Intent Mode

Intent Mode asks you to name your goal before a YouTube session, then scores how closely your actual watch behaviour matched it.

Intent Mode is a feature in Gazenest that activates before each YouTube session. When you open YouTube, a prompt asks a single question: what are you here for? You choose one of five modes -- Learning, Relax 20 min, Research, Specific video, or Free scroll -- and the YouTube interface adapts accordingly.

In Learning mode, the homepage feed is calmed and Shorts are dimmed. In Relax 20 min, a discreet countdown appears in the corner. In Specific video, sidebar recommendations fade so you actually leave when you finish the video you came for. In Research, the layout shifts to make search the primary action.

The goal of Intent Mode is not to block YouTube. It is to introduce a brief moment of deliberate choice before autopilot takes over. Research by Gollwitzer (1999) on implementation intentions shows that simply specifying what you intend to do significantly increases follow-through. Intent Mode is a practical application of that principle to video consumption.

After each session, Gazenest compares what you declared you would do with what you actually watched. That gap informs the Self-Control Score and Clarity Score in your weekly dashboard.

Intent Mode is available on Plus and above plans. It can be disabled at any time if you prefer to use Gazenest purely for passive tracking.

Last updated: 2026-06-15

Other glossary terms

  • Self-Control Score -- The Self-Control Score measures how well you stick to your intended behaviour wh...
  • Clarity Score -- The Clarity Score measures how closely your actual watch time aligns with the go...
  • Diversity Score -- The Diversity Score measures how varied your YouTube consumption is across topic...
  • Honest Watch Tracking -- Honest Watch Tracking counts only seconds where the video is the active tab and ...
  • Binge Detection -- Binge detection flags sessions where you watched several videos in a row without...
  • Watch Budget -- A watch budget is a weekly or daily limit you set for your YouTube viewing time....

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