ABSTRACT
Timebox News
News often acts as a catalyst, triggering negative dopamine responses due to its unlimited availability, pervasive bias, and omnipresence. For many, the goal shifts from mere consumption to thoughtful engagement with content. The pivotal question for informed users is: to abstain from or strategically control their news intake? Simple modifications might offer a solution to controlled consumption. Limiting exposure emerges as one tactic, while fostering active participation stands as another. Envision a news feed that rewards only those who contribute positively. In this paradigm, users consume content judiciously given the constraints of time and choice, and the responsibility of gatekeeping is equitably decentralized among all participants.
Posted on September 1 2023 by
This piece refers to the following themes
SIGNALS
The sheer volume of online content can be daunting. Tools that curate and restrict this deluge cater to those who prioritize quality over quantity. Volv is one such app aiming to make news and information more digestible.
The "give to get" principle, where users post to access peer content, signifies a shift towards more interactive platforms. While BeReal stands out in this space, Clearspace represents an early yet intriguing approach.
The spread of fake news and biased narratives has eroded trust in social media. Platforms delivering curated, authentic content present a solution to this trust deficit.
Traditional news aggregators like Flipboard, Google News, and Feedly may not resonate with newer generations. Instead, curated networks are gaining traction. Collective Media, a consortium of budding media startups emphasizing community and curation, is a notable group.
The rise of apps like Opal, centered on screen time control, echoes the increasing awareness of digital well-being.
Other innovations, such as one sec, promote mindfulness during digital consumption. This nifty app prompts users to inhale deeply before launching their social media.
In the battle of Human vs. AI, tools like Artifact (conceptualized by Instagram's founder) accentuate AI's reign in news curation. This showcases a void for human-centric alternatives.
FEATURES
Articles appear in a time-limited feed. After 5 minutes, the feed deactivates until the next day.
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Users can access the feed by posting an article.
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Users can also load their own or curated content into the feed using standard integrations.
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Brief summaries help users filter which articles they wish to save in the “Box” for the day.
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All articles are sorted by themes and can be browsed within these.
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Swiping up on an article saves it to the Box. A maximum of 5 articles per day.
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Once the 5th article is saved, the feed deactivates, similar to the 5-minute expiration.
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Access to the Box and the saved articles (today and history) is unlimited.
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Access to other users' Boxes to explore their curations and saves is also unlimited.