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The one thing I’ve found that works for me on my phone is the OneSec app. It hooks into shortcuts (for apps) and a Safari extension (for websites) to prompt you with a small task to do (eg a 20sec breathing exercise) before you access the softblocked content. The time delay + task is enough for me to remind myself that this isn’t what I want to be doing. And in the instances where I actually do consciously want to visit XYZ platform, I can just do the exercise and be granted access.

The only downside is that the Safari extension is granted full access to my web browsing in order to facilitate the website blocking. They say they don’t capture any data and at this point do trust them (you may feel differently). For blocking apps, no private data sharing is required.


AdieuToLogic
> The one thing I’ve found that works for me on my phone is the OneSec app.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the Luddite one; put the phone down and step away from it.

If this appears to be an insurmountable ask, or otherwise infeasible, I humbly suggest there is a greater concern to be addressed than what yet another app on the phone which cannot be distanced may remedy.

tmhrtly OP
I agree, this is the pathway. For me, this is the tool I’ve found that works to nudge me down that pathway by adding extra friction to the routes to cheap, crap dopamine. Often an interruption from this app is accompanied by my brain going “huh, so what do you really want to use this time for?”.
nkrisc
It’s too true. If your problem is your phone, the solution won’t be found on your phone.
dsauerbrun
how do you and others get past all the permissions that onesec needs? They say everything remains on device; however, it's a closed source application so there's not really any way to confirm that besides looking at the packets that are going out of your phone.
atommclain
I don't have this app installed, but I would use the App Privacy Report in settings to inspect the App Network Activity to see what domains it connects to and how often. While not conclusive, I think it could provide some level of insight to whether it's handing off your information or not. Ideally it wouldn't make any network connections.
johncole
Could I use a shortcut on iPhone to do something similar?
mrheosuper
imagine your child is chocking and that app asking you to "breath calmly in 20s"

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