My Struggle with Doom Scrolling

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Physical alarm clocks & “dumb” devices

  • Many are moving away from phone alarms to reduce morning doomscrolling.
  • Physical clocks (including simple Braun models, travel clocks) are praised for reliability and single‑purpose design.
  • Smartwatches used in “dumb” mode (Garmin, etc.) are valued: notifications without interaction, silent haptic alarms, less lure to pick up the phone.
  • Voice assistants (Echo, HomePod) are used as alarms/timers, though some dislike relying on big tech “wiretaps.”
  • Pets and kids are jokingly cited as highly reliable, multi‑modal alarm systems.

Friction-based strategies & app blocking

  • Core theme: add “artificial inconvenience” to break automatic behavior.
  • Techniques:
    • Delete social apps and/or browsers from phones.
    • Use hosts files, Pi-hole, DNS, or browser extensions (LeechBlock, uBlock rules, Unhook, one-sec, ScreenZen, Focus features) to block or delay specific sites.
    • Require delays, breathing prompts, or multi-step confirmation before opening addictive apps.
    • Keep phones charging in another room; use separate devices for 2FA or work/personal separation.
  • Some report success; others say they just bypass their own systems when cravings are strong.

Deleting vs moderating social/media use

  • One camp favors near‑abstinence: uninstall apps, block feeds network‑wide, reduce phone to a tool (calls, maps, banking).
  • Another argues for moderation: keep apps but learn disciplined use; “apps to fight apps” and extreme blocking seen as unsustainable for some.
  • Several note a “minimum viable connectivity” problem: banking, government services, and work increasingly require smartphones and browsers.

Redefining “doomscrolling”

  • Disagreement over meaning:
    • Original/strict: compulsively consuming negative or catastrophic news.
    • Evolved/common: any endless, unfulfilling scrolling for dopamine (shorts/reels, cute dogs, memes, etc.).
  • Some associate “doom” with the user’s mental state or the feeling afterward, not content tone.

Alternative information diets & tools

  • Suggestions: RSS readers, newsletters, Kindle/e‑ink devices, books from libraries, curated AI/tech feeds, “write‑only” use of platforms (post but hide feeds).
  • Users share tweaks for YouTube (disable history, thumbnails, autoplay, shorts) to turn it into a subscription‑only or RSS‑like experience.
  • Others experiment with e‑ink phones, grayscale modes, minimalist launchers, Light Phone–style devices, or future non‑Android Linux phones.

Social and psychological aspects

  • Some view doomscrolling as a symptom of deeper dissatisfaction; others see blocking as necessary just to regain clarity to address root causes.
  • Multiple comments frame this as an addiction/dopamine loop problem; abstinence is often reported as easier than moderation.
  • People note tradeoffs: less doomscrolling frees time but also exposes how much effort real relationships and offline activities require.