How hard should it be to undo a block you set on yourself?
I'm Hossam, a solo developer from Egypt. I'm building The Blocker, an iPhone app for people who want to stop visiting adult sites, privately, before they're ready to tell anyone.
The hardest design question hasn't been the blocking itself. It's this: how hard should it be to undo something you chose to do?
Where I've landed so far:
- Strong protection uses Apple's Screen Time, so the block works in every browser and in links you open inside other apps, not just Safari. It can also stop the app from being deleted.
- A "hard moment" button blocks everything for one hour, for the nights you don't trust yourself.
- A slip in the free 30-day challenge never resets you to zero. Shame is what makes people give up, so the app never shames you.
- No account, no ads, and no reports sent to anyone.
And the honest part: anything you set up yourself, you can undo, my app included. It holds much better when a friend keeps the Screen Time passcode.
One thing I learned: people who get the block working in their first minutes come back about three times more often. So for this kind of app, setup is the product.
I'd really value your take:
1. If you've ever blocked something on yourself (social media, games, anything), what made it stick, and what made you undo it?
2. Would you rather have a lock you can't open for a few hours, or a friend who holds the passcode?
3. Is "no reports to anyone" a feature for you, or a weakness?
I'm launching The Blocker here on Sunday. Your answers will shape what I build next, and I'll reply to every comment.

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