Sorry basic question.

You can still access all the social media from the browser eh?

devnullbrain 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

Yes but social media companies have helpfully made this experience unpleasant.

	▲	red-iron-pine 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		deliberately so, so as to force you to install their app that can get deeper into your device than any cookie ever could

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jajko 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Stay logged off in the browser, don't carry (unique, complex) password around if you have to.

But this is desperate level of proper addiction, when serious hard look at one's life is by far the best course of action. Professional help is not a bad idea neither. Life can be pretty amazing, but screens won't get you there, in contrary its cheap basic addictive 'fun' for poor.

Many years ago I removed all FB apps and messenger from my phone (due to their crappy engineering their constant snooping of user's activity was, draining batteries fast even when not using them). Have them on desktop only. Pretty amazing move, can't recommend enough.

There is something magical in 2025 to practically disconnect from all the social noise. But one can't be total piece of s*it who can't stand themselves of course.

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mlinsey 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I am experimenting with using freedom.to to block social media in the browser. It creates a VPN profile that blocks these sites in the browser (it also uses the Screen Time API to block specific apps). The downsides are that you can just go into iOS settings to disable the profile, and I am paying Freedom a subscription for something I could set up for free. The upside vs. managing it myself is that it's much easier to create a schedule (eg block during weekdays, instead of block 24/7).

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CalRobert 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is my weakness. I really miss leechblock since changing to iPhone

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adamors 5 days ago | parent [-]

I use Burnout Buddy, it can block both apps and websites, you can set up custom rules, time based, usage based or triggered by Shortcuts (for instance I have one set up to block Reddit when I enter the gym).

	▲	foreslion 5 days ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Just want to say I was looking for something like this the other day that didn’t feature an obscene subscription and I’m very glad you made me aware of this app. It’s lovely and free!
	▲	aethrum 5 days ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Woah this is nice! And pretty generous free app

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stanac 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can block them on dns level. That's what I did when I wanted to stop wasting time playing 2048. (Not sure how to configure DNS on phone, I was using PC to play at the time)

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DimmieMan 5 days ago | parent [-]

This has helped me too.

I have NextDNS profiles on my phone and PC that block problematic sites, as well as the settings dashboard itself to stop me touching it unless I'm on my tablet.

	▲	0xf3ffff 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		+1 for NextDNS. Last week I experimented with building a Brick[0]-like solution from my Android phone, by using an old badge I had lying around acting as an NFC trigger to launch a Tasker automation that enables/disables filtering profiles in NextDNS via REST API. It's working nicely, although it takes a while to effectively enable/disable filtering, I assume because of DNS caching on the phone. Also sometimes I actually need YouTube/Reddit/Instagram/etc. to look up something, so for now I settled on the slightly less nuclear option of using ScreenZen[1] to make my app opening a tad bit more mindful. I sometimes found myself going around the restricted app opening count/time limits by using my iPad, but overall my mindless screen time is decreasing, so I don't stress it too much. I don't have any issues with notifications really as I usually set them up to only receive what I deem important from the get go when I install a new app, and I also have Do Not Disturb and Routines enabled most of the time, plus a smartwatch to take a quick glimpse at messages if needed. [0] https://getbrick.app/ [1] https://www.screenzen.co/

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pavlov 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

On the iPhone you can use Screen Time to block social media apps, and it will also block their websites.

However since you're the account owner (rather than a child), you can always just bypass the Screen Time block... But at least it adds a barrier.

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wkrsz 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

My workaround for this is to always log in from porn/incognito mode where it doesn't remember cookies. Each time I have to type password and go through 2FA.

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wao0uuno 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

iPhones have a website blocking feature built in. It's possible to set up separate time limits for different websites. Setting a limit to 0 effectively block the site. Ask family member or a friend to set the pin for you and you're set.