#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device.
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a long time ago, at a conference, a guy from Google gave a talk about the cool new thing, "instant apps". Android apps that you don't need to install. just open them and start using right away! and it will only download the pages you open. crazy!
when the time for QA came, people formed a long queue to the mic. i was the first. i asked: "so, how is it different from web apps?". the minute i said it, almost everyone left the queue, muttering: "damn, that was my question".
i don't remember their exact answer because there wasn't really any. many years later, in December 2025, Google discontinued instant apps.
i think they were onto something. it's cool to be able to just use apps without installing them. it's just... we already have it.
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
@jwildeboer You also can't install an ad-blocker in an app.
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
@jwildeboer Very reasonable.
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@jwildeboer It's also kinda "cheating" cos I can just have no ads on an ad-ridden free version of an app (if theres a paid version of that app but without ads and stuff) while i still have internet access.
I kinda feel bad cos that might be their only source of revenue, but who actually likes seeing ads like it's a freakin' jumpscare ?
@reallylazybear @jwildeboer similar for me; some apps are unavoidable, but at least I can have some control over them via Tracker Control:
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@lobingera @jwildeboer
Google server(s) on the Internet.@lobingera @jwildeboer
Google's latest stupidity:
Not only do you need a google account on your phone/tablet to access Playstore, but when I was updating a tablet just now:
1: RECAPTCHA
2. Needed to login with gmail address & password.Why would you want Playstore if you don't want any (more) apps?
Only way to add accessibility features (usually missing by default) and security updates for the existing apps.It's abusive.
So are websites using recaptcha for existing accounts logging in.
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I noticed that I simply stopped caring about new apps a few years ago. When I get a new mobile phone, I have a rather small set of apps I install and that list is more or less the same since many years. Banking app, Signal, and a few more.
@jwildeboer I’ve always kept the number of apps on my devices to a minimum because of the privacy issues. Sucks that some sites (SiriusXM) won’t let you stream from their webpage on a phone or tablet. You must use their app.
I currently use a older phone that has no PII on it for apps I don’t trust much (p2pcam apps, drone piloting, etc)
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
@jwildeboer More Tor nodes and Mullvad Browser usage.
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
I might be wrong, bu my impression, living in the NorthEast US in the Boston area, is that very few people really care about privacy, and that almost everyone is glad to give up their privacy in exchange for saving a few seconds
not saying this is right or wrong; just it is what it is
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I noticed that I simply stopped caring about new apps a few years ago. When I get a new mobile phone, I have a rather small set of apps I install and that list is more or less the same since many years. Banking app, Signal, and a few more.
@jwildeboer I do tend to prefer a PWA over a native app. With the PWA my experience is the same across devices which is appreciated.
It does seem like we are past the time when new apps did genuinely new and novel things. Almost anything today is a riff on something else.
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
@jwildeboer … or because most apps are nowadays a website and simply ess… @Linkshaender
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
I refuse to install apps on my phone now.
I have been building websites for 3 decades. I do not see the need to create another platform to force people to use.
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
Trackercontrol.org isn't a total solution, but it definitely helps.
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@jwildeboer You also can't install an ad-blocker in an app.
@collimated_thought @jwildeboer Most ad tools in apps can be blocked with DNS adblockers
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I noticed that I simply stopped caring about new apps a few years ago. When I get a new mobile phone, I have a rather small set of apps I install and that list is more or less the same since many years. Banking app, Signal, and a few more.
@jwildeboer I switched to a lightweight launcher app quite a few years ago now, KISS Launcher. Every time I do a big Google update or move phones I am pleasantly surprised that, like, nothing has changed. They move some stuff around in the settings, but my day-to-day UX is no longer their marketing playground.
Highly recommend it, with KISS or any other launcher.
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@jwildeboer Until it's fatigue fatigue?
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@jwildeboer Until it's fatigue fatigue?
@eliasp Ah, yes. Niklas Luhmann Style
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
Exactly, I find I suffer from that myself. Hardly any new apps are installed on my phone.
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I noticed that I simply stopped caring about new apps a few years ago. When I get a new mobile phone, I have a rather small set of apps I install and that list is more or less the same since many years. Banking app, Signal, and a few more.
@jwildeboer exactly the same here, plus seriously starting to follow alternative OS options for smart phones
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#AppFatigue IPA: /æp/ /fəˈtiːɡ/ (n) The tendency to NOT install new apps on your mobile phone because you finally understand that most apps should just be a website so you can seamlessly use a service on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device. Also a sign of distrust as apps are black boxes with access to a lot of data sources that invade your privacy in ways you can hardly quantify.
@jwildeboer For Android (I only use it as e-OS) see what https://exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/ has to say of the application you use or think of using.
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