How to stop doomscrolling without deleting your apps
The most reliable way to stop doomscrolling without deleting your apps is to remove the parts built for it: short-form video, endless feeds and autoplay. Limits and blockers ask for willpower each time; removing Reels and Shorts means there's nothing to scroll. StillTabs does this for free on iPhone.
Why limits and deleting rarely last
Deleting Instagram also deletes your messages and friends, so it usually comes back. Screen-time limits can be ignored with a tap. Pauses before opening an app help with habit, but once you're in, the feed is the same. All of them fight the design instead of changing it.
What actually helps
- Remove short-form video. Reels and Shorts are the fastest loop; take them out and most of the pull goes with them.
- End the infinite feed. StillTabs' Strict mode replaces home feeds with search, so you go looking for something instead of being shown everything.
- Turn off autoplay. Videos that start by themselves decide what you watch next.
- See your time. StillTabs' tiles grow with the time you spend on each platform, so you notice without being nagged.
- Keep what you came for. Messages, friends, subscriptions and search stay, so there's no reason to go back to the full app.
Set it up in two minutes
Install StillTabs, open Instagram or YouTube from the launcher, sign in on the platform's own page and pick Standard or Strict. It's free, with no account.
StillTabs is free on the App Store, for iPhone. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no account. iOS 16 or later.
Sources
- StillTabs on the App Store (price, privacy label): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stilltabs-block-reels-shorts/id6761367777
- Apple: Screen Time on iPhone (current iOS): https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-schedules-with-screen-time-iphb0c7313c9/ios