Any android will do

I got a jelly star (from unihertz) because i thought the screen would be too small anyway to waste time on youtube.

I didnt know how dedicated to watching videos I was i guess.

So eventually, after trying many appblockers, and configuration and schedules, i got to the nuclear option, delete browsers.

And, what lightness i felt, the mental charge of thinking with the internet as always accessible was simply removed from my pocket. That was quite a few incredible weeks frankly. Today, i barely realize it, even though, as im writing this there is still something curious/strange knowing that my phone doesnt have a browser.

I have everything else i need though, banking apps, emails (which im considering removing too tbh), maps, my music (byebye spotify), whatsapp and everyother thing that doesnt have an infinite feed to scroll built-in.

Last point is important. After removing my browser i noticed i would scroll my emails (how sad is that) or even perplexity discovery tab. Basically any sort of page designed in a way to continually supply novel information, i would jump on to.

Now my phone is just a phone, its not something i use to pass the time, the identity of my phone has changed and by extension my own. Im still figuring it out with my pc, which is why I built myself a webblocker.

Thats it really.

The reason i use the pc app rather than the android app version of ADB appcontrol is for a very simple but essential design parameter when you want to create “attention technology systems” (sth like that) is friction. A necessary u-turn from the goals of any technology: to be efficient, intelligent and accurate, which often equates to reducing friction.

I think that you will see soon a lot new software designed more as experiences, and using as one of their principle: friction is useful, very much like games. There is gonna be more playful technologies coming up, that are inefficient, dumb, and blurry by design, because its fun, because we are beings who like to dance and climb mountains not just go from A to B.

Which, when you ponder a second, is exactly what is exploited by attention retention platforms in casino-like user management.

I learned that, you have to negotiate with yourself. A hard block, going cold turkey on all the things you used to soothe yourself or reduce boredom, with no leeway? That won't hold. You will respond in kind, with more aggressive ways to obtain some sweet, sweet oblivion.

If you give yourself a time, a container, some rules that constrain the time-consuming behavior (a good start), what then matters is that you do that with kindness,

Then, your response will be just as measured. The blocker i made for myself definitely has holes i could poke into to break it, but i havent, and i dont want to. Because the “contract” works for me, i meditate (or stare at nothing), i get to watch youtube.

It works, probably because it is something that matters to me: to be aware and present, to have bandwidth freed (in my mind), to be more attuned with the world/wonder, to have the space and capacity to experience awe.