I too get find myself getting totally distracted like this, compulsively and frustratingly, and it's very annoying seeing these apps steal my time. Fundamentally it's because they're designed to be addictive: randomly giving you rewards in just the right way to train your brain to want to go again, automatically. It's totally in Twitter/Facebook/HN's interest to keep you uncontrollably craving their hit.

I'm trying to fix this myself at the moment: I've built an app using exactly the same techniques (training your brain with quick feedback and random rewards), but flipped around, to try and addict you to concentrating and getting work done instead.

Without being too spammy, you sound like my perfect target user. Want to try out the alpha? Details at http://www.buildfocus.io

Let me know if you sign up, and I'll make sure you get in on the next batch of invites I put out. Chrome-only for now, but there's Firefox/Safari/Android/iOS coming in the works eventually too (in approximately that order).