# SocialFocus: Hide Distractions — user reviews > 316 indexed App Store user reviews of SocialFocus by Yevhen Tretiakov, rated 3.90/5 from 314 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialfocus-hide-distractions/id1661093205/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialfocus-hide-distractions/id1661093205.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 198 · 4★ 27 · 3★ 20 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 56 ## What do users think of SocialFocus? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Great for combating social media addiction - 👍 Customizable and effective at blocking distractions - 💡 Allows using apps without getting sucked into endless scrolling - 🚀 Declutters social media experience - 👍 Helps users stay focused and intentional with their time **Cons** - 🐛 Some features not working as expected (e.g. blocking Instagram suggested posts) - 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches - 🔒 Privacy concerns around data collection - 💰 Requires a subscription in addition to initial purchase **Commonly reported bugs** - Instagram suggested posts not getting blocked - Facebook feed not loading properly with extension enabled - YouTube Shorts still visible in recommendations - LinkedIn promoted posts no longer getting blocked **Most requested features** - Add more options to block specific features on TikTok - Ability to block open in app requests for Instagram - Option to grayscale sites for less distraction - Add support for more social media platforms (e.g. Discord, BlueSky) - Ability to schedule social media blocks - Sync settings across devices and profiles ## Newest reviews (13 of 316) ### 4/5 — Amazing & frankly life changing when its not broken *2026-07-28, version 7.7* This is has had a huge positive impact on me over the last year & a half. Only thing is its breaks often / stops blocking specific parts of website often. I understand this may be just 1 man updating the code on this so that may explain why things like (fixing X.com timeline blocker) or (hide search bar on reddit) don’t get fixed for multiple months but meh whatever. Overall amazing app!! ### 4/5 — Works great, disappointing that updates are being gated behind a subscription *2026-06-23, version 7.6* On the whole works great to cleanup Twitter/Reddit but the fact that Codebase Updates are behind a subscription is pretty disappointing. ### 3/5 — Could be better *2026-05-29, version 7.6* Only works on safari, ok app ### 4/5 — The best you’re gonna find for iOS *2026-04-19, version 7.6* I have a big screen time issue with instagram especially and going through university with it isn’t super easy. I’ve tried many tools such as using the website exclusively or sheer will power for avoiding reels but it’s never worked. This overall is really good for what it does. As far as pros I mean it works for the most part (it’s only through the browser not an actual app). As for slight cons if u force scroll really hard u can scroll briefly the home page but its like a nano second. Sometimes it also shows old dms idk why. This will solve most of the problem, the other is ur own. I do wish it could be implemented in the actual app tho. Overall 4/5 ### 4/5 — Broken *2026-04-15, version 7.6* Not working on Instagram, needs fixed ### 4/5 — Many sites are out of date *2026-04-11, version 7.6* Updated in response to dev reply: Many of the issues I saw are fixed. This is definitely a cat-and-mouse type solution, so it’s reasonable for function drift to occur, but if it stays broken for a few months it is hard to recommend purchase at that time. Bump from 2 to 4 stars, it’d be 5 if update cycles were more frequent and fixes were listed. I found this app incredibly useful and absolutely worth the money, but it is currently lagging behind the obnoxious features of many sites. Reddit has unhandled distracting elements, and HackerNews is essentially completely broken. For example, currently it blocks Related Posts but does not have a feature for Related Answers, a newer distracting element in the site. It also omits some obvious preexisting features, like an inability to disable Join Subreddit buttons, though it has options for others. Great, but not a complete solution. ### 3/5 — Glitchy Interferences *2026-03-01, version 7.5* This is exactly what I’ve wanted for Facebook, especially on iOS. But there are unintended issues that have arisen that make it almost not worthwhile to keep this activated. On iOS I often use the Facebook “copy link” menu option, because copying the URL seems to never go back to the specific FB page, only the home page, which is so dumb on Facebook’s part. But unfortunately SocialFocus is blocking access to the menu. A transparent gray sheet opens up, where Facebook is trying to present the menu but SF has canceled it out. And on macOS with the timeline feed turned off, I’ve noticed that when I want go to a specific page with a photo and then try to access the menu to download the photo, the menu isn’t there. I’m sure it’s a bit complex to build SF and get it to handle the monstrosity that is Facebook, but these inconveniences make it hard to keep using SF. To copy a link or find a menu macOS, I have to go out of my way to disable the extension for that interaction. I can share my specific setup of what’s turned on, if that would help refine that setting to allow the menu etc to come through while keeping the main setting blocked. ### 5/5 — Please add country specific apps *2026-02-15* I agreed with Aleksandrov Nikita: App is great! But please add more social networks specific for contries. Especialy VK and RuTube ### 2/5 — Many sites are out of date *2026-02-13* I found this app incredibly useful and absolutely worth the money, but it is currently lagging behind the obnoxious features of many sites. Reddit has unhandled distracting elements, and HackerNews is essentially completely broken. For example, currently it blocks Related Posts but does not have a feature for Related Answers, a newer distracting element in the site. It also omits some obvious preexisting features, like an inability to disable Join Subreddit buttons, though it has options for others. Great, but not a complete solution. ### 5/5 — Don’t support *2026-02-03, version 7.5* I ‘bought’ this app in 2024 and there was no subscription back then. All the features were included with the paid app. Now the same features are locked behind a subscription. None of the features work. The developer has moved all the features to a paid subscription. No one should be supporting this. ### 3/5 — Snapchat *2026-01-30, version 7.5* Please add Snapchat. Most addicting app istg ### 5/5 — Amazing App. 100% worth it *2026-01-28, version 7.5* I love how its a one time fee, not subscription based. I can finally go on youtube or instagram and not be sucked into doomscrolling. This app is a life saver for me. Thank you for creating it. ### 5/5 — Super *2026-01-21* Mit dieser App macht YouTube wieder Spaß, weil ich die Shorts ausblenden kann, in denen ich sonst meine Zeit verschwende. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Macht mich so wütend 😡 *2026-05-13* Dümmste App ever. Seit meine Mutter diese App installiert hat und mit einem „Nicht Löschbar“ gemacht hat funktioniert gar nichts mehr. Mein geheimer Trick wie ich YouTube trotz Zeitlimit und Sperre kucken konnte ist einfach nicht mehr funktionierend. Ich Bin so WÜTEND. Löscht dies App sofort. Alle aus der Klasse schauen YouTube außer ich. ### 1/5 — Straight scam this app *2026-05-10, version 7.6* Horrible ### 1/5 — Not working *2026-03-20, version 7.6* Doesn’t seem to work for facebook ### 1/5 — Used to work *2026-03-12, version 7.5* Used to block instagram reels very well, but now it stops blocking reels every time I refresh. ### 1/5 — Pls Don’t Download *2026-02-18, version 7.5* This app does not work properly. I’m on an iPhone, installed it, and followed all the setup steps correctly for Safari (the only browser that works on iOS). After setting my YouTube parameters, it works for one video—but as soon as I click away, the extension stops working and YouTube goes right back to its normal appearance. Tried every troubleshooting step in the books and the issue persisted. I basically just wasted $5. I could try to get a refund, but honestly it’s a hassle, so I’ll just take the L. ### 1/5 — Don’t bother *2026-02-16, version 7.5* App doesn’t work. Outdated UI. Don’t waste your time. ### 1/5 — Don’t buy *2026-01-18, version 7.5* I spent the money on pro to block YouTube shorts and it doesn’t work. Spare your few bucks. Will update to 4 stars when the shorts get blocked ### 1/5 — Geldverschwendung *2025-12-18* Warum kauf ich mir das um shorts zu blockieren und es funktioniert einfach nicht mal. so ein müll. **Developer response:** Bitte auf die neueste Version aktualisieren — das sollte das Problem beheben. Wenn es danach immer noch nicht funktioniert, kannst du mir gerne an swifterapps@gmail.com schreiben — ich helfe dir. ### 1/5 — Frechheit *2025-11-24* Ich habe die App wegen einer Sache gekauft und das war um reels bei Instagram zu verbergen und bei YouTube funktioniert bei beiden nicht nicht kaufen !!! **Developer response:** Bitte auf die neueste Version aktualisieren — das sollte das Problem beheben. Wenn es danach immer noch nicht funktioniert, kannst du mir gerne an swifterapps@gmail.com schreiben — ich helfe dir. ### 1/5 — Stopped working *2025-11-22, version 7.3* Stoped working a week back. Multiple filters on YouTube including blocking shorts is not working. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love it! *2026-08-27, version 8.0* Most sites are ridiculously bloated with extra buttons, recommendations, and clutter taking up screen real estate these days. This app does a fantastic job cleaning up Reddit and Facebook for me. I already use UnTrap from the same developer for YouTube, and this brings similar features to the other sites. Great app overall, I hope the dev keeps adding toggles to hide new nonsense as sites keep updating! ### 5/5 — Works Brilliantly *2026-06-17, version 7.6* This is the best app/extension for limiting the features on social media websites! None of the other extensions available on platforms like the Chrome Web Store work as well as this. It’s a must-have.! ### 5/5 — the first app I always install, gave me my life back *2026-06-04, version 7.6* I never write reviews for anything, but I just wanted to express my appreciation to the developer. Your app gave me my life back. Thank you so much. My screen time has gone down significantly and I feel like my interactions with social media are more significant. I spend 15 minutes a day only and I maximize my time. Initially, it was something I had to try really hard to do. But now it comes easy. Thank you, I wish all the best in the world to this developer, ❤️ ### 5/5 — La primera vez que dejo una reseña *2026-05-14, version 7.6* Lo único que ha funcionado para hacer Instagram usable. Reels fuera, Explore fuera, suggested fuera. Solo veo a quienes sigo, que es para lo que me hice la cuenta originalmente. Meta no te deja hacer esto desde la app y por eso esta extensión existe. Imprescindible si quieres usar redes sociales en tus términos y no en los de ellos. ### 5/5 — Amazing Feauture *2026-04-13, version 7.6* Very Easy to use, works like magic, would recommend it to anyone. (Would also recommend adding a password and having someone create the password so that you don't know it!) ### 5/5 — Perfect for safari *2026-04-08, version 7.6* I love using this for safari since it’s the only way I access social media on my phone. Thank you for this app it’s very helpful for me. If you are like me and don’t use the annoying phone apps this will be perfect for you. ### 5/5 — Works for Instagram *2026-03-28, version 7.6* BlockIt doesn't work for blocking the explore button on Instagram but this one does! I am so excited to be able to check Instagram only for my feed and not get tempted to click the explore buttom. ### 5/5 — Your App is Amazing Thank You So Much! *2026-03-24, version 7.6* This is exactly what everyone needs. You are more than a developer, you have helped many people. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Cured my ADHD *2026-03-21, version 7.6* Thank you so much for creating this wonderful extension. I feel so much better. My mental health improved a lot and I can hold attention for longer periods of time! ### 5/5 — Does what it’s supposed to *2026-03-17, version 7.6* Works well and does exactly what it says it does --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-13.*