Last year I realized I was spending 3+ hours daily on YouTube without consciously choosing it. I'd open to search for one video and suddenly two hours had passed. The algorithm is just too good at what it does.
I tried every blocking app out there. Most block YouTube entirely, which feels restrictive so you disable them. Others use willpower-based approaches, which obviously don't work against a billion-dollar algorithm. Nothing hit the sweet spot.
So I built Monk Mode: it blocks YouTube Home and Shorts but keeps search and subscriptions. You can still watch creators you follow and search for videos — you just can't doom-scroll the algorithm.
Why this approach works
1. You're not blocked — the algorithm is. This psychological difference is huge. Users don't feel restricted; they feel protected.
2. The native Mac app matters. Browser extensions are easy to disable or circumvent. A native app runs at the OS level and actually protects you.
3. Time caps as guardrails, not walls. Most blocking apps use hard blocks. We add 15/30 min time caps (customizable in Pro) that gently remind you but don't forcefully kick you off.
4. Showing data changes behavior. The focus score and distraction pattern tracking lets users see where they're actually wasting time. Seeing "I lost 8 hours to YouTube this week" is more motivating than vague guilt.
What I learned about behavior change
Willpower against algorithmic feeds is a losing game. The algorithm is designed by hundreds of engineers to be compelling. You can't outthink it with discipline.
So I designed Monk Mode to remove the choice entirely — blocks the algorithm, keeps the useful features.
Key insights:
- Target the specific behavior, not the whole domain. Blocking YouTube entirely backfires (people disable it). Blocking just Home/Shorts works because you can still use YouTube productively.
- Native app > browser extension. Extensions are easy to disable. Users are 3x more likely to stick with a native app.
- Data visualization matters. The focus score and weekly distraction patterns make behavior tangible.
The business side
- $15 lifetime with no subscription. People love this.
- Free download with basic time caps. Pro adds custom timers and detailed analytics.
- Bootstrapped, no funding. Built this because I was losing my mind to YouTube's algorithm.
- 4,200+ Mac users, growing through word-of-mouth.
If you're fighting the algorithm and losing, give it a try: mac.monk-mode.lifestyle
Happy to answer questions about the build, the behavior psychology behind it, or the business side.
Top comments (1)
This hits hard — I have tried blocking apps too and always ended up disabling them 😅
Blocking the algorithm, not the platform is such a smart shift… feels way more realistic to stick with.