cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/43402558
Hey, Privacy community! I wanted to share my personal experience with quitting YouTube, a journey that has been both challenging and liberating.
Initially, I started my deGoogle journey by cutting back on various Google services, but when it came to YouTube, I found it incredibly hard to let go. I tried using alternatives like NewPipe and FreeTube—both fantastic FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) options that allowed me to access YouTube content without the usual Google baggage. However, despite these alternatives, I still felt trapped in the cycle of daily YouTube usage and the addictive nature of the platform.
To tackle this, I decided to take a more drastic approach. I implemented a DNS block using AdGuard DNS and NextDNS, which helped me create a network-wide blocklist for Google services. In the first two weeks, I found myself turning the DNS off occasionally, creating two profiles in NextDNS to allow Google services when I felt the urge creeping back in. It was a struggle, but I knew I needed to break free.
Gradually, I began replacing my YouTube watch time with journaling and diving into topics that truly interested me, particularly various philosophies. After about four weeks, I was amazed to find that I no longer felt the urge to watch YouTube at all! However, I still have my doubts about returning to the platform, fearing it might reignite my addiction and lead me back into a FOMO (fear of missing out) mindset. To safeguard against this, I’ve kept my no-Google filters active in NextDNS.
I also discovered alternatives like PeerTube, thanks to creators like The Linux Experiment and TechLore, who actively post content there. Platforms like Loop, Pixelfed, Mastodon, and Lemmy have also become integral parts of my online life, providing me with a sense of community and connection without the overwhelming distractions of YouTube.
By de-Googling and stepping away from YouTube, I’ve reclaimed so much of my life. While many tout YouTube as a great social platform for mental health, I’ve found the opposite to be true for me. Without the constant distractions and the pressure to consume content that often felt useless, I’ve experienced a newfound clarity and peace of mind.
Now, I have more time to help my mom, focus on my own projects, and enjoy moments of solitude that have significantly reduced my stress levels.
YouTube can be a helpful platform for many, but for me, it was a different story. I initially thought it would lead me to greater privacy and understanding of FOSS services, but instead, I found myself entangled in a web of privacy violations and creepy policies. The community here has been instrumental in guiding me toward FOSS alternatives that respect my privacy.
I’m curious—does anyone else have experiences with quitting YouTube or trying to? I’d love to hear your stories and insights!
Unhooked is a nice extension to help self contrrol.
I literally got brainrotted with Shorts and I couldnt stop scrolling for 3h. Additionally doing Homework was impossible with a narrowed consciousness which I call brainrot.
I forces myself to walk in the Forest to regain my brain, memory and control.
Unhooked helped not seeing recommendations when open up youtube and on learning phasesto not see further recommendations when watching something. Unsure if I had a second extension to kill shorts entirely because they are the worst and not giving anything good back.
I never really watched the shorts on YouTube as theyre not what I went there for and just constantly hit ‘stop showing me thsse’ in my recommendations. They still recommend them but it seems less so sometimes.
It sucks because all the other recommendations are usually pretty good. I blame the outrage over tiktok by the USA for google adding that shorts crap to YouTube. They thought they could seize a market of short attention span people(they were right) but just took the worst aspects of tiktok and added it to their platform.
I donr have energy for that and mostly rather click on a interesting title because of ADHD and repeating thoughts about that title till watched. I am someone who changes everything to my liking and when I see myself forcing to press 2 stupid buttons to not be distracted everytime, then I see myself changing this behaviour or stop using the service if not possible. So in other words. I press 100 buttons to never press a button again.
Reasons why I use Arch Linux with KDE instead of Windows where you cant change 90% of things, and if you do, you can only do by external Programs that will break after a Windows update.