uBlock filter list to hide all YouTube Shorts

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Motivation for Hiding Shorts

  • Many see Shorts as “brain rot” / dopamine hits that encourage compulsive scrolling, similar to TikTok.
  • Even when recommendations are decent, users dislike the format: ultra-short length, vertical video on horizontal screens, and low “information density” compared to longer videos.
  • The Shorts UI is heavily criticized: cluttered overlays, no proper scrubbing, limited controls, forced replay, and infinite scroll seen as deliberate manipulation.
  • Some reject Shorts (and similar features) on principle as “addiction-designs” and want them completely removed from their environment.

Technical Approaches and Tools

  • The uBlock filter list being discussed is valued for being simple, generic, and extension-light; several confirm it restores a “mid-2010s” style homepage.
  • Alternatives and complements mentioned:
    • Browser extensions: Unhook, YouTube Redux, Control Panel for YouTube, Enhancer for YouTube, Blocktube, YouTube Tweaks, Maxxmod, DeArrow, SponsorBlock.
    • CSS / userscripts: Stylus/Stylebot rules (e.g., hiding Shorts containers), Tampermonkey/GreaseMonkey scripts, URL transforms from /shorts/ to /watch?v=….
    • Apps/frontends: FreeTube, Invidious, NewPipe, ReVanced, VacuumTube, various unofficial frontends.
    • Other blockers: Brave’s built‑in Shorts blocking, LeechBlock rules, 1Blocker conversions.
  • Several note filters and addons frequently break as YouTube changes its layout, requiring ongoing maintenance and raising minor supply‑chain trust questions.

Frustrations with YouTube Controls and Algorithms

  • “Show fewer shorts” / “not interested” is widely perceived as a dark pattern: effects are temporary, minimal, or even inverted; some compare it to placebo elevator or crosswalk buttons.
  • Turning off watch history can significantly reduce or eliminate Shorts but also nukes the personalized homepage and history, seen as a “nuclear option.”
  • Search and recommendations are said to prioritize engagement and ad revenue over relevance; removal of “sort by upload date” is a common grievance.
  • Users complain they cannot fully opt out of Shorts even as paying Premium subscribers; autoplaying Shorts and low-quality default resolutions are cited as hostile UX.

Defenses and Minority Views on Shorts

  • A minority like Shorts: quick, to-the-point, often no midroll ads or sponsorship segments; some channels publish exclusively in Shorts.
  • A few argue that once UI features like scroll bars were added, Shorts are not fundamentally different from other videos, so hiding them is more about personal discipline than format.