Taming the Feed: Cutting Back on YouTube and Late-Night Browsing
Previously, I wrote about stepping away from technology and escaping the pull of algorithms. But changing habits is harder than writing about them, and my previous attempts have been utter failures.
Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that these platforms are undeniably useful tools.YouTube has helped me learn music production. Reddit has pointed me toward better routines, ideas, and insights. But there is a fine line between using these platforms and being used by them, and that line is deliberately blurred as companies spent billions making sure it stays that way. Working in tech myself, I also feel the constant urge to keep up and stay informed, which only deepens the pull.
The internet still holds value, but only when I treat it as a tool rather than a default place to pass time.
There is no shortage of ideas on what activities to do instead of browsing - at least in theory. Making music, practicing instruments, reading, cooking, walking. But past attempts to change my habits were not mindful enough. I did not give my brain the space to adjust. Without the usual rush of stimulation, frustration quickly set in, and the old habits returned.
This time I am starting smaller.
The first step is cutting off internet access on my Mac after 22:00. If I want to work on music late into the evening, that is fine. But there is no reason to be online. The ancient Greeks said that night brings counsel. I hope the quiet helps me reflect.
YouTube has also been stripped down using the Unhook extension. No Shorts. No comments. No recommendations. If I need something specific, I will search for it directly.
I know this will not be perfect. I will probably still find ways to drift. But two steps forward and one step back is better than standing still. I am not aiming for a radical reset. Just small and sustainable shifts. I will check in again after a week.
This is not about rejecting the internet. It is about reshaping how I relate to it. Less feed. More focus.