Social Media Addiction Series: Part 3
Updated 10/5/21: Removed app “Feedless” since the app is no longer on the ios app store, replaced with #Blockit which does the same thing even better
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we started discussing this issue, now we continue with more solutions!
The good news is, technology and apps are being developed to help you keep social media under control.
Here are some of the apps and tech hacks you can use to help rein it in. If you haven’t already, before we dive in here, we recommend you take just a few minutes to read or refresh your memory on our last posts
1. #blockit, iOS app (alternatives available for other systems), Free
If you didn’t try the first hack in our other post, do it now, delete the social apps from your phone and try this free app. #blockit is a content blocker for iOS that removes the entire feed, stories, and other things from facebook when viewing it in your mobile safari browser. At the time of this writing, it did not work for the Chrome browser on iPhone, only the Safari browser, so I just am in the habit of using Safari whenever I check anything social media. This app allows people to still access Facebook’s core features like checking notifications and logging in to websites with your Facebook account while removing the newsfeed completely from the screen so you’re never sucked in to checking it! I love this hack, as it allows me to still check my notifications, but once that’s done, there’s nothing else distracting to see, so I just naturally move on to more important things. I find I’m only on facebook about once a day thanks to this app! This app works for Instagram, youtube, Twitter, and more, it works on one for free or you get them all for a one time $5 charge.
Before #blockit
After #blockit
2. Chrome Desktop Extensions, Free
A Chrome extension that eradicates the newsfeed and replacing it with inspiring quotes instead. There are other eradicator apps like this one, such as Distraction Free Youtube which eliminates the recommended videos on the right side of youtube. If you look, you’ll find many more of these for many of the other big sites many people get sucked into.
Another helpful Chrome extension is StayFocusd, it’s a productivity extension that allows you to place your own time limits for how long each day you can spend on time-wasting websites. After your time is up, it makes the site inaccessible for the rest of the day and your screen will simply say something along the lines of “Shouldn’t You Be Working?” in big text across the screen.
Newsfeed Eradicator Screen (left) & StayFocusd Screen (right)
3. Freedom App - Set Limits on all Devices
This is one of the all encompassing options. They describe it: ”Stop being distracted by your computer. Freedom is the app and website blocker for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS, used by over 750,000 people to reclaim focus and productivity. Experience the freedom to do what matters most.”
For those who just can’t help themselves, and need a more all-encompassing solution that covers all their devices, Freedom is the next step.
4. Scheduling Your Social Media Posting
Buffer Screen
If you’re using social media for business, fresh content and keeping people engaged is important. With apps like the below which allow you to schedule your posts, you can log on only once or twice a week or even once a month depending on your content. Simply schedule all your posts, and then go back to more important things with the rest of your time.
For Facebook, try Facebook’s post scheduling feature. This enables you to save draft posts and schedule them for the future.
Note: Facebook changed it’s API in 2018 to reduce the utility of other services like the one’s below, so I recommend doing your facebook scheduling in facebook itself.
For other social media sources, like Instragram, Twitter, Linkedin, etc, you have Buffer and Hootsuite. These platforms allow you to schedule posts and even monitor conversations and analyze the performance of your social media account as well. Batch your time spent on social media through the use of these apps, to get back to other more important things, like your work, and your life!
Discipline yourself and take control of what you do with your smartphones and computers. Escape from social media entanglement. I’m leaving you with this quote from Alan Lakein, on personal time management, “Time equals life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.” Time is an investment, spend it with discernment.”
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 1 - How Many Hours Do You Spend On Social Media?
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 2 - Free Hacks To Fix It
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 3 - Fix It With Apps And Tech Hacks
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I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. Time is precious. I created Productivity Gladiator because I saw what a difference it made to share small and specific actions you can take right now, right away, to achieve better work life balance, be more productive, and live your best life right now, today, not wait until retirement. I want you to start doing the things you WANT to do, not get stuck only chasing what you NEED to do. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you’ll subscribe, and if you’re so inclined, send me a note. It brings me joy sharing Productivity Gladiator with you.