> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.focusme.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Block Social Media

> Step-by-step guide to blocking social media sites and apps with FocusMe.

Social media is designed to be addictive. Here's how to take back control.

## Quick Setup — Block the Big Sites

<Frame caption="Adding social media sites to the blacklist">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/focusme/f2B5B4S6h27RCqMA/images/guide-block-social-media-targets.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=f2B5B4S6h27RCqMA&q=85&s=6e73fa02143f3076bfbd9380203b6d99" width="1032" height="736" data-path="images/guide-block-social-media-targets.png" />
</Frame>

1. Open FocusMe and click **Add a Plan**
2. Choose **Block** as the plan type (or **Time Limit** if you want a daily budget)
3. Choose **Block Some Websites** and add:

```
facebook.com
instagram.com
tiktok.com
x.com
reddit.com
threads.net
snapchat.com
linkedin.com
pinterest.com
```

4. Set your timing mode — e.g., **Weekly Schedule**, Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM
5. Add protection — at least **Password** to prevent yourself from disabling it
6. Name it "Social Media Block" and click **Done**

## Block the Apps Too

Social media has desktop apps and Windows Store apps. Block the websites *and* the applications for complete coverage:

1. In the same plan, click **Next** to go to the **Applications** page
2. Add these common social media apps:

| App      | Process Name   |
| -------- | -------------- |
| Discord  | `Discord.exe`  |
| Slack    | `Slack.exe`    |
| Telegram | `Telegram.exe` |
| WhatsApp | `WhatsApp.exe` |

<Tip>Use the [Helper Tool](/guides/using-the-helper-tool) to find the exact process name of any app. Right-click the FocusMe tray icon → **Helper** while the app is open.</Tip>

## Allow a Daily Budget Instead

If you don't want to block social media entirely, use a **Time Limit** instead of Block:

1. Choose **Time Limit** as the plan type
2. Set **30 minutes per day** (or whatever feels right)
3. FocusMe tracks your actual usage and blocks when the budget runs out

This lets you check social media on breaks without losing entire hours to doomscrolling.

## Block YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels

You can block specific addictive features while allowing the rest of the platform:

* Block `youtube.com/shorts` — blocks Shorts but allows regular YouTube
* Block by window title containing `Reels` — catches Instagram Reels

[See the YouTube Shorts guide →](/guides/block-youtube-shorts)

## Make It Stick

The biggest risk is that future-you will disable the plan. Use protection:

* **Password** — give the password to someone you trust
* **Random Characters** — the friction of typing 50+ characters stops impulsive disabling
* **Enforced** — the nuclear option: you genuinely cannot disable it until the schedule ends