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It seems like all ad (and tracking) supported companies know how to do is optimize for engagement, which effectively means becoming addictive. This business mod

It seems like all ad (and tracking) supported companies know how to do is optimize for engagement, which effectively means becoming addictive. This business model is too easy and too profitable to ever go away, so all we can do is learn to recognize it, and learn how to it responsibly. Like other addictions, sometimes this means restricting, and sometimes this means wholly abstaining. On the topic of Youtube addiction specifically, "letsblock.it" has some Youtube-specific filters which can be placed in uBlock Origin and help cut down on Youtube's addictiveness: Hide Youtube shorts: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-shorts https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-shorts Hide Youtube recommendations: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-recommendations https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-recommendations Hide Youtube videos you've already watched: https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-watched https://letsblock.it/filters/youtube-watched

jjj123 4y ago
> so all we can do is learn to recognize it, and learn how to it responsibly Or we can regulate it.
- atonse 4y ago
  I prefer this method. Even something as simple as the regulation requiring the site to make it EASY to turn those things off (But give the choice to consumers via big, easy to see toggles in the right places). Rather than having them put in browser extensions.
- clnq 4y ago
  If there were only a way to slow down the internet connection to 1mbps or so, a lot of that instant-gratification habit-forming engagement psychology wouldn't be very effective anymore. Even before YouTube, people could have spent 9 hours a day watching rented VHS and DVDs. It just took too much effort to form a habit based on instant gratification with that. So not many people did. And people were much more selective of what they consumed, too, which is an added benefit for mental health.
  - Apocryphon 4y ago
    Your second paragraph is a rose-colored view of history. People simply watched television. No need to rent when you had hundreds of cable channels to endlessly scroll through. It wasn’t as curated as streaming but then it also helped to avoid the decision fatigue of streaming (and makes me wonder if Netflix and co. could reintroduce “channels” to funnel user selection and reduce analysis paralysis.)

jjj123 4y ago

> so all we can do is learn to recognize it, and learn how to it responsibly Or we can regulate it.

atonse 4y ago
I prefer this method. Even something as simple as the regulation requiring the site to make it EASY to turn those things off (But give the choice to consumers via big, easy to see toggles in the right places). Rather than having them put in browser extensions.
clnq 4y ago
If there were only a way to slow down the internet connection to 1mbps or so, a lot of that instant-gratification habit-forming engagement psychology wouldn't be very effective anymore. Even before YouTube, people could have spent 9 hours a day watching rented VHS and DVDs. It just took too much effort to form a habit based on instant gratification with that. So not many people did. And people were much more selective of what they consumed, too, which is an added benefit for mental health.
- Apocryphon 4y ago
  Your second paragraph is a rose-colored view of history. People simply watched television. No need to rent when you had hundreds of cable channels to endlessly scroll through. It wasn’t as curated as streaming but then it also helped to avoid the decision fatigue of streaming (and makes me wonder if Netflix and co. could reintroduce “channels” to funnel user selection and reduce analysis paralysis.)