I'd open Instagram to answer one message and lose 40 minutes to Reels. Deleting the app meant losing my DMs, and app timers took one tap to dismiss.
BrainShield blocks the feed and leaves the rest of the app alone. Reels and Shorts disappear, but your DMs and regular videos still work. It can also block adult sites across the whole phone.
It also has a Pomodoro timer and a minimal home screen. There's no account, and blocking happens on your phone.
