Sanctum — Pause and Choose Again on YouTube

When recommendations, autoplay, or Shorts pull you away from why you opened YouTube, pause and choose what happens next.

Sanctum — Pause and choose again when YouTube pulls you off course When recommendations, autoplay, or Shorts pull you away from why you opened YouTube, pause and choose what happens next. No blocking. No judgment. Sanctum is not a YouTube blocker. When you forget why you opened YouTube and drift into another flow, it brings your original purpose back and lets you choose whether to keep watching, return, or take a short breather. ■ For moments like these · You meant to watch one thing, and 30 minutes slip away · You realize you've been swiping Shorts without deciding to · Autoplay and recommendations feel like they're steering you · You want to stop, but not right this second ■ How it helps · Set an intent — when you open YouTube, lightly pick a purpose: "a video in mind / learn or work / take a break / not sure." Never forced, always skippable. · Notice the drift — when recommendations, autoplay, or Shorts run long, a small card asks, "Do you still want to keep going?" · Choose again — keep watching, return to your original purpose, or open a Cherry Break (a short breather). Sanctum respects every choice. · Thumbnail buffer — briefly softens attention-grabbing thumbnails so you have room to choose before the impulse click. Sanctum never grades your YouTube use as "good" or "bad." No scores, no wasted-time stats, no guilt. Keep watching is an equally respected choice. ■ Privacy — your intent stays in your browser · Intent and session data stay in this browser and are never sent anywhere. · No collection or transmission of watch history, search terms, page content, or YouTube account info. · Improvement feedback is off by default. Only when you turn it on, and only de-identified. · You can turn off any intervention, and erase local records with one button. ■ Frequently Asked Questions Q. Will it stop me from watching YouTube? A. No. It never forces a block. You choose whether to keep watching, pause, or return to what you came for. Q. Is it an ad blocker? A. No. Sanctum is not an ad blocker. It only adds a small pause before automatic browsing takes over. Q. Is it a therapy or addiction tool? A. No. It does not provide medical treatment or counseling. It's a digital wellbeing companion that helps you notice your YouTube habits and choose more intentionally. ■ New to Sanctum? After installing, click the Sanctum icon in your toolbar to adjust intervention style and intensity. Available in English, Korean, and Japanese. For detailed guidance and contact, visit the support site at the bottom of this page.