Show HN: Dull – Instagram Without Reels, YouTube Without Shorts (iOS)(getdull.app)
46 pointsby kasparnoor6 hours ago11 comments
  • danpalmer5 hours ago
    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?

    • jatins28 minutes ago
      You can't have extensions in mobile browsers, right? While this seems like it targets mobile users.
      • foopod20 minutes ago
        Not in Chrome or iOS probably. But Firefox for Android supports extensions.
    • shlewis2 hours ago
      Selling it is one thing. Making it a subscription is just crazy to me.
    • wormpilled2 hours ago
      If anyone pays for this they deserve to be scammed.
      • 01284a7ean hour ago
        I don't think it's a scam at all. Will it be around in a week? Probably not. But it's not a scam.
    • buzzerbetrayed4 hours ago
      Why wouldn’t making a paid web browser be legal?
      • danpalmer3 hours ago
        Obviously it isn't, but also obviously: this isn't a web browser in anything but technical implementation. It's a packaged, sold, interface to a proprietary service with a set of T&Cs that they are free to enforce.

        Also every single one of these that I've seen before has fallen down in the same way. Chat apps that embed Facebook, third party YouTube viewer for Apple's VR headset, various other third party Instagram apps, etc.

      • Gigachad3 hours ago
        Even if it is legal, meta and google will just block you from accessing the service.
        • nslsm3 hours ago
          How?
          • danpalmer2 hours ago
            I can't tell if this is a good faith question, but in the interests of good discussion, there are many ways they can do this. Technical solutions include blocking the user agent, blocking request patterns, client-side feature detection, client-side attestation, but importantly they are not limited to technical solutions, there are also things like cease and desist letters, breaches of contracts, pressure on the software distributors, lawsuits.

            This is no judgement of whether these are the steps they might take, or whether they would be right in doing so, I want to remain neutral on this. But I would point again to the many instances of things like this happening in the past.

          • iugtmkbdfil8342 hours ago
            Like most things.. it is a cat and mouse game dependent on how heavily they believe their revenue could be impacted. I am not sure why you think either of those corporates would have a problem of banning individual users, who are only suspected based on the app signature..
            • vakrdotme2 hours ago
              I agree on this, cat and mouse game
  • DanDeBugger15 minutes ago
    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?
  • bryanhogan5 hours ago
    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

    • princevegeta893 hours ago
      Well, you don't even have to fight these patterns or these apps

      Just stop using these stupid apps overall. 95% of the content you find on them is useless. And today, a staggering amount of content is also fake AI crap. Save your sanity and time and remove these apps.

      • bryanhogan2 hours ago
        Yes, I think it's good to uninstall these apps from time to time as well.

        Deleting and never using them again doesn't work for everyone though. For me it's useful to stay in contact with people, I also use them to promote work as well as find cool events.

        • skeeter202034 minutes ago
          >> I also use them to promote work as well as find cool events.

          - like everyone else, hence the algo-driven push to keep you engaged and scrolling.

      • dlev_pika2 hours ago
        I’ve gone cold turkey to preserve my mental health, and it’s been amazing. FB & IG completely screwed my dopamine / reward cycle.

        I only miss FB marketplace. Rest, I’m crushing it.

  • tombertan hour ago
    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.
    • Brajeshwaran hour ago
      I think it lasts for about a month.
      • tombert43 minutes ago
        It doesn't seem to work for even a week though. In fact I'm not sure it lasts even a day; I feel like I'll do "show fewer shorts" and still see a bunch of shorts recommendations a few hours later.

        I wish they would just have a "don't show shorts at all" option.

      • ehnto14 minutes ago
        Such a scummy UX pattern, a long with the "not right now" or "maybe later" stuff.

        The argument I have heard is that a user might forget they disabled the feature, but perhaps they actually wanted it. Apparently we're all too stupid to use a Settings section.

        I am definitely seeing a dichotomy in software, there is software that accepts you have your own brain cells capable of operating the software. Then there is the software that expects, hopes even, that you only spark enough neurons together when the jolt of a video finishing rattles your brain, enough to scroll to the next one.

        We should stop using the dumb software, lest we be trained to be dumb too.

  • bonyt2 hours ago
    For YouTube, I've used it in Safari on iOS for a while with UnTrap for YouTube that lets you disable short[1]. On desktop, a uBlock origin filter works[2].

    [1]: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/untrap-for-youtube/id163743805...

    [2]: https://github.com/i5heu/ublock-hide-yt-shorts

  • skeeter202033 minutes ago
    Congratulations on creating a slightly healthier cigarette.
  • convexly4 hours ago
    The fact that someone had to build a separate app just to get the version of Instagram from 5 years ago says a lot.
    • Gigachad3 hours ago
      I hate how we have bundled useful things alongside addiction building media. It’s like if supermarkets had drugs next to the vegetables.

      You can’t just leave your phone at home because you need it to 2FA at work or maps. But then you end up scrolling shorts and other junk.

      • normie300038 minutes ago
        Well supermarkets do have high-sugar ultraprocessed snacks right next to the check-out counter, so I think your analogy is spot on.

        Now I just need to vibecode a plugin for my smart glasses to filter out those snacks.

      • red3692 hours ago
        My favourite recent discovery is Assistive Access in the iOS Accessibility settings. You pick the apps you want access to (and set privacy permissions), then when you launch the mode your iPhone only shows those apps.

        If you feel a sudden compulsion to access something you didn't allow yourself, you have to exit the mode, which takes as long as a reboot.

        There are quite a few limitations of this mode, so it won't be for everyone (or maybe anyone on here?) but it's a pretty good detox. A lot stronger than screentime restrictions.

    • quangtrn3 hours ago
      [dead]
  • joenot4434 hours ago
    How does your system differ from an extension like this?

    https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/remove-youtube-shor...

    • sidrag223 hours ago
      On firefox i use unhook for youtube. solves the shorts issue but im sure a lot of people would be less okay with what i prefer youtube to be, a search bar with nothing else.
  • SoKamil5 hours ago
    This could have been Safari Extension
    • mind_heist4 hours ago
      Instagram is not predominantly used on Safari, so Safari doesn't sound like the best place to implement something like this.
      • dnlzro3 hours ago
        The use case for this app (Dull):

        1. Uninstall Instagram

        2. Install Dull

        3. Use Instagram via Dull

        The use case for a Safari extension:

        1. Uninstall Instagram

        2. Install the Safari extension

        3. Use Instagram via Safari

        Am I missing something that is obviously better about Dull (which couldn't be replicated by a Safari extension)?

        (P.S. this is not meant to discourage the developer of Dull; I like the idea and your implementation seems really good.)

      • nativeit3 hours ago
        Isn’t this just WebKit with some user scripts anyway?
  • dlev_pika2 hours ago
    Is this a way to use FB marketplace and groups without all the other bullshit?!

    I’m sold

  • jdituan hour ago
    [dead]