Breaking the endless-scroll habit: six phone-based tricks against TikTok and Instagram time loss
A quick check of TikTok, Instagram or Facebook can unintentionally turn into hours of scrolling. Built-in phone settings offer ways to track and limit this habit.
Social media apps are built to keep users engaged as long as possible, with content streaming continuously and no natural stopping point. As a result, what starts as "just one video" can turn into hours spent staring at a screen before the user notices.
According to the Latvian outlet Jauns.lv, a solution can be found directly on the device itself — both iPhone and Android phones come with built-in settings that help people become aware of, and limit, the time they spend on social platforms.
Built-in tools that can help
Both major mobile operating systems offer features that track overall screen time and break down usage by individual app. On top of that, users can set daily time limits for specific platforms, after which the app temporarily becomes inaccessible.
Other settings aim to reduce the urge to check the phone every few minutes, including notification controls and options that make the screen less visually engaging or prevent apps from reopening automatically.
Jauns.lv has compiled these approaches into six simple methods that can help anyone cut down on aimless scrolling and regain control over the time they spend on their screens.
