...
your attention is yours

Gain back
your attention

Short-form content hijacks your dopamine loop. This is your toolkit to take it back — one blocked feed at a time.

Start the guide
the toolkit

Limit short-form content
— a guide

Choose your platform below. Walk through the steps, drop in screenshots, and cut off the dopamine tap for good.

iOS & Safari Works on iPhone, iPad & Mac
Userscripts app icon
01

Get Userscripts

Install Userscripts — a Safari extension that lets you run custom JavaScript on any website, including YouTube.

Install from App Store
Enable Userscripts extension in Settings

Settings → Safari → Extensions

02

Enable the Extension

Open Settings → Safari → Extensions and toggle Userscripts on. Grant it permission to run on all websites when prompted.

Userscripts installation demo

Installation walkthrough on iPhone (click to play)

03

Add the Shorts Blocker Script

Visit this script on Greasy Fork. Safari will detect it and Userscripts will prompt you to install. Tap Install → Done.

The animated guide above shows the full process. Works identically on iPad and Mac Safari.

Manual Installation (Advanced)

If you prefer installing the script manually, download the file and place it in your Userscripts folder.

M1

Download the Script File

Download the Remove_YouTube_Shorts.user.js file or copy the code below.

// ==UserScript== // @name Remove YouTube Shorts // @namespace https://github.com/strangeZombies // @version 2025.4.4.0 // @description Remove YouTube Shorts tags, dismissible elements, Shorts links, and Reel Shelf // @author StrangeZombies // @icon https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?sz=64&domain=youtube.com // @match https://*.youtube.com/* // @match https://m.youtube.com/* // @grant none // @run-at document-start // @downloadURL https://update.greasyfork.org/scripts/522057/Remove%20YouTube%20Shorts.user.js // @updateURL https://update.greasyfork.org/scripts/522057/Remove%20YouTube%20Shorts.meta.js // ==/UserScript== (function () { 'use strict'; const hideHistoryShorts = false; const debug = false; const commonSelectors = [ 'a[href*="/shorts/"]', '[is-shorts]', 'yt-chip-cloud-chip-renderer:has(a[href*="/shorts/"])', 'ytd-reel-shelf-renderer', 'ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[overlay-style="SHORTS"]', '#guide [title="Shorts"]', '.ytd-mini-guide-entry-renderer[title="Shorts"]', '.ytd-mini-guide-entry-renderer[aria-label="Shorts"]', ]; const mobileSelectors = [ '.pivot-shorts', 'ytm-reel-shelf-renderer', 'ytm-search ytm-video-with-context-renderer [data-style="SHORTS"]', ]; const feedSelectors = [ 'ytd-browse[page-subtype="subscriptions"] ytd-grid-video-renderer [overlay-style="SHORTS"]', 'ytd-browse[page-subtype="subscriptions"] ytd-video-renderer [overlay-style="SHORTS"]', 'ytd-browse[page-subtype="subscriptions"] ytd-rich-item-renderer [overlay-style="SHORTS"]', ]; const channelSelectors = ['yt-tab-shape[tab-title="Shorts"]']; const historySelectors = ['ytd-browse[page-subtype="history"] ytd-reel-shelf-renderer']; function removeElementsBySelectors(selectors) { selectors.forEach((selector) => { try { const elements = document.querySelectorAll(selector); elements.forEach((element) => { if (element.dataset.removedByScript) return; let parent = element.closest( 'ytd-video-renderer, ytd-grid-video-renderer, ytd-compact-video-renderer, ytd-rich-item-renderer, ytm-video-with-context-renderer' ); if (!parent) parent = element; parent.remove(); parent.dataset.removedByScript = 'true'; if (debug) console.log(`Removed element: ${parent}`); }); } catch (error) { if (debug) console.warn(`Error processing selector: ${selector}`, error); } }); } function removeElements() { const currentUrl = window.location.href; if (debug) console.log('Current URL:', currentUrl); if (currentUrl.includes('m.youtube.com')) { removeElementsBySelectors(mobileSelectors); } if (currentUrl.includes('/feed/subscriptions')) { removeElementsBySelectors(feedSelectors); } if (hideHistoryShorts && currentUrl.includes('/feed/history')) { removeElementsBySelectors(historySelectors); } removeElementsBySelectors(commonSelectors); } function debounce(func, delay) { let timeout; return (...args) => { clearTimeout(timeout); timeout = setTimeout(() => func.apply(this, args), delay); }; } const debouncedRemoveElements = debounce(removeElements, 300); function init() { if (debug) console.log('Remove YouTube Shorts script activated'); removeElements(); const isFirefox = navigator.userAgent.includes('Firefox'); if (isFirefox) { window.addEventListener('popstate', removeElements); } else { document.addEventListener('yt-navigate-finish', removeElements); } const observer = new MutationObserver(debouncedRemoveElements); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); } if (document.readyState === 'loading') { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', init); } else { init(); } })();

Original script by StrangeZombies

M2

Move to Userscripts Folder

Using the Files app, move the .user.js file into the Userscripts folder (it's created automatically after you install the extension).

M3

Enable in Safari

Open Safari → Tap the aA icon (left of address bar) → Manage Extensions → Userscripts → Tap the folder icon → Find your script → Toggle it On.

Reload YouTube. Shorts are gone.

Legal Disclaimer: This guide is provided for educational purposes. I take no responsibility for scripts installed by you or any issues that may arise. Use these tools at your own discretion.
Android System-wide blocking apps
No Shorts app icon
01

No Shorts App

Blocks Shorts and Reels across YouTube and Instagram — system-wide. Works by intercepting the app feeds before they load.

Install from Play Store
⚠
This app displays ads. Disconnect social accounts if you're concerned about data privacy.
NoScroll app icon
02

NoScroll: Block Infinite Feeds

Stops infinite scroll on Reels, Shorts, and Stories. The feed just… stops. No more mindless swiping.

Install from Play Store
!
Can be buggy on phones with aggressive battery optimization. Disable battery restrictions for this app in Settings → Apps → NoScroll → Battery.
03

NewPipe (Advanced)

NewPipe is a libre, lightweight YouTube client with zero Shorts, no ads, no tracking, and no Google Services required. It's the nuclear option.

Download from GitHub
!
APKs outside the Play Store require Install from unknown sources enabled in Settings → Security → Unknown Sources.
Windows & macOS Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge & Brave
Remove YouTube Shorts extension icon
01

Remove YouTube Shorts

A lightweight Chrome extension that strips Shorts from every corner of YouTube — search, home, sidebar, and channels.

Add to Chrome

Also works with Kiwi Browser on Android.

Tampermonkey icon
02

Tampermonkey (Advanced)

A userscript manager that lets you run custom JavaScript on websites. Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave.

Install Tampermonkey

For power users who want fine-grained control via custom scripts.

Custom Userscript (Optional)

If you prefer a scriptable solution with a control panel, install the script below in Tampermonkey. It removes Shorts from YouTube and adds a sidebar panel for toggling features.

// ==UserScript== // @name YouTube Shorts Remover // @namespace http://tampermonkey.net/ // @version 1.0.0 // @description Completely removes YouTube Shorts - WORKING 2025 // @author BennoGHG // @match https://www.youtube.com/* // @match https://m.youtube.com/* // @grant GM_addStyle // @grant GM_setValue // @grant GM_getValue // @run-at document-start // @license MIT // ==/UserScript== (function() { 'use strict'; // Configuration const config = { enabled: GM_getValue('shortsRemoverEnabled', true), removeNavigation: GM_getValue('removeNavigation', true), removeFromHomepage: GM_getValue('removeFromHomepage', true), removeFromSearch: GM_getValue('removeFromSearch', true), redirectShortsUrls: GM_getValue('redirectShortsUrls', true) }; // CSS to hide Shorts elements const shortsRemovalCSS = ` ytd-guide-entry-renderer:has-text(Shorts), ytd-reel-shelf-renderer, ytd-shorts-shelf-renderer, ytd-rich-item-renderer:has(ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[overlay-style="SHORTS"]), ytd-video-renderer:has(ytd-thumbnail-overlay-time-status-renderer[overlay-style="SHORTS"]) { display: none !important; } `; // Apply CSS if (config.enabled) { GM_addStyle(shortsRemovalCSS); } // Redirect /shorts/ URLs to /watch?v= if (config.redirectShortsUrls && window.location.href.includes('/shorts/')) { const videoId = window.location.href.split('/shorts/')[1].split('?')[0]; window.location.replace(`https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=${videoId}`); } // Full script with sidebar controls and mutation observer continues... // (See complete 19KB version in Windows.md) })();

Installation: Copy the code → Open Tampermonkey → Create New Script → Paste → Save. Reload YouTube.

the science

Why it matters

Short-form video is engineered to exploit the human attention system. Every swipe delivers a micro-reward, training your brain to crave novelty over depth.

The average human attention span dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds today — shorter than a goldfish. We are in an unprecedented attention crisis, and algorithms are built to deepen it.

"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." — Jeff Hammerbacher, early Facebook engineer

Reclaiming your attention isn't about willpower. It's about building an environment that doesn't work against you. The tools above are your first line of defence.

↑ your focus is worth protecting
95min
Average daily TikTok usage per user in 2024
8sec
Average attention span — down from 12s in 2000
23min
Time to fully refocus after a single distraction
4hrs
Daily screen time recovered after blocking short-form apps

illustrative attention depth over time

replace the habit

The Alternative

You've reclaimed your attention. Now fill that space with something intentional. These apps deliver knowledge in bite-sized formats — without the endless scroll trap.

My Favorite
Deepstash icon

Deepstash

Ideas worth keeping

Curated insights from books, articles, and podcasts — delivered in 2-minute reads. Think of it as the anti-TikTok: every card teaches you something real.

I've been using Deepstash as my go-to alternative to doomscrolling. It's taught me countless ideas from great books I'd never have time to read. Genuinely life-changing.
iOS Android
Pocket icon

CloseReels

Reduce Scrolling

CloseReels disrupts your scrolling habit without blindly blocking apps. But CloseReels is only for those who value their time. Now, you can stay realized while scrolling.

iOS Android (alt)
Imprint icon

Imprint

Learn visually in minutes

Big ideas from the world's best books — explained through stunning visuals. Each lesson takes under 5 minutes. It's like having a personal tutor in your pocket.

iOS

The goal isn't to avoid all screens — it's to make them work for you, not against you.

the science behind it

What Research Says

These aren't just theories — academic research shows how recommendation algorithms are engineered to hijack your attention. Here's what the science reveals about short-form video addiction.

ByteDance's TikTok Recommendation Engine

ByteDance Engineering Team

ByteDance Inc. ACM RecSys 2022 Production System

This paper reveals the internal architecture of Monolith — ByteDance's real-time recommendation system powering TikTok. The system updates its understanding of your preferences every minute, creating an unprecedented feedback loop. Traditional batch training was abandoned because it's too slow for short-video platforms. The algorithm processes millions of users simultaneously, using "collisionless embedding tables" to capture unique patterns for every user and video.

Why it matters: Your every swipe trains the algorithm in real-time. The system is designed specifically for time-sensitive customer feedback — optimizing not for your wellbeing, but for maximum engagement.

Read Full Paper
ByteDance Monolith recommendation system architecture

YouTube Shorts: Echo Chambers and Algorithmic Bias

Selimhan Dagtas, Mert Can Cakmak, Nitin Agarwal

University of Arkansas arXiv 2025 Comparative Study

Researchers analyzed YouTube's recommendation algorithms for both Shorts and long-form videos. They discovered that Shorts push users into echo chambers faster than traditional videos, with algorithms prioritizing engagement over content diversity. Short-form videos show a more immediate shift toward engaging but less diverse content compared to long-form videos.

Key finding: The algorithm optimizes for watch-time above all else, sacrificing content quality and creating stronger filter bubbles. Political content in Shorts demonstrates measurable algorithmic bias, shaping narratives and amplifying specific viewpoints.

Read Full Paper
YouTube Shorts algorithm bias analysis

The takeaway? These algorithms are engineered by some of the world's smartest engineers to be maximally addictive. You're not weak — you're up against billion-dollar AI systems. That's why you need tools, not willpower.

the person behind this
Profile picture
Aditya
@totaloverdose

Two years into zero social media—zilch, not a single minute—and I've never felt freer. No pressure to post, no algorithmic hooks dictating my thoughts. My content consumption has shifted from fleeting scrolls to deep, meaningful dives: reading comprehension has skyrocketed, and I've reclaimed true agency over my mind. Ditch the emotionally engineered addiction—it's harmful and designed to keep you hooked. Try it; real freedom awaits.

I write about philosophy, product, and building systems that let you do your best work. No algorithms, simple human content.