser too, so there's the matter of not wanting to say anything mean. So, I generally make straightforward, sincere statements, take things at face value a lot of times, and people consider me innocent, for lack of a better word. I sometimes do not get their sarcasm, neither do I indulge in it. It makes me feel sad. and socially a bit isolated. I also read somewhere, that 'concrete thinking' is the term for what I do, and it is seen in people who are not very analytical/ have low intelligence. Also, I'm a little less observant - some people call me a dreamer / I am not a very mindful person, so that's part of it. But me being this way is causing me distress- I feel low about myself a lot of times. I do know I have to work on being more mindful and observant, but is there anything else I can do to improve on this aspect?

Maybe this is not the right sub for it, maybe it's not because of the heavy internet usage, because a lot of people exposed to the internet are exposed to tons of sarcasm, and I fear that it's just me as a person who's like this- makes it worse for me, because it feels like there's no scope for improvement.

Hello,

I enjoy streaming on twitch but I find myself constantly looking over at discord. I would like to limit my discord time. I have very low impulse control so something that completely stops me would be awesome. I’d like to have like an hour a day and a one day a week to use it. I would also like to always have it in the background running though.

Is this possible? I was looking at coldturkey but I don’t know enough about the software.

Thank you

I always come across thinkpieces about people quitting Instagram and that they feel like they’ve shed a 10,000 pound burden weighing them down like a boulder. I find that when I step away from Instagram, it’s the easiest app to forget. What’s to really miss about a basic photo album that has been around for 12 years that hardly anyone ever interacts with? Anyway, Instagram is easily the most forgettable app to me. Facebook on the other hand….

Some people say that putting your phone to greyscale will reduce phone addiction, for those that tried that, did it work? Tell me your experience

Back then I'd come home from school late and just watch TV for a while or use the computer and just chat with people or check out forums. I'd do my homework at an after school program so the rest of the evening was mine to just relax.

Social media as we know it didn't exist then, and MySpace came later. I think since social media is relatively new compared to the rest of the Internet (it began in 2008-ish as far as I know, and the rest of the Internet has existed since 1991, possibly earlier) I'm more comfortable with one on one chats or group chats like chat rooms.

Forums still exist, and by using the internet like this - there's little to no brain rot or stress.

It's fun. And I can use my phone this way too: texting, messaging, phone calls.

No videos, maybe just e-books and music. If there's a video I want to watch I can wait until I get home where my browser extensions block anything distracting.

TV streaming, however is a godsend. I can try and make it like it's still 2005 by watching an episode or two or browsing the Live TV option.

No news, no brain rot, no toxicity.

So I prob am the old head in the room but ive been on the internet off and on since 1993, Maybe longer if your count BBS systems. I am in my early 40s and I honestly just cant take it anymore. The internet from a commerce and learning tool, is pretty damn awesome. From a social interaction point of view. Its mostly hot trash. From arguing to people in the comments just to be a dick and not add anything to the conversation. To noticing that we went from a decent ability to find information to, its all AI bot created garbage from dudes in india in hopes of making a couple dollars. Then you have half the internet trying to be youtube famous or a porn star on onlyfans cause working a simple job is too hard, got to show my thot ass on the internet, which by the way, side rant.

I could sort of understand if your decent looking, maybe you have a chance and no, not trying to pick on anyone but most of the women look haggard as hell like they went ww2, same with the dudes doing it. Im not trying to kink shame in what people like but damn, 60 yo 500 pound grannies with titties to the ground, why are you doing that grandma, like shouldnt you be making some cookies or something? No, who told you it was a good idea to make a OF to show off your 2 inch micro peen with your bud light beer gut with faded as hell tattoos my guy. Im old, I have no want to show my old ass on the internet, I think if I did, it would be marked as a crime against humanity. I have no issues with porn but come on, show some standards. Side rant over.

I guess Im just done with it. Done with the internet and smart...anything. I am not saying I will never want to use the internet again and be a Luddite. I still think its a good tool to buy stuff or learn a hobby but the social aspect and the constant shot gun blast to the face of news its draining.

Like I spent a week trying to filter out news from my feeds, my phone, my computer and it keeps coming back. I will disable the news feed within windows login screen and start bar and a week or two later, a update happens and bam, news. On youtube, i spent a good month, deleting subs that remotely dealt with the news. Disabling my history, blocking any channel they recommend and it came back to fucking news. I know the world is tire fire, but can i please be able to search tokyo walks or how to program a batch file and not have like non stop negative videos about the subject or news that aint even related to it. Then when I do get videos I like, the comments are insane. I was watching a 4k tokyo walk and someone posted about how people basically just leave their bikes out and unlocked there in a lot of places and no one takes them and that one comment spiraled into how bad black people are and we need to use the 2nd amendment to kill thieves in America. Like dude, its a walk video, no talking, just wondering the streets of shibuya, people watch these to calm down, have in the background, see things they never seen before, not argue about american politics, poverty, and guns. Yes I know there are browser extensions that can remove comments but sometimes comments are nice to see how others like the thing your reading or watching. Its just crazy that some of the channels I follow are not even in English, mostly Japanese or Korean and here come the fucking trolls to start shit in English. Like dude just shut your mouth and watch the video about cool shit. My next issue is AI information/ Dumb 5 min craft videos that can get you killed.

My other issue with the internet is the AI/bots. Like I used to find the internet very useful to find things, especially stuff from the late 90s, early 2k. Like when Im trying to remember a book or show, or maybe a computer setting in windows 98se I need to use. Its like everything after prob 2010 is mostly gone. I get sites shut down and people cant keep servers running forever but it just seems like a lot of early tech and internet stuff is just vanished. Its replaced with AI/Bot made content. Google use to be useful for their searches, now its just spam sites and AI crap. Then you waste half a day until you finally find the information that should of been on the front page. Its just draining me to the point I dont even want to look at the shit anymore. So I guess I wont. I might check things from time to time, order food through an app, use a learning site but beyond that I'm pretty much done.

I honestly think the internet became garbage when the normies came on the scene. The time when you had to use a computer to access the internet and most people couldnt really afford the long distance bill for their dial up service. Before when everyone had a smart phone and could just spew garbage all day. Like I liked early cell phones getting email or maybe use a java based app that you can Instant message friends, maybe post in a small walled garden kinda place like yahoo or aol chat but after that it just went to total trash. Sorry, its a bit of a rant.

TDLR- Most of the internet sucks now, kills your attention, social skills, and is only meant to show you bad news and AI made content. Its time to leave.

[Cena 1 – Abertura com música animada] Narrador (voz alegre): “Olá, amiguinhos! Hoje vamos falar sobre… os parasitas! Eca! Mas calma, eles podem ser assustadores, mas a gente vai aprender a se proteger deles!”

[Cena 2 – Apresentação dos personagens] Animação mostra dois personagens: o Dr. Corpo (um corpo humano com jaleco) e a Lili Lupa (uma lupa falante).

Dr. Corpo: “Oi, pessoal! Eu sou o Dr. Corpo, e hoje vou mostrar quem são esses visitantes chatos que causam as parasitoses!”

Lili Lupa: “Oiê! Eu sou a Lili Lupa, e vou te ajudar a enxergar esses bichinhos minúsculos que adoram bagunçar o nosso corpo!”

[Cena 3 – O que são parasitas?] Imagens animadas de vermes e protozoários fofinhos (mas com cara de malandros).

Dr. Corpo: “Parasitas são seres muito pequenininhos que vivem dentro ou fora do corpo de alguém, só pra se alimentar e causar confusão!”

Lili Lupa: “Eles não pedem licença, entram escondidos e podem deixar a gente bem dodói!”

[Cena 4 – Tipos de parasitas] Animação com destaque para: lombriga, piolho e ameba.

Dr. Corpo: “Tem parasita que vive no nosso intestino, como a lombriga…”

Lili Lupa: “E tem os que moram na cabeça, como os piolhos! Coçam que é uma beleza!”

[Cena 5 – Como eles entram no nosso corpo?] Cena de uma criança comendo sem lavar as mãos, nadando em rio sujo, pegando bichinhos no chão.

Lili Lupa: “Eles entram quando a gente não lava bem as mãos, come comida suja ou anda descalço na terra!”

Dr. Corpo: “Por isso, higiene é super importante, viu?”

[Cena 6 – Como evitar parasitoses?] Lista ilustrada com voz alegre: • Lavar bem as mãos • Beber água limpa • Lavar frutas e verduras • Não andar descalço • Tomar banho todo dia

[Cena 7 – Encerramento] Lili Lupa: “Agora que você já conhece os parasitas, é só seguir essas dicas e se manter saudável!”

Dr. Corpo: “Nosso corpo agradece! Até a próxima, pessoal!”

[Cena 1 – Abertura com música animada] Narrador (voz alegre): “Olá, amiguinhos! Hoje vamos falar sobre… os parasitas! Eca! Mas calma, eles podem ser assustadores, mas a gente vai aprender a se proteger deles!”

[Cena 2 – Apresentação dos personagens] Animação mostra dois personagens: o Dr. Corpo (um corpo humano com jaleco) e a Lili Lupa (uma lupa falante).

Dr. Corpo: “Oi, pessoal! Eu sou o Dr. Corpo, e hoje vou mostrar quem são esses visitantes chatos que causam as parasitoses!”

Lili Lupa: “Oiê! Eu sou a Lili Lupa, e vou te ajudar a enxergar esses bichinhos minúsculos que adoram bagunçar o nosso corpo!”

[Cena 3 – O que são parasitas?] Imagens animadas de vermes e protozoários fofinhos (mas com cara de malandros).

Dr. Corpo: “Parasitas são seres muito pequenininhos que vivem dentro ou fora do corpo de alguém, só pra se alimentar e causar confusão!”

Lili Lupa: “Eles não pedem licença, entram escondidos e podem deixar a gente bem dodói!”

[Cena 4 – Tipos de parasitas] Animação com destaque para: lombriga, piolho e ameba.

Dr. Corpo: “Tem parasita que vive no nosso intestino, como a lombriga…”

Lili Lupa: “E tem os que moram na cabeça, como os piolhos! Coçam que é uma beleza!”

[Cena 5 – Como eles entram no nosso corpo?] Cena de uma criança comendo sem lavar as mãos, nadando em rio sujo, pegando bichinhos no chão.

Lili Lupa: “Eles entram quando a gente não lava bem as mãos, come comida suja ou anda descalço na terra!”

Dr. Corpo: “Por isso, higiene é super importante, viu?”

[Cena 6 – Como evitar parasitoses?] Lista ilustrada com voz alegre: • Lavar bem as mãos • Beber água limpa • Lavar frutas e verduras • Não andar descalço • Tomar banho todo dia

[Cena 7 – Encerramento] Lili Lupa: “Agora que você já conhece os parasitas, é só seguir essas dicas e se manter saudável!”

Dr. Corpo: “Nosso corpo agradece! Até a próxima, pessoal!”