BlurTube – Intentional YouTube Usage

BlurTube

A minimal browser extension that reduces YouTube distraction by blurring the feed on the Home page and Shorts, keeping the search bar accessible.

The goal is simple: open YouTube with intent, not to scroll mindlessly.

Features

• Blurs YouTube Home feed (/)
• Keeps the search bar usable
• Blurs Shorts (/shorts/*) with smooth fade animation
• Works correctly with YouTube’s SPA navigation
• Lightweight, easy to use

How It Works

• The extension runs only on https://www.youtube.com/*
• When a YouTube page loads, the content script is initialized
• A blur overlay is added over the main content while keeping the header accessible
• The current route is continuously monitored
• When the route changes (Home, Search, Watch, Shorts), the blur overlay is shown or removed accordingly
• YouTube’s Single Page App (SPA) navigation is handled without requiring page reloads

Installation

1. Clone or download this repository
2. Load the extension in browser:
   • Open browser and navigate to browser-name://extensions/
   • Enable "Developer mode" (toggle in top-right corner)
   • Click "Load unpacked"
   • Select the extension directory
   • The extension should now appear in your extensions list
3. Open YouTube and use it intentionally 🎉

Files

• manifest.json - Extension manifest (Manifest V3)
• content.js - Route detection, blur logic
• style.css - Adds blur overlay styles and animations

Requirements

• Any web browser (Manifest V3 compatible)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.