How Can I Block My Own Access to Social Media?

[Slowboathome]

I'm spending too much time on Twitter at the moment. I'd like to block my access to the site in a way that means I could ultimately access Twitter again if I needed to, but in such a way that it would involve a fair bit of faff.

I want to block my access on PC and Phone. PC is Windows 10 using MS Edge. Phone is Moto G6 play using Chrome.

Looking for tech solutions, otherwise I'd have posted this in 'Health', but not anything requiring 'expertise'.

Ta,

[Jazoli]

Just delete your twitter app on your devices then you won't be able to access it unless you re-install it, its quite simple, and you'll be better off for it.

Just have some self control, you are looking for a solution that is managed better in other ways, like deleting your account, twitter is a vacuum and toxic.

[CzechItOut]

There is a Google Chrome extension called BlockSite, which I use on both my PC and phone. There doesn't seem to be a version for Edge, but I am sure there is a similar app which allows you to block access.

[bitchstewie]

Not sure I can think of one.

In an enterprise you'd block it at the firewall but people would just get their mobile phones out.

In a home if you put in a firewall to block it you could switch it off or take your mobile phone out.

There will be phone apps but if you install them you can remove them.

If your phone has parental controls you could ask someone to look at setting those up for you but I honestly can't think of anything that you couldn't bypass if you wanted to.

Honestly and respectfully I'd focus on the behaviours.

[Getragdogleg]

Just do something else, distract yourself by doing a hooby, reading a book, hell, even walking or volunteering or anything.

[rxe]

Do you have a mate you can trust? Or family member?

Move the recovery email to their email.

Get them to change your password.

Tell them not to give you the password for 6 months, however much you ask.

Or just delete your account.
.

[sparkyhx]

Jazoli said:

Just delete your twitter app on your devices then you won't be able to access it unless you re-install it, its quite simple, and you'll be better off for it.

Just have some self control, you are looking for a solution that is managed better in other ways, like deleting your account, twitter is a vacuum and toxic.

did this with Facebook about a year ago, I'm a lot happier now, no longer wound up by trump/brexit/bojo blind idiots. I miss updates from some friends, but my mental health is far better. In fact I've disengaged pretty much from all politics. I'm fed up with being unselfish and thinking of others less fortunate, irrespective of what the personal impact was, generally thinking any ikmpact was worth it from a society point of view.

But when turkeys vote for christmas, why should I care anymore.

Alternative to deleting - on Windows you can amend the HOSTS file which will override the DNS lookup, there is an equivalent on Android and IOS but the devices have to be 'rooted'

You could block the URL on youre router when at home, but that would leave it open when out of the house

Edited by sparkyhx on Saturday 10th July 12:20

[RVB]

Go for a drive with some of your favourite music.

[walamai]

I think starting with the 'easy' options is a good way to go. I'd suggest changing your password to just a random string which you don't know. You can do a password recovery to get back into your account if you want to. But when you automatically go to look at Twitter you've now got an extra step to jump through. As long as you can resist recovering your password, that might be a good start.

Next step would be to deactivate your accounts. Twitter/Facebook etc have different policies to what happens to deactivated accounts. (Twitter for example deletes your account after 30 days of being deactivated.) This is reversible also (within time periods) but a bit more of a mental step to take. This is what I did a few years ago, and haven't looked back!


As a tech option, a Pi-Hole and a VPN works very well. If you are moderately tech savvy then you should be able to follow the setup guides.

Pi-Hole is a DNS server that you run yourself. It's designed to block ads (when your computer tries to connect to ad server, the pi-hole just provides a 'blank' result instead). But it can also easily block social network sites or whatever you want.

It's dead easy to set up on your home network, but with a VPN you can also use it when out and about on your mobile. I run this for ad-blocking, but I've also got all of Facebook blocked as well (mostly for privacy at this point, I don't want them harvesting my personal data.)

https://docs.pi-hole.net/guides/vpn/wireguard/over...

Of course you can change this setting, so still requires will-power! This is going to be true of any solution which is reversible unfortunately!

[JeffreyD]

If you are using a WiFi router then you can block the domain on the router.

If you do that and take the app off your phone it's a start

[LargeRed]

become the President of the US ........ Twitter will do it for you.

[essayer]

I found that the more barriers you put in the way of opening the app, the less often you do it.

I hardly look at FB any more. To get there I
- moved the FB app icon onto the fourth page of my phone screen
- put in a screen time block of 1 minute to ensure I’d have to put in a password every time I opened the site through the day
- uninstalled the app and used the web url instead (no notifications etc). This also allowed me to bookmark a specific link that just shows in date order

That was enough to break the ‘muscle memory’ that lets you open it easily.

Ultimately SM is designed to be addictive- every part of their design is judged in making you return as often as possible. Don’t let it win!

[bitchstewie]

Thing is you're all suggesting things that can be undone with a click of a mouse pretty much.

We go here at work every so often "I have a team member who spends ages on the Daily Mail website can you block their internet access?"

Sure but they'll just take out their mobile phone or buy a newspaper and start taking more toilet breaks.

It's not that often that you fix behaviour with technology.

[LargeRed]

How can I do the same thing for PH ?

[boyse7en]

sparkyhx said:

did this with Facebook about a year ago, I'm a lot happier now, no longer wound up by trump/brexit/bojo blind idiots.

Isn't that fixable by changing the people you follow/friend? I use Facebook but only see posts from a couple of clubs that i'm a member of (cycle and running club use it to send out maps/events etc) and some friends and family. At worst I just to get a bunch of "look where were went on holiday" type posts.

[JeffreyD]

LargeRed said:

How can I do the same thing for PH ?

Put pistonheads.com on the banned list for your router.

That's a start.

[JeffreyD]

boyse7en said:

Isn't that fixable by changing the people you follow/friend? I use Facebook but only see posts from a couple of clubs that i'm a member of (cycle and running club use it to send out maps/events etc) and some friends and family. At worst I just to get a bunch of "look where were went on holiday" type posts.

In theory it is but Facebook is an insidious thing.

I never had a personal account then set one up in a panic the day we lost a dog to advertise the fact locally. Facebook is good for stuff like that.

During lockdown I've been working on things like Google ads and Facebook marketing and it tries to work its way into all aspects of your life.

I've still only got one friend (my wife) and every week or so I get an email saying "life is better with friends why not connect with {some I've been avoiding for 30 years}"

[essayer]

My favourite is ‘it’s <someone from school you haven’t seen in decades> birthday! Tell her you’re thinking of her!’
Yeah that won’t seem weird, at all

[Lucas Ayde]

LargeRed said:

become the President of the US ........ Twitter will do it for you.

Or just post lots of non-woke opinions. Offended rage mobs will brigade against you and have you banned in no time.

[Slowboathome]

Sorted. Set it up as a blocked site within my router software.

Thanks for all the suggestions.