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Show HN: Dull – Instagram Without Reels, YouTube Without Shorts (iOS) (getdull.app)

153 points by kasparnoor ↗ HN
I kept deleting and redownloading Instagram because I couldn't stop watching Reels but needed the app for DMs. Tried screen time limits, just overrode them. So I built this.

Dull loads Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X and filters out short-form content with a mix of CSS and JS injection. MutationObserver handles anything that lazy-loads after the page renders, which is most of the annoying stuff since these platforms love to load content dynamically.

The ongoing work is maintaining the filters. Platforms change their DOM all the time, Instagram obfuscates class names, YouTube restructures how Shorts appear in the feed, etc. It's a cat-and-mouse thing that never really ends.

Also has grayscale mode, time limits, and usage tracking.

Happy to answer questions.

55 comments

[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 68.3 ms ] thread
SoKamil
This could have been Safari Extension
kasparnoor
A Safari extension could handle some of it, but Dull also does usage tracking, time limits, quiet hours, and grayscale mode which all need to live at the app level. The filtering itself could be an extension, but the broader goal is reducing how much time you spend there, not just hiding elements. For example we added a feature in today's update that let's you choose what is the intention of opening app. Like if intention is to open DMs then you open just to DMs. Another way of reducing distractions.
bryanhogan
Sounds like a good project, I also hate that Instagram pushes algorithm-driven content into your face everywhere without any options to turn it off, it's good to fight against these toxic dark design patterns.

Can also recommend using Instagram with the IGPlus web extension. Or for a native Android version there's also DFinstagram.

For YouTube there are many web extensions as well. On Android the YouTube ReVanced patch is really good though.

IGPlus: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/igplus-extens...

DFinstagram: https://www.distractionfreeapps.com

coldtrait
Android has good patches for everything except X thanks to Elon's meddling. There's a cumbersome workaround but I'm just choosing to use it within brave, or other PWAs offerings.
danpalmer
Doing this as a browser extension is one thing, but selling an interface to Instagram and YouTube sounds like it's very risky.

What's your basis for thinking this will work long term? I see you're selling yearly or lifetime subscriptions, suggesting you think the product can exist. There have been many attempts at this in the past that have been taken down, why is Dull different?

rglullis
> What's your basis for thinking this will work long term?

Even if this approach doesn't work long term, the important thing is to establish product-market fit, and to get enough people committed to the idea that your product is their gateway out of the closed platforms.

I can think of at least three different ways to set up a system that can go around the API restrictions and re-serve the data to a different client that the user can control. But if I go and implement any of those, someone will try it and give up on my product until that approach gets shut down.

By selling lifetime subscriptions, the users get invested in the success of the product as well and they will be more willing to fight the restrictions that the companies impose with you.

kasparnoor
Fair question. The honest answer is I don't know if Instagram or YouTube will try to shut this down. They haven't so far, but that doesn't mean they won't. They can try to come after me:) But seems like they are the ones losing in court currently for making their own apps so addicting. Wouldn't be a good look to come after such apps.

The subscription model exists partly because of this — if it stops working, you stop paying. The lifetime option is a bet on my part that I can keep maintaining it. If I can't, that's on me. But since this is an app I use daily myself I am extremely motivated to fix every bug and keep the app excellent and all filters working.

convexly
The fact that someone had to build a separate app just to get the version of Instagram from 5 years ago says a lot.
dlev_pika
Is this a way to use FB marketplace and groups without all the other bullshit?!

I’m sold

kasparnoor
Yeah, Facebook through Dull gives you marketplace and groups without the news feed and suggested content. It's probably the cleanest version of Facebook I've used in years.
tombert
Does anyone know if the "Show Fewer Shorts" thing on YouTube actually does anything? I choose that every time it gives me shorts and as far as I can tell the frequency isn't being decreased at all.
kasparnoor
I haven't even seen this option? Where is it
skeeter2020
Congratulations on creating a slightly healthier cigarette.
kasparnoor
Thanks! If one can't completely quit cigarettes, I'd prefer they smoke on a healthier one.
mtrifonov
the problem isn't that these apps are engaging. it's that the engagement has no nutritional value. scrolling reels is the digital equivalent of eating sugar, leaving you emptier than when you started. the apps that actually work for people long-term are the ones where the engagement is the byproduct of something real happening. filtering out the sugar doesn't fix the diet.
DanDeBugger
Man, the idea is great, theoretically the human nature would permit this needn't exist, but alas. The concept is awesome, but what are the long term implications of this I mean, in regards to implementation?
kasparnoor
The platforms change their DOM, so I need to keep the filters up to date. But I use this app myself and have 10+ active testers who instantly notify me of any bugs.
squigz
Free for 3 days. $4 a month.

Meanwhile I've had a uBlock Origin list selected since before I can remember and never see shorts or reels or anything else I don't want to.

For free.

We've really lost something with everything being mobile apps...

tim-projects
> I kept deleting and redownloading Instagram because I couldn't stop watching Reels but needed the app for DMs.

Using Instagram only for DMs just means you shouldn't be using it.

williamdclt
I don't make the choice of how individuals in my social circle uses to communicate. Giving up being in contact with some of my friends/acquaintances is too bad a trade-off.
AlexeyBelov
Your friends don't have WhatsApp or Telegram?
chrisvenum
Brave browser also has the ability to disable YouTube shorts and “distracting” ui elements like related videos in their settings. Works great on desktop/ios
vishalvi
Smart approach using MutationObserver to catch dynamically loaded content.

Though I wonder if blocking the content only treats the symptom. The real problem is the shortened attention span.

Could also be really useful for parents trying to manage screen time for their kids.

kasparnoor
I think the symptom is a self repeating loop that gets worse. they watch the short form content, which makes them more and more addicted to it. So breaking out of it, may get some of that attention span back. I already feel mine starting to return a bit. Been reading more books lately and just feeling a bit happier

That's an interesting angle on the parental control, by the way.

c-c-c-c-c
i will never pay to not access apps on my phone. On iOS i use ublock origin and userscripts to block all shorts and ads.
android521
please add wechat (without short videos)
kasparnoor
Interesting request. I haven't looked into WeChat's web version but I'll check if the short video content is filterable. No promises but noted. We've also gotten requests for Snapchat and TikTok.
swaminarayan
i like this idea, especially for the parent who dont want their kids to watch reels/shorts of the instagram and youtube apps.
Poacher5
What does this have that Youtube Vanced/Revanced doesn't already do for the cost of about half an hour of your time messing with sideloading and getting a clean youtube APK file? I already block all shorts through that. It's not perfect, but you admit you're playing whack-a-mole with the filtering just the same as the Revanced devs.
e12e
Not sure what this app does for Facebook - but I'm a quite happy user of:

https://www.beeper.com/

Allows me to use Instagram messages without the app - as well as (Facebook/meta) Messenger (and others).

I do wish they had a "support us" subscription tier, as I think the base price is a little steep - and I don't really need any of the paid features. Maybe something around the third or quarter the price.

I would hope that would lead to more users subscribing.