Scrolling is possible My timeline is my choice, and I can access it whenever I like. This miracle of technology is amazing. However, I find myself doing this a lot even though I would rather be doing something else.
With this in mind, I’ve been thinking lately about how I’d like social media to be just a little bit worse—to add the slightest amount of friction so I don’t spend quite so much time doomscrolling. The web version of all social media networks can be used on your phone without the need to install the app. This was my solution. Every social network—Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even LinkedIn—works in the browser on your phone. This is a bit more complicated than an app, and for me it adds enough friction that reminds me of how much I can do with the time that I have.
This is just the beginning. I’ve talked about how you should always question the default settings, and the idea that you need to install an app to use a social network is a particularly strong default. In some cases, the web app works better than the original app. Here’s why.
We do not have any sneaky access.
Many information is required for apps like social media. Some of this makes sense—if you want to upload photos, for example, Facebook is going to need access to your photo library. Some of it makes less sense—does any social media application actually need your current location?
It’s possible to figure out which apps have permission to do what, but if you use the web version of social media apps you don’t have to. That’s because websites don’t run in the background of your device constantly—they only load when you request them. It’s a myth that Facebook is listening to your conversations, but if you don’t install the Facebook app it’s not even hypothetically possible for them to do so.
No Notifications
Both pros and cons are there. You will never miss any updates on the social networks you choose with notifications on your smartphone. That’s great if you want to be constantly connected, but it’s also a big part of what makes these social networks so addictive.
Put simply, if you’re trying to be more mindful about your social media usage, the notifications are a pretty big problem. The web version of social media sites can’t push notifications to your device, though. You can be more conscious of when and where you check your social media. Sure, you might still impulsively type “Instagram.com” on your browser from time to time, but it will be because you’re making a choice—not because a notification pulled you in.
Sometimes, Terrible Features are Added Less Commonly
It seems like Instagram has been getting worse. Where once I’d scroll through a collection of photos from friends, now I get a bit of that followed by a cheap TikTok knock-off.
I can’t fix this for you—social media networks are incentivized to keep you scrolling, not to make sure you’re happy while doing it. The problem with the old Instagram, apparently, was that you’d stop scrolling after you stopped seeing new photos. The alternative is a never-ending stream of algorithmically curated “content.” I’m not a technologist, or a futurist, but it seems probable to me that Meta (which owns Instagram and Facebook) will keep making their products worse and worse in an attempt to squeeze every last bit of potential attention—and revenue—out of you.
I can’t solve this for you, but using the web version of a given social network seems to delay the worst features for at least a while. Instagram’s web version, for example, only recently added the aforementioned stream of garbage after you complete scrolling. You get an extra six-month supply of peace if the Instagram web app is used. It also means that the web version will likely be spared whatever fresh hell the Instagram team dreams up next—at least, for a little while. It’s not a lot, granted, but it’s something.
How to add any website to your home screen
I, personally, like having to type the URL for social networks into my browser in order to open them—it’s a nice amount of friction. If you’d rather not do that, though, you can add icons for the web version of any social network to your home screen, so you can open them like apps.
Safari can be used to open Safari for an iPhone or iPad. Tap the button to go there Share The button is located on the right side the address bar. Tap Add to Your Home Screen Add the icon to your home screen with the logo.
You can find more information here AndroidOpen the site in Chrome. Tap the three dots icon at the top-right corner. Then, tap Add to Your Home Screen. This may be different in certain cases. Get the App instead—Twitter did this for me. There’s a technical reason for this involving something called a Progressive Web App, but you don’t have to worry about it. You will see the icon on any device. Android home screen.
It’s really hard to use social media with intention. I don’t think using the web app is a magic trick that will solve my impulsive checking—that’s going to take work on my part. It’s a tool I have, though.
I can make it even more effective by logging out when I’m done scrolling, which means I’ll need to enter my password the next time I want to scroll. It’s easier to get rid of my bad habits if I don’t add any friction. This is what I would like for myself. Give it a try if you too want it.
