The platforms change their DOM, so I need to keep the filters up to date. But I use this app myself and have 10+ active testers who instantly notify me of any bugs.
I think the symptom is a self repeating loop that gets worse. they watch the short form content, which makes them more and more addicted to it. So breaking out of it, may get some of that attention span back. I already feel mine starting to return a bit. Been reading more books lately and just feeling a bit happier
That's an interesting angle on the parental control, by the way.
Thank you! I am shipping the YouTube redirect issue in the next update. Currently you can circumvent it by going back to dull and trying again after being redirected, but it's super annoying and I will fix!
There's also time limits, challenges before opening apps to create fiction, quiet hours so u don't scroll at night, usage tracking, opening with intention so it asks what u wanna do in the app, and then let's u for example only stay in DM's tab.
My biggest wish was that you could disable reels/shorts, etc on the native apps. But unless there is some regulation, it won't happen. I actually made a citizen's suggestion to EU some time ago, but that did not pan out.
1) it's already been live for about a month, so definetly not a week long project
2) I use the app myself every day to reduce screentime so I'm highly motivated to keep the app up to date. When the platforms change DOM elements, or try to distrupt Dull from working I am also disrupted, so I work quickly to fix all bugs
3) There is a 7 day free trial for anyone to test out if it's a "scam". It's not.
Lifetime payment was highly requested by users (including existing users), since they have subscription fatigue. Since I use the app myself every day to reduce screentime myself I'm extremely motivated to fix every bug and make the UX as seamless as possible.
A Safari extension could handle some of it, but Dull also does usage tracking, time limits, quiet hours, and grayscale mode which all need to live at the app level. The filtering itself could be an extension, but the broader goal is reducing how much time you spend there, not just hiding elements. For example we added a feature in today's update that let's you choose what is the intention of opening app. Like if intention is to open DMs then you open just to DMs. Another way of reducing distractions.
Interesting request. I haven't looked into WeChat's web version but I'll check if the short video content is filterable. No promises but noted. We've also gotten requests for Snapchat and TikTok.
Yeah, Facebook through Dull gives you marketplace and groups without the news feed and suggested content. It's probably the cleanest version of Facebook I've used in years.
Fair question. The honest answer is I don't know if Instagram or YouTube will try to shut this down. They haven't so far, but that doesn't mean they won't. They can try to come after me:) But seems like they are the ones losing in court currently for making their own apps so addicting. Wouldn't be a good look to come after such apps.
The subscription model exists partly because of this — if it stops working, you stop paying. The lifetime option is a bet on my part that I can keep maintaining it. If I can't, that's on me. But since this is an app I use daily myself I am extremely motivated to fix every bug and keep the app excellent and all filters working.
Hi HN, I built ShipNative to make “clone, configure, ship” realistic for Expo/React Native projects.
The focus is on a clean TypeScript base, sensible defaults, and docs that don’t assume you already know the exact setup steps. It aims to cover the common production essentials (auth, payments, analytics/error wiring points) without turning into an over-opinionated framework.
I’d love feedback on:
What you expect a real-world RN starter to include (or avoid)
Where most boilerplates feel bloated or fragile
Whether the docs are clear enough for a first-time setup
Happy to answer technical questions and explain trade-offs.