As exciting as the rise of new social networks likeBlueskyis, we’re quite possibly at the worst time of the year to be using social media. Not only are users in the US picking up the pieces after a stressful election season, but the upcoming holidays mean it’s easier to get distracted than ever with whatever is happening on your phone.
If, like me, you’re trying to cut down on doomscrolling social media apps, your iPhone alreadyhas some toolsyou can use to help curb your habit. Here’s how I’m planning on using my iPhone’s Focus mode to limit social media and how you can too.
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How to set up a social media-free focus mode
Put distractions out of reach
Focus modes were added with iOS 15 in 2021, primarily as a way to control and limit app notifications. Apple had individual notification settings for each app up until that point, but no easy way to shift those settings on the fly.
The capabilities of Focus modes have steadily increased over time, and now the feature lets you pretty radically change notification settings and even the contents of your home screen at a moment’s notice. I think the best way to stay off social media is to put apps out of reach and that means not only putting them where you’re able to’t reach them, but also by keeping those apps from reaching you.
Limit social media app notifications
With a fresh Focus mode, you may specifically block notifications from apps likeThreads, Instagram, Bluesky, and whatever else pesters you throughout the day with notifications.
You can stop there and probably have a lot more peace of mind just by receiving fewer notifications, but you should probably go a lot further.
Hide social media apps from your home screen
Each Focus mode can also be set to a specific home screen and watch face on yourApple Watch. You should first create a new home screen next to your current home screen without social media apps, but with any widgets and apps you’ll need. Then you can go back to Settings to tie the home screen to your new Focus mode.
Now, when you switch your Focus mode on, your home screen will change at the same time and hide social media apps in your app library. If that’s still not enough to stop you from compulsively scrolling your problem app, we can also set a Screen Time limit.
How to use Screen Time to limit social media apps
You can and should set a time limit
If you haven’t used it before, Screen Time lets you monitor how long you use your phone for each day and what you’re mostly using it for. You can also use the information Apple collects about how long you use apps to set limits (Apple calls them App Limits) on how long you can use them before you’re locked out.
Unlike a Focus mode, Screen Time features like App Limits apply all the time, so you have less control over when you might be unable to access a specific app. They’re also pretty easy to get around if you don’t have a lot of willpower to begin with. That’s better than nothing, but you might want to consider other options if it becomes a problem.
You’re in control of your own phone
Don’t let apps run your life
The tools that come built-in to iOS might not go as far as you need to completely stop you from using distracting apps, but they’re the first thing you should try if you’re looking for a change. If you need something more powerful, Pocket-lint hascollected a list of appsthat you can use to limit the use of your smartphone however you choose. We’ve been stuck with smartphones for long enough that it might feel like how they work is the only way they can work, but you own yours, and you should be able to use it in a way that feels healthy to you.
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