How to Block Social Media on iPhone
By John, ScreenBuddy Founder
You can block social media on iPhone using Screen Time's App Limits (select the "Social" category), Focus Mode to hide apps from your Home Screen, or a third-party app blocker for stricter control. Screen Time is built-in and free but has an easy bypass button. Focus Mode hides apps without truly locking them. Third-party blockers like ScreenBuddy, One Sec, and Opal add friction or hard blocks that are harder to get around. Here's how each method works.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: How to Block Social Media on iPhone
Screen Time App Limits (fastest method): Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits > Add Limit > Select "Social" category > Set time to 1 minute for a near-complete block
Screen Time Downtime (schedule-based): Block all apps including social media during set hours like bedtime or work
Focus Mode (hide apps): Create a Work or Study Focus that removes social apps from your Home Screen
Third-party blockers (strictest): Apps like Opal, Freedom, and AppBlock offer Strict Mode that prevents bypassing
Friction-based apps (habit-breaking): ScreenBuddy and One Sec add a pause before opening social apps, reducing usage by 50%+ without hard locks
Block reinstalls: Use Content & Privacy Restrictions to disable the App Store so you can't redownload deleted apps
Why Block Social Media?
Social media apps are designed to keep you scrolling. Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook use algorithmic feeds that serve endless content tuned to your interests. The average user spends over 2 hours daily on social platforms alone.
If you're here, you probably already know you're spending too much time on these apps. Maybe it's hurting your sleep, your focus at work, or your ability to be present with people around you. The good news: iPhone gives you several ways to limit access, and third-party apps can make those limits harder to bypass.
Method 1: Block Social Media with Screen Time App Limits
The fastest way to block social media on iPhone is using Screen Time's App Limits with the built-in "Social" category. This blocks Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Snapchat, and other social apps all at once.
Go to Settings > Screen Time
Tap App Limits, then Add Limit
Select the Social category (this includes all major social media apps)
Set the time limit (use 1 minute for an effective block)
Toggle on Block at End of Limit
Tap Add
After one minute of use, all social apps gray out for the rest of the day. You can also select individual apps instead of the whole category if you want to block Instagram but keep LinkedIn.
Limitation: When you hit the limit, you'll see an "Ignore Limit" button. One tap and you're back to scrolling. A Screen Time passcode helps, but if you set it yourself, you already know it.
Method 2: Use Focus Mode to Hide Social Apps
Focus Mode doesn't block apps, but it hides them from your Home Screen and silences their notifications. This removes the visual trigger that leads to mindless opening.
Go to Settings > Focus
Tap + and create a custom Focus (name it "Work" or "No Social")
Under Customize Screens, choose Home Screen pages that don't include social apps
Tap Add Schedule to turn it on automatically during work hours or evenings
When your Focus is active, social media apps disappear from view. You can still find them through Search or the App Library if you're determined, but the friction of having to look for them breaks the automatic habit.
Best for: People who open social media out of boredom rather than compulsion. If you're actively fighting the urge to scroll, Focus Mode probably won't be enough.
Method 3: Add Friction with a Third-Party Blocker
If Screen Time's bypass button defeats you every time, third-party app blockers offer stricter controls.
Hard blockers like Opal, Freedom, and AppBlock let you schedule sessions where social media is completely inaccessible. Opal's Deep Focus and Freedom's Locked Mode prevent you from ending a session early, even if you want to.
Friction-based blockers like ScreenBuddy and One Sec take a different approach. Instead of locking apps completely, they add a pause before you can open them. ScreenBuddy shows a 25-second countdown every time you tap a social app, giving you time to ask whether you actually want to scroll. You also get a 45-minute daily budget, so once you've used your time intentionally, apps lock for the rest of the day.
Studies on One Sec show friction-based blocking reduces social media use by about 57%. The pause breaks the unconscious loop of tap-open-scroll without making your phone feel like a prison.
Best for: People who've tried Screen Time and keep bypassing it. Friction works better than willpower for breaking automatic habits.
Method 4: Block Social Media from Being Reinstalled
Deleting social media apps works until you reinstall them at 11pm when your resolve weakens. Content & Privacy Restrictions can prevent that.
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
Toggle on Content & Privacy Restrictions
Tap iTunes & App Store Purchases
Set Installing Apps to Don't Allow
The App Store icon disappears from your Home Screen. You can't download anything until you reverse this setting. Combined with deleting social apps, this creates a meaningful barrier to relapse.
Limitation: If you know the Screen Time passcode, you can undo this in 30 seconds. For a stronger lock, have someone else set your passcode.
What to Watch Out For
Browser workarounds: Blocking apps doesn't block websites. You can still access Instagram, X, and Facebook through Safari. To close this loophole, add social media URLs to Screen Time's website blocklist under Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites > Add Website (under "Never Allow").
Notification triggers: Even with apps blocked, notifications can pull you back. Go to Settings > Notifications and turn off alerts for social apps entirely.
Replacement apps: When I blocked Instagram, I started scrolling LinkedIn instead. Same behavior, different app. Pay attention to what you migrate to and add those apps to your block list too.
Bottom Line
For a quick block, use Screen Time's App Limits with the Social category set to 1 minute. Add Focus Mode to hide apps during work hours. If you keep bypassing your own limits, try a friction-based blocker like ScreenBuddy or a hard blocker with Strict Mode.
The best approach combines methods: hide apps with Focus Mode, set time limits with Screen Time, and add friction with a third-party app. For a complete breakdown of all blocking methods beyond social media, see our guide to blocking apps on iPhone.
