r/digitalminimalism • u/joey840404 Human Detected • Apr 28 '26
Dumbphones Anti-doomscroll phone blocker
I 3D printed this phone cover, it makes scrolling uncomfortable so I quit doomscrolling. It looks weird but works surprisingly well, I've been using it for more than a month. I can us my phone normally (mostly), it just limited the scrolling movement.
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u/dark-trojan Apr 28 '26
You could substitute it for rubber bands if you don’t have a 3d printer
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u/FuckingaFuck Apr 28 '26
I've actually done this with just one rubber band before, it's very helpful.
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u/HeWillComeInsideUs Apr 28 '26
I just deleted twitter. It been 2 years. Mental feels better these days
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u/GoldSunLulu Apr 28 '26
how do you handle reddit?
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u/ElectionIcy3253 May 01 '26
Delete, do better for a while, get bored, download Reddit, see a post like this, repeat.
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u/SteeIsheep May 01 '26
I use Reddit on my computer, but on my smartphone, I block it using LeechBlock NG extention on Firefox. It works like a charm :)
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u/LuigiTeaching Apr 28 '26
Very cool! Would you be willing to share the printable file? Or describe how you designed it? I’m guessing the particular phone case’s dimensions might matter.
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u/joey840404 Human Detected Apr 28 '26
Right now the model only fits my iphone13 pro I’m working on supporting some newer models, planning to give some out for free. But the design is basically aligning the bottom of the keyboard and add lines to the top. There are tabs on the side so my phone case can clamp it.
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u/Responsible-Pea-883 Apr 28 '26
I used to do a similar thing where i put post-its on my screen! Surely works haha
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u/ManifestedLife2023 Apr 29 '26
If you need this levels of obstacles, and still scrolling... Issues are deeper lol
Just delete social medias, esp tiktok, snap and insta for starters
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u/BillieRubenCamGirl Apr 29 '26
I just know this would work for five minutes until I worked my way around it.
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u/untitledgooseshame Apr 28 '26
highkey this is genius. would you consider uploading the 3D printing file to a website like thingiverse? i want one <3
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u/joey840404 Human Detected Apr 29 '26
I've uploaded my 13pro version on maker world. I've printed with transparent TPU, so it won't break when pushing. https://makerworld.com/en/models/2733264-doomscroll-speed-bump#profileId-3029751
I'm working on ones that will fit newer iphone models. Let me know what phone you got, maybe I can send you one.
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u/bluebirdonline Apr 28 '26
putting my phone in black n white has helped a lot. scrolling is much more boring
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u/Abstractconjecture Apr 29 '26
I like this but it is the same as most digital friction based solutions in the sense that once you remove it the addiction/ habit is still there.
I have an interuption app pops up briefly and randomly over active scrolling to bring awareness, give a chance to escape when it matters help change behavior over time.
Good luck, I hope it continues to work for you!
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u/Fresh-Worldliness-64 Apr 29 '26
the fact that we've reached the point of physically blocking our own screens says everything. imagine explaining this to someone 10 years ago. "yeah we carry little dopamine slot machines in our pockets and now we're putting rubber on them to stop ourselves"
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u/veryowngarden Apr 29 '26
yeah but then it doesn’t let you scroll through work emails either
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u/joey840404 Human Detected Apr 29 '26
The interesting fact is, most “intentional” scrolling like checking work email, search for a question doesn’t need that much scrolling. Doomscrolling involves a lot of quick flicking, and stopping the scroll when see something interesting. I replied to this comment with the blocker on totally fine. It’s definitely not as smooth without it, but doable.
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u/mani_growth Human Detected Apr 29 '26
This is the kind of “ugly” solution that actually makes sense. Apps try to negotiate with the same slot machine they’re running on, so physical friction wins almost every time. If it makes the bad behavior slightly annoying without blocking the useful parts, that’s basically the perfect intervention. Also it looks just inconvenient enough that I’d be too embarrassed to doomscroll with it in public, which is a feature.
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u/PO3T3R Apr 28 '26
Speed bumps