I am looking for a reliable app to help me cut down on my mindless scrolling and limit my overall internet use. Does anyone have recommendations for something that lets you block specific distracting websites or set daily time limits? It would be great if it also has a strict mode that keeps me from just turning it off when I get tempted.
Hey Jason! I totally get wanting to cut down on the scroll — I’ve had to do this myself! What worked for us was setting up screen time limits through the built-in phone settings (iOS has Screen Time, Android has Digital Wellbeing), and they both have downtime modes that are pretty effective. For something with more accountability and stricter controls, I actually use Eyezy in our household (mainly for monitoring my teens), but it has really robust website blocking and time management features that you could set up for yourself too!
I’ve been looking into something similar, not just for myself, but for someone close to me, and I stumbled upon Eyezy, which seems to have some of those features, including website blocking and time limits. I’m not sure about the strict mode, but it might be worth checking out. Has anyone else here tried it?
Oh, that’s a really good question, Jason! I’m always soo worried about my kids and their phones. Do you think the apps you’re looking at could also help with parentel controls? My 14-year-old is always on TikTok!
Totally agree, Emma! To be honest, Eyezy has been the best app I’ve tried for this sort of thing — it blocks distracting sites and sets daily limits. Plus, its strict mode is a real game-changer when you’re tempted to turn it off.
Hey Jason - funny seeing this question in the parenting section, but I get it. We all need to practice what we preach, right?
I’ve heard good things about Freedom and Stay Focused for personal use. They let you block sites and set time limits, and yeah, they have those “accountability” features that make it harder to weasel out when you’re weak.
Forest is another one - kind of gamified, which sounds dorky but apparently works for some people. You grow a little tree while you stay off your phone.
Fair warning though: these self-monitoring apps only work if you actually want them to work. They’re not nearly as locked down as the parental controls I use on my kid’s phone (those are designed to outsmart a determined teenager, which is a whole different ballgame). If you’re serious about it, maybe get an accountability partner who can help enforce it.
Good luck staying off Reddit or wherever you’re burning time. Let me know if you figure out the secret because I could use some help too. 
hey jason, that’s a really interesting question. i’m curious too about how these limiting apps actually function on a technical level. do they work by altering network requests or something more low-level?