I Stopped Deleting Apps and Started Blocking Just the Feed Instead

I deleted Instagram three times last year. Each time I reinstalled it within a week. The problem wasn't willpower. The problem was that deleting the app meant losing access to DMs, stories from friends, and event invites. Instagram isn't just a feed. It's infrastructure. So I tried something different: I blocked just the feed. The nuclear option doesn't work Every "digital detox" guide says the same thing. Delete the apps. Use a dumbphone. Go cold turkey. But most of us can't. Not because we're weak. Because these apps serve real purposes beyond the infinite scroll: Instagram : DMs, stories, event invites Twitter/X : DMs, breaking news, professional network YouTube : Tutorials, music, learning content TikTok : ...okay maybe you can delete TikTok The feed is the addictive part. The rest of the app is actually useful. Feed-level blocking Instead of deleting apps, I started blocking just the algorithmic feed on each one. I can still open Instagram and message someone. I can still search f