Is there a way to turn off short-form video?
Not with the platforms' own settings: Instagram and Facebook have no switch for Reels, and YouTube's Shorts limit is easy to dismiss. On iPhone, StillTabs turns off short-form video on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook in one place, for free, and keeps messages, search and the people you follow.
What each platform allows
| Platform | Built-in off switch? | Closest setting |
|---|---|---|
| No | "Not interested", Your Algorithm, reset suggested content | |
| YouTube | Partly | Shorts feed limit, down to zero; dismissable for adults |
| No | Hide reel, "show less", Your algorithm | |
| X | No | Switch to Following each time |
| iPhone Screen Time | No | Limits whole apps only |
Turn it off everywhere with StillTabs
StillTabs' Strict mode removes short-form video on every platform it supports and replaces home feeds with search. Standard mode removes Shorts, the Reels tab, Explore, "For you" tabs and autoplay and keeps your feeds. Both are free, and you can switch any time.
- Off: the platform stays close to normal; only the "open in app" prompts and pop-ups go.
- Standard: Shorts, the Reels tab, Explore, "For you" tabs, suggested posts and autoplay go. Your feeds stay.
- Strict: short-form video is gone everywhere and home feeds give way to search. Instagram keeps your stories; YouTube opens on your subscriptions.
- Blackout: no feeds, no stories, no Explore. Just search, profiles and your messages.
Why short-form video is the first thing to go
Short-form video is built for the next swipe: each clip is short enough that stopping never feels necessary. Infinite scrolling, autoplay and recommendations keep the loop going. StillTabs removes those mechanisms and leaves what you opened the app for: a message, a search, a video you chose.
StillTabs is free on the App Store, for iPhone. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no account. iOS 16 or later.
Sources
- Instagram: control your Reels algorithm: https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/reels-algorithm-control
- Instagram Help: reset suggested content: https://help.instagram.com/556617736965724/
- YouTube Help: Shorts feed limit: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/16671528?hl=en
- Meta: personalize Facebook Reels: https://about.fb.com/news/2023/05/discover-and-personalize-facebook-reels/
- X Help: about your timeline: https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-timeline
- Apple: Screen Time on iPhone (current iOS): https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-schedules-with-screen-time-iphb0c7313c9/ios
- StillTabs on the App Store (price, privacy label): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stilltabs-block-reels-shorts/id6761367777