ScrollGuard
Productivity
digital wellbeing app
SHOW HN2025
690points
305comments
#41of 3,837 in 2025
Top 2%of 2025 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
34 positive, 23 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 13 critical, out of 70 comments about the project. Thread score +0.33.
Idea: 15 for, 8 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 5 againstExecution: 1 for, 0 againstPerformance: 1 for, 0 againstDesign: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Useful idea that addresses feed addiction across apps
From 3 comments
I would love it. I'm currently using DFInstagram, which removes home feed. Only downside I see is that is also removes Instagram stories which I do like to check, but I can do…
NalNezumi on HNThis is brilliant. I have dreamed of a way to force companies to build in parental control to block short-form media. For the kids (it's never for the kids).
stroebs on HNI love this! You don't see these types of apps for Android. I get the request for Foqos: https://github.com/awaseem/foqos Would you ever open source this?
awaseem on HN
Accessibility Service approach is clever
From 1 comment
Nice work! Using the Accessibility Service for scroll detection is a clever approach. I imagine keeping it lightweight while monitoring multiple apps could be tricky — did you…
business_liveit on HN
Objections
Accessibility permissions require too much trust, especially since it is not open source
From 3 comments
I just can't authorize an app to have full control on my phone if it's not open-source. What guarantee do I have that you are not selling all my user data?
lsd85 on HNAs others have said, the permissions required to make this work are scary and require a lot of trust. The fact YouTube and Instagram don't allow you to disable endless…
cjonas on HNHow this is possible for iOS? Can someone share technical details on this iOS implementation? IMO this cannot be done without validating user privacy and giving app some crucial…
j1000 on HN
Android only; no iOS version
From 2 comments
- The maker's post
For Android I did it using the Accessibility Service API, iOS doesn't provide any similar API, the platform itself is much more restricted. So I think is technicaly not possible
adrianhacar on HN
Requests
iOS version
From 3 comments
Finally!! Please find a way to make it work on iOS! Or I’ll switch to use android to use your app
mike24dzy on HNIf this works as you say in iOS you would be my new hero! Joined the wait list, would be happy to be part of any test you like to run.
OfflineSergio on HNThis is badly needed, but in my case on iOS. There are alternative frontends to most social networks, that can be used or adapted, however.…
apples_oranges on HN
Block swipes on friends' videos and not only Reels
From 1 comment
The problem I have had with this type of app is that, on Instagram at least any video that a friend posts is considered a reel. And I want to watch videos that my friends post.…
Phlogistique on HN
Open source the app
From 1 comment
I love this! You don't see these types of apps for Android. I get the request for Foqos: https://github.com/awaseem/foqos Would you ever open source this?
awaseem on HN
Questions
How does it work on iOS
From 1 comment
How this is possible for iOS? Can someone share technical details on this iOS implementation? IMO this cannot be done without validating user privacy and giving app some crucial…
j1000 on HN
Does it block Shorts in the web browser or in-app browsers
From 2 comments
Does this work on the web version? I uninstalled the YouTube app but I keep watching shorts in Chrome anyway...
amunozo on HNDoes it block shorts even if i access youtube through in-app browsers on other apps like Telegram?
juggy69 on HN
Alternatives named
DFInstagram
From 1 comment
I would love it. I'm currently using DFInstagram, which removes home feed. Only downside I see is that is also removes Instagram stories which I do like to check, but I can do…
NalNezumi on HN
Unhook
From 1 comment
I use Unhook for YouTube. It’s crazy how much better YouTube feels to use when you just remove 90% of it.
throwaway106382 on HN
ReVanced
From 1 comment
Nice! I use ReVanced to mod apps to do this. https://revanced.app/patches?pkg=com.google.android.youtube Though I've been trying to avoid using apps without source code nowadays…
1gn15 on HN
Pi-hole
From 1 comment
This might be useful for you: https://pi-hole.net/. You can set your own DNS server at home and block specific domains
adrianhacar on HN