I launched a Chrome extension to make YouTube less distracting. Current users: 0.
I just launched a small Chrome extension called YouTube Dopamine Detox.
Current status:
- public on the Chrome Web Store
- 0 users
- no account
- no backend
- no analytics
- free for now
The problem is pretty simple.
I use YouTube for learning and work, but I often open it for one useful video and then get pulled into Shorts, the home feed, related videos, or autoplay.
I did not want to block YouTube completely, because YouTube is still useful. Tutorials, lectures, product demos, coding videos, research... I use it all the time.
So the extension does two things:
1. It asks what you came to watch before YouTube opens.
2. It lets you hide the parts of YouTube that usually cause drift.
Current features:
- Purpose Check before opening YouTube
- Hide Shorts
- Hide the home feed
- Hide related videos
- Hide comments
- Disable autoplay
- Hide end screen suggestions
- Store recent purpose logs locally in Chrome storage
I am not trying to sell anything yet. I am trying to get the first 10 users and learn whether the purpose check is actually useful.
The main question I have:
Would writing down your purpose before opening YouTube help you, or would it become annoying after a few days?
Chrome Web Store:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/youtube-dopamine-detox/gnkmapkjhlnjoomjnikphacejddcdama
Feedback form:
