How to block social media

The digital world is full of distractions, and social media is one of the biggest. When you need to study for a test or complete an important project, it’s easy to give in to the temptation of checking your feed. And as you scroll the minutes away, your productivity plummets.

Modern problems require modern solutions. Today, various tools can help you block social media platforms when you need to focus, both on your phone and in your browser.

Read on to learn how to block social media and reduce your screen time for a healthier routine.

Browser extensions for blocking social media

Do you often find yourself on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites while you’re working or studying on your PC? You can restrict your access to these distracting websites with a browser extension. Here are several options you can install today.

StayFocusd

StayFocusd is a top website blocker available for Chrome. This simple extension allows you to put time limits on how long you can visit various web pages. Once your time is up, you won’t be able to browse social media for the rest of the day. You can also block entire websites, specific web pages, paths, and even web content like images.

RescueTime

RescueTime is an all-around productivity app for macOS and Microsoft Windows. It also has a browser extension you can use to track your activity in your Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Edge, or Safari. The app auto-categorizes the websites you visit and provides insightful reports on how you spend your time online. You can also block websites and receive reminders to optimize your productivity.

BlockSite

BlockSite is an advanced focus tool for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. The app allows you to create and schedule custom blocklists to stay on track during work or study hours. You can categorize distracting websites and block all social media with one click. You can also password-protect your blocklist and track the amount of time you spend on different websites using insights.

Freedom

The Freedom app is a popular productivity tool you can use on all your devices, and it has several useful browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera, too. The Limit extension allows you to control the amount of time you spend on social networking sites, while the Freedom and Pause extensions give you gentle reminders when you try to access a distracting page. Finally, the Focus extension helps you block the entire internet and whitelist only the sites you need for studying.

Mobile apps that block social media

Smartphone apps make entertainment extremely accessible. The constant incoming text messages and notifications also make it hard to ignore this device. If you constantly check your Whatsapp, Snapchat, and other social apps on your iPhone or Android, consider installing one of these blocking apps.

AppBlock

AppBlock for Android is a solid social media blocker. The app lets you limit access to any app and website, track your screen time and be more mindful of your phone usage. You can even activate blockers based on location to fully separate work and pleasure. If you need extra protection, activate Strict Mode, and you won’t be able to bypass your blockers.

Freedom

The Freedom app is available for iOS and Android devices. It’s a well-designed tool that lets users block distractions with pre-made or custom blocklists. You can schedule sessions and focus on more important things than your social media feeds. Freedom also works on all platforms, so you can easily control distractions across all your devices. The app comes with a free trial, after which users can learn about the pricing of premium subscriptions.

Stay Focused

With more than a million downloads on the Google Play Store, Stay Focused (not to be confused with the previously mentioned app StayFocusd) is one of the most popular social media blockers for Android. After giving the app the appropriate permissions, you can put a time limit on any social media apps you want. Stay Focused can also block you from accessing social media sites in your mobile browser. There are a lot of customization options that help you foster self-control.

Flipd

Flipd is a focus and study timer that puts an interesting twist on social media blockers. This app has a strong community aspect where users can see how others manage their time. You can use different focus profiles that log your session. During sessions, distracting apps are off-limits. Flipd is a great tool for students who want to create study groups where they can collectively focus without distractions. The app is available for iPhones and Androids.

Engross

Another focus timer that will keep you away from social media is Engross, available for both Android and iOS devices. You can work on your tasks with its Pomodoro-style timer while all your distracting apps are blocked. The app also turns off your Wi-Fi while you’re focusing. If you need help getting in the zone, you can activate soothing white noise.

Speechify—Another great productivity app

The apps mentioned above help you focus by taking away distractions. However, you might still find it difficult to concentrate on written materials. Fortunately, there are other apps that can help you increase your productivity.

Speechify is a text to speech (TTS) app that can read aloud any digital text in a natural-sounding computer-generated voice. With Speechify, you can read with your eyes and ears at the same time, which not only increases retention but also allows you to absorb materials faster.

You can listen to any article, study, textbook, or presentation by simply pasting the text into Speechify’s online TTS app. You can also install its Chrome extension to read any webpage or Google Doc instantly. The app is available on all platforms, including Android and iOS, too.

FAQ

Can I block social media on my phone?

There are many app blockers that can help you block social media on your iOS or Android phone. Try one of the apps mentioned above.

How do I block social media on my child’s phone?

You can use an app blocker with password protection to restrict your child’s social media access. There are also other apps designed for parental control.

How do I stop social media from coming up on my phone?

Enabling Focus Mode or turning off notifications will stop disruptive social media alerts when you need to focus.