Show HN: Dull – Instagram Without Reels, YouTube Without Shorts (iOS)
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.
Discussion Highlights (13 comments)
SoKamil
This could have been Safari Extension
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
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?
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.
joenot443
How does your system differ from an extension like this? https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/remove-youtube-shor...
bonyt
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
dlev_pika
Is this a way to use FB marketplace and groups without all the other bullshit?! I’m sold
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.
skeeter2020
Congratulations on creating a slightly healthier cigarette.
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?
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.
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