Unhook

Unhook is a lightweight Android digital-friction app that interrupts infinite-scroll behavior inside selected social apps.

Core idea: Unhook yourself from corporations' chains.

Unhook pushes back against algorithmic compulsion by adding deliberate friction where addictive loops usually win.

Philosophy

• You own your attention.
• Products should serve users, not trap them.
• Friction can be a feature when it protects autonomy.
• Offline-first design protects privacy and trust.

Features

• Accessibility-driven, event-based behavior
• Blocks vertical swipe gestures in short-video contexts for selected apps
• Allows taps and non-vertical interaction paths where possible
• Optional hard block for TikTok app opening (when TikTok is enabled in target apps)
• User-configurable target app list (DataStore)
• Offline by design (no network, no analytics, no tracking)

Target apps (defaults)

• com.instagram.android
• com.facebook.katana
• com.google.android.youtube
• com.twitter.android
• com.zhiliaoapp.musically

Architecture

• Kotlin only
• Settings UI: Jetpack Compose
• Gesture interception: AccessibilityService + TYPE_ACCESSIBILITY_OVERLAY + GestureDetector
• Storage: DataStore Preferences
• No Room, WorkManager, foreground service, polling, or remote calls

How it works

1. UnhookAccessibilityService listens for TYPE_WINDOW_STATE_CHANGED.
2. If a supported foreground app is enabled, the service evaluates screen context.
3. In detected short-video contexts, a transparent full-screen overlay blocks vertical swipes.
4. Non-target contexts keep normal interaction flow.
5. For TikTok, if enabled, Unhook can immediately exit the app to Home.

Build requirements

• minSdk 26
• targetSdk 34
• Kotlin 1.9+
• JDK 17 (required)
• Android SDK + build-tools
• Android Studio (optional, recommended)

Run locally

1. Open in Android Studio.
2. Sync Gradle.
3. Run app on device.
4. In the app, open Accessibility Settings and enable Unhook service.

Build from command line (no Android Studio)

1. Ensure JDK 17 is installed and JAVA_HOME points to it.
2. Ensure Android SDK is installed and ANDROID_HOME (or ANDROID_SDK_ROOT) is set.
3. Build debug APK:

./gradlew :app:assembleDebug

Privacy

Unhook is fully offline.

• No analytics
• No telemetry
• No ads
• No network calls

License

Non-commercial only. Any commercial use is prohibited without prior written permission. See LICENSE.