Why I Block Algorithmic Feeds Instead of Using Website Blockers (And How It Changed My Dev Workflow)

I deleted Twitter. Then I doomscrolled Reddit. I deleted Reddit. Then I doomscrolled YouTube Shorts. I deleted YouTube. Then I sat there refreshing Hacker News. Sound familiar? If you're a developer who's tried "digital detox" and failed, this post is for you. I finally figured out why every attempt failed — and what actually worked. The Problem Isn't the App. It's the Feed. Every productivity article says the same thing: "delete social media." And every time I tried, I just migrated to the next dopamine source. The apps are interchangeable. The algorithmic feed is the drug. Here's what I mean: Twitter/X → The "For You" tab is algorithmically curated to maximize engagement Reddit → The front page and popular feeds are optimized for scroll time YouTube → Shorts and recommendations are designed to keep you watching Instagram → The Explore page and Reels are infinite scroll traps Hacker News → Even this has a ranking algorithm (albeit simpler) The feed is what creates the compulsion loop.