I deleted the YouTube and Instagram apps and I still end up scrolling / watching shorts - it doesn't matter, browser still lets you scroll

I deleted the apps too, but unfortunately I still like to use Instagram to follow photographers I'm interested in. These uBlock Origin filter rules have made it usable without being a black hole for my attention:

    www.instagram.com##article:has( > div > div > span:has-text(Suggested for you)):style(opacity: 0% !important;)
    www.instagram.com##div:has(> span > div > a[href="/explore/"])
    www.instagram.com##div:has(> span > div > a[href="/reels/"])

Even if you're not logged in? Instagram barely even wants to let me look at the main photo/video of interest without an account.

What helped me, was deleting account as well. The site has different purpose than when I've registered anyway.

I use Unhook in Firefox on Android to eradicate Shorts from my YouTube experience, it works very well.