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Ask HN: Is there a way to break the vicious cycle of YouTube Shorts?

I really hate it when companies exploit the addictive human nature. I must admit I wasted too much time watching mainly pure garbage content on YouTube Shorts. At the same time I don't want to remove YouTube completely because of a couple of actually good content creators. How can I get rid of YouTube Shorts or at least break the addictive part of it?

bb2018 5y ago
I've used website blockers before on Twitter. I would still go incognito to find people for updates on things but the extra two clicks def nudged me from doing it as often.
sadosystems 5y ago
I highly recommend you stop using YouTube. It has become more addictive overtime and it will get worse. Shorts is really intense but I think YouTubes recommendations are almost just as addictive. I agree with you that some content is worth keeping tabs on. If you want to break the cycle could replacing going on the website YouTube with an RSS reader that supports subscribing to individual YouTube channels, I use feedbin but I think there are a lot of RSS readers that do this. This eliminates shorts and recommendations which really helped me.
- kucing 5y ago
  I agree a lot, getting away from Youtube is a relief, suddenly I could feel I have so much spare time & mental energy for other things. I didn't know RSS could work with Youtube. Some channels I still want to subscribe. Will definitely check out feedbin. Thanks!
shaicoleman 5y ago
Here are a few things you can try: * Improve YouTube! extension - allows you to hide the addictive elements such as related videos, suggestions, comments, etc. so you don't get sucked in. [1] * Intention - Stop Mindless Browsing extension [2] * Turn off autoplay * On Android: Digital Wellbeing app with focus mode [3] * You can watch some videos at higher speeds * Meditation can help, you can use apps such as Headspace and Calm to get started with it. * Use Time-Block planning techniques [4] 1. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/improve-youtube-video-you/bnomihfieiccainjcjblhegjgglakjdd?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/improve-youtube-vi... 2. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/intention-stop-mindless-b/dladanhaondcgpahgiflodhckhoeohoe?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/intention-stop-min... 3. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.wellbeing&hl=en_IE&gl=US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and... 4. https://www.timeblockplanner.com/ https://www.timeblockplanner.com/ (for inspiration, not a purchase recommendation)
readflaggedcomm 5y ago
Maybe there's a way to block videos with the "#shorts" tag or under a certain length? Alternatively, subscribe to channels' RSS feeds and don't use a Youtube account at all to break the algorithm's hold on you.
mimixco 5y ago
Um, stop watching YouTube?
ksherlock 5y ago
Replace "watching youtube" with "smoking meth" in your question and think about that sounds. In the meantime, use something like quietube or invidious to play youtube videos.
tofukid 5y ago
I don’t think it’s YouTube, it’s the computer itself. The problem is getting on the computer with no purpose. If you’re sitting on the computer, with no direction, you will end up mesmerizing yourself with whatever you find interesting. I think the solution is to stop sitting around on the computer/phone in the first place. If you stop using YouTube, but sit there on your phone for no reason, you’ll just end up wasting time on something else.
- trashtestcrash 5y ago
  The problem is - I have an Android phone, and it doesn't look like you have the option to delete the YouTube app from it. I went to Google Play and tab uninstall, just to find the app again in my list of apps. I don't know how this could be legal to be honest.
f0e4c2f7 5y ago
One option is to use a custom client like NewPipe. I'm not sure it even supports Youtube Shorts yet. If it does you might be able to customize more than the normal Youtube app. There is another alternative. You can use the app that Youtube Shorts is copying and you'll get higher quality content in the same format. TikTok's algorithm for discovery is the best I've ever encountered. I find all kinds of cool stuff on there. It's highly addicting like other social media. I often uninstall it from my phone when I'm not using it. But I will say that I don't find it to be an endless doom scroll like other social media. When I'm done using it I usually have a list of stuff to look up or have laughed at people making something goofy. In any case. The privacy concerns are enough to warrant never using it. I understand why people might get mad even at the suggestion. I wish the Youtube version was better I would just use that. I've tried Youtube Shorts too and I can relate to your experience. It's somewhat addicting because it's a similar format. But you get that gross feeling when you're done like other social media. "Where did my time just go?"
Graffur 5y ago
Don't try TikTok then - I find it way more addictive
gitgud 5y ago
It's pretty bad, on my Android vivo phone you cannot even delete YouTube anymore... For me it's a vicious cycle, where you keeping watching to find something good, and when you do that gives you the dopamine boost to keep watching more.... What helps me is recognizing that it is like an addictive substance. When you treat it with the same seriousness as drugs and alcohol, it becomes easier to manage...
- trashtestcrash 5y ago
  How is it legal to not be able to delete YouTube app anymore, I have the same problem on OnePlus. That doesn't seem right...
temp234 5y ago
On an iPhone in the YouTube app settings I was able to set up an alert that gave me a reminder every few minutes to take a break. You can customize the number of minutes. After a while with this alert I was watching a lot less YouTube and deleted the app, although I saw in one of your comments that that's not an option on Android. I also subscribed to a few sites where I can stream video on topics I'm interested in, and now I have less reason to go on YouTube in the first place. I'm directly supporting some great individuals and organizations and learning a lot. You mentioned that you have a couple creators you really like. You could try following and supporting them directly.

bb2018 5y ago

I've used website blockers before on Twitter. I would still go incognito to find people for updates on things but the extra two clicks def nudged me from doing it as often.

sadosystems 5y ago

I highly recommend you stop using YouTube. It has become more addictive overtime and it will get worse. Shorts is really intense but I think YouTubes recommendations are almost just as addictive. I agree with you that some content is worth keeping tabs on. If you want to break the cycle could replacing going on the website YouTube with an RSS reader that supports subscribing to individual YouTube channels, I use feedbin but I think there are a lot of RSS readers that do this. This eliminates shorts and recommendations which really helped me.

kucing 5y ago
I agree a lot, getting away from Youtube is a relief, suddenly I could feel I have so much spare time & mental energy for other things. I didn't know RSS could work with Youtube. Some channels I still want to subscribe. Will definitely check out feedbin. Thanks!

shaicoleman 5y ago

Here are a few things you can try: * Improve YouTube! extension - allows you to hide the addictive elements such as related videos, suggestions, comments, etc. so you don't get sucked in. [1] * Intention - Stop Mindless Browsing extension [2] * Turn off autoplay * On Android: Digital Wellbeing app with focus mode [3] * You can watch some videos at higher speeds * Meditation can help, you can use apps such as Headspace and Calm to get started with it. * Use Time-Block planning techniques [4] 1. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/improve-youtube-video-you/bnomihfieiccainjcjblhegjgglakjdd?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/improve-youtube-vi... 2. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/intention-stop-mindless-b/dladanhaondcgpahgiflodhckhoeohoe?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/intention-stop-min... 3. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.wellbeing&hl=en_IE&gl=US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and... 4. https://www.timeblockplanner.com/ https://www.timeblockplanner.com/ (for inspiration, not a purchase recommendation)

readflaggedcomm 5y ago

Maybe there's a way to block videos with the "#shorts" tag or under a certain length? Alternatively, subscribe to channels' RSS feeds and don't use a Youtube account at all to break the algorithm's hold on you.

mimixco 5y ago

Um, stop watching YouTube?

ksherlock 5y ago

Replace "watching youtube" with "smoking meth" in your question and think about that sounds. In the meantime, use something like quietube or invidious to play youtube videos.

tofukid 5y ago

I don’t think it’s YouTube, it’s the computer itself. The problem is getting on the computer with no purpose. If you’re sitting on the computer, with no direction, you will end up mesmerizing yourself with whatever you find interesting. I think the solution is to stop sitting around on the computer/phone in the first place. If you stop using YouTube, but sit there on your phone for no reason, you’ll just end up wasting time on something else.

trashtestcrash 5y ago
The problem is - I have an Android phone, and it doesn't look like you have the option to delete the YouTube app from it. I went to Google Play and tab uninstall, just to find the app again in my list of apps. I don't know how this could be legal to be honest.

f0e4c2f7 5y ago

One option is to use a custom client like NewPipe. I'm not sure it even supports Youtube Shorts yet. If it does you might be able to customize more than the normal Youtube app. There is another alternative. You can use the app that Youtube Shorts is copying and you'll get higher quality content in the same format. TikTok's algorithm for discovery is the best I've ever encountered. I find all kinds of cool stuff on there. It's highly addicting like other social media. I often uninstall it from my phone when I'm not using it. But I will say that I don't find it to be an endless doom scroll like other social media. When I'm done using it I usually have a list of stuff to look up or have laughed at people making something goofy. In any case. The privacy concerns are enough to warrant never using it. I understand why people might get mad even at the suggestion. I wish the Youtube version was better I would just use that. I've tried Youtube Shorts too and I can relate to your experience. It's somewhat addicting because it's a similar format. But you get that gross feeling when you're done like other social media. "Where did my time just go?"

Graffur 5y ago

Don't try TikTok then - I find it way more addictive

gitgud 5y ago

It's pretty bad, on my Android vivo phone you cannot even delete YouTube anymore... For me it's a vicious cycle, where you keeping watching to find something good, and when you do that gives you the dopamine boost to keep watching more.... What helps me is recognizing that it is like an addictive substance. When you treat it with the same seriousness as drugs and alcohol, it becomes easier to manage...

trashtestcrash 5y ago
How is it legal to not be able to delete YouTube app anymore, I have the same problem on OnePlus. That doesn't seem right...

temp234 5y ago

On an iPhone in the YouTube app settings I was able to set up an alert that gave me a reminder every few minutes to take a break. You can customize the number of minutes. After a while with this alert I was watching a lot less YouTube and deleted the app, although I saw in one of your comments that that's not an option on Android. I also subscribed to a few sites where I can stream video on topics I'm interested in, and now I have less reason to go on YouTube in the first place. I'm directly supporting some great individuals and organizations and learning a lot. You mentioned that you have a couple creators you really like. You could try following and supporting them directly.