17 things rated · average 2.7 / 5
ChillSpace is a placebo feed for when you feel the urge to scroll. Unlike most motivation apps, ChillSpace looks like a real social feed, so you won't get that hit of disappointment that makes people reinstall real feeds. If you use Android, you can download it from the Play Store, and if you use iOS, you can access the feed on the web at chillspace.ai.
If you want utter random fun, try Binky. It's a placebo feed for pictures, and it loads random pictures from the internet. It is only available as an app on Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store). If you are using desktop, try a web-based alternative (like ChillSpace Reels) or a paper-based alternative (draw a fake social media feed on real paper, and open that up instead of your phone when cravings hit.
Calling real people is another simple way to quit your feed.
Sending text messages (via SMS, iMessage, RCS or a healthy Instant Messenger app like Signal) is a way to talk to people you might have previously spoken to on social media. I gave it 4.5 stars because it's not perfect because often texts can have links to social media posts whereas phone calls end when they end.
Music apps can be a great substitute for social media, but overall they score 4/5 (neutral) since some have slightly variable-reward features (autoplay, comments etc.)
Avoid in-app purchases in the mobile edition. If you do this Minecraft is perfectly OK to play (neutral)
Again OK (neutral) if you avoid a few things, but more of the features are harmful compared to the apps above. WhatsApp Channels, overuse of Status, checking who read your messages (especially in group chats) and Meta AI are some of the harmful features. It is still better than most instant messengers however (Discord, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, X DMs)
These are OK (neutral) if you avoid boredom-watching. Have a movie in mind to watch? Netflix is fine. Bored and want to scroll the feed? Go outside instead. These are healthier than social video apps (YouTube, TikTok etc.)
Discord is a messaging app. However, it is a messaging app designed for variable rewards. Massive servers, constant messages to check, links to other social apps. It is worse than WhatsApp because Discord is designed for you to constantly be checking messages, and you'll never have no new messages. This causes mental exhaustion, and every channel in a server is like a slot machine. You might hit the jackpot and have fun with your friends, or you might lose it all and waste time on hundreds of messages you don't care about.
It's better than Discord in itself, however it requires you to have an account on Facebook (the main site) which is much worse than Discord.
It can be used in a good way if you are careful. Use it only when you need advice or help with something. You can post on there or read other people's posts, however avoid addictive features (checking back on likes after posting, scrolling the main feed, clicking links when you have already found out what you need, using it when you don't need to)
It can be used in a good way if you are careful. Use it only if there is a particular video you want to watch. Watch one video that you have in mind or you found on a web search. Even if the next video's thumbnail looks cool after you have finished watching that one video, don't click it. YouTube purposely shows you disappointing and anger-inducing content to keep you searching for good content. Autoplay, suggested next videos and Shorts are all slot machine features. They want you to keep looking for the jackpot.
Seems fun at first, but literally turns friendships into social pressure. Features like streaks ruin friendships every day. Clicking on snaps is another slot machine feature, as it might be a fun pic (that's the jackpot) or a picture of the ceiling (the disappointing loss). Similarly, Snapchat Spotlight is another slot machine feature like Shorts.
The first app (but certainly not the last) on this list we say 100% delete, no matter your circumstances. Wanna talk to friends? Texting. Shop on Marketplace? Use an alternative. Or if you really need to, use it on the web. Delete the app now. The News and Reels feeds are slot machine features, and they purposely show people posts to make them angry. Don't have FOMO. If you don't delete Facebook, you'll miss out on 99.9% of it anyway. If you delete it, you'll only miss 0.1% more. And will you really miss the anger?
At least Facebook had an excuse: "connecting with friends". TikTok doesn't. The videos are totally a slot machine feature, and there is no reliable way to watch just one TikTok. Hate-filled videos and comments sections could appear at any time and give you a rush of anxiety, spiking your heart rate and blood pressure just like losing a bet. It's also 100% pointless.
In 2026 Instagram = TikTok under a different name. Plus even more social pressure because of Stories that expire. In reality, if you don't use Instagram, you can just ask your friends to send you their photos over text if you want to (if they don't they aren't a real friend).
X is literally where you go to have an argument. It will fill your brain with cortisol. The feed is a slot machine feature. Any alternatives like Meta's Threads look nicer on the appstore listing, but are just the same. Don't scroll hate.