Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

To block a social media app, use Screen Time on an iPhone or Android’s app controls; to block a website, use an iPhone website restriction or a compatible filtering tool. For a child’s phone, Apple Family Sharing and Google Family Link let a parent manage restrictions remotely. The controls have different scopes: an app block does not automatically block the same service in a browser, and Android’s built-in web filter is for explicit content—not a general social-media-site blacklist.

Choose the control that matches what you want to block

First decide whether the target is an installed app, a website, or time spent across apps. Also decide whether you are managing your own phone or a child’s supervised account. Those distinctions matter: the steps and available controls vary by operating system, account setup, supported browser, and—in some cases—region and device.

  • Block an app: Use Screen Time on iPhone, Android’s App limits controls, or Family Link for an eligible supervised child.
  • Limit time or set a schedule: Use Screen Time schedules and Time Allowances on supported Apple devices, or app limits and downtime in the relevant Android or Family Link controls.
  • Block a website: iPhone Screen Time supports individual website blocks and approved-site restrictions. Android’s documented built-in filter targets explicit sites and search results, not chosen social-media domains.

For a child’s iPhone, Apple says the Family Sharing organizer or a parent/guardian can manage Screen Time from their own Apple device. For an Android child account, Family Link provides remote management. Check the requirements below before relying on either route.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Block an app or website on a child’s iPhone

Open the child’s Apps & Websites settings

  1. On the parent or guardian’s Apple device, open Settings → Family → [child’s name] → Apps & Websites.
  2. Under Restrictions, choose the web filtering approach you need. Apple lists Limit Adult Websites and Approved Websites Only/Ask to Browse.
  3. To block one app or website, select it in Apps & Websites, choose Block App or Block Website, then confirm.

Apple says a blocked app stays installed but appears dimmed on the Home Screen. Apple’s support page describes the control this way: “The Apps & Websites section in Screen Time lets you manually allow or block specific apps and websites, and adjust these settings whenever needed.” See Apple’s Screen Time parental-control instructions.

#1 Best Overall
Ailun Privacy Screen Protector iPhone 17e/16e/14/13/13 Pro, 2 Pack
  • [2 Pack] This product includes 2 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector.Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.[Not for iPhone 16 6.1 inch, iPhone 13 mini 5.4 inch, iPhone 13 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Plus 6.7 inch, iPhone 14 Pro 6.1 inch]
  • Specialty: to enhance compatibility with most cases, the Tempered glass does not cover the entire screen. HD ultra-clear rounded glass for iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
  • 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints.
  • High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
  • Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.

Set a schedule or daily social-media allowance

Apple’s updated Screen Time experience also includes schedules and Time Allowances. A schedule can vary by day or routine; a Time Allowance sets a daily budget for app categories and can be adjusted for an individual category, including social media. Apple announced these updated tools on September 14, 2026. To use that experience, Apple says all devices in the Family Sharing group must be updated to the applicable releases: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and/or visionOS 27. If the group cannot update all relevant devices, Apple says the previous controls remain usable. Some features vary by region, language, model, and age. See Apple’s announcement of the updated child-safety features.

Block apps with Android’s built-in parental controls

Set an app limit or block an app

  1. On the Android device, open Settings → Parental controls → App limits.
  2. Select the app you want to manage and set a time allowance, or turn off Allow app to block it.

Google says a blocked app is hidden from All apps. It cautions that blocking the Google app may prevent Android and other apps from working as intended. Menu availability can depend on the device and software version. See Google’s Android parental-controls instructions.

Rank #2
Ailun Privacy Screen Protector for iPhone 16 / iPhone 15 / iPhone 15 Pro
  • [3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector. Due to the rounded edge design of the iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro and to enhance compatibility with most cases,the tempered glass screen protectors will be slightly smaller than the phone screen.[Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 15 Plus/iPhone 15 Pro Max/iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch,iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch,iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch]
  • Specialty: HD rounded glass for iPhone 16/iPhone 15/iPhone 15 Pro 6.1 Inch is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
  • 99.99% High-definition hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.
  • High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
  • Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.

Know what Android’s web filter does—and does not do

Android’s documented web-content filters can restrict explicit sites and search results when used with supported software. Google lists these minimum versions: Google app 16.42, Chrome 140.0.7332.0, and Android System WebView 139, or another web provider that integrates with the feature. This is an explicit-content filter, not a way to enter a list of social-media domains and block them. Google warns that explicit content may still appear in other apps, devices, or browsers; when the explicit-site filter is on, Chrome sites are sent to Google for checking. The feature therefore should not be treated as a phone-wide social-media blocker.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Manage a child’s Android phone with Family Link

Check the device and account requirements

Family Link lets a parent manage a supervised child’s app access and screen time. Google says the parent’s app can run on Android 6.0 or later, iOS 16 or later, or supported Chromebook devices; the child’s Android device must run Android 6.0 or later. The parent and child must live in the same country. Some apps cannot be blocked because the device or supervision depends on them. See Google’s Family Link requirements and setup guidance.

Rank #3
SMARTDEVIL 2 Pack Privacy Screen Protector for iPhone 17 Pro Max, Anti-Spy
  • Perfect Fit for iPhone 17 Pro Max:Engineered exclusively for iPhone 17 Pro Max with seamless edge-to-edge coverage, ensuring precise alignment and reliable full-screen protection.
  • Advanced Privacy Protection:Features a 28° privacy filter with smooth 2.5D curved edges, preventing side glances in public. Your screen remains visible only to you—ideal for commuting, traveling, and crowded environments.
  • Effortless Installation:Equipped with an auto dust-elimination tool that delivers a fast, accurate, and bubble-free application, keeping your screen perfectly clear with minimal effort.
  • Military-Grade Protection:Made of nano-reinforced 9H tempered glass, SGS certified. Provides 5X stronger scratch resistance and proven durability, withstanding thousands of pressure and impact tests.
  • Smudge & Fingerprint Resistant:Hydrophobic and oleophobic coating repels fingerprints, sweat, and oil—ensuring your screen stays clean, clear, and smooth to the touch.

Block an app on the supervised device

  1. In Family Link, select the child.
  2. Open Screen time → Time limits → App limits.
  3. Choose the app and change its status to Blocked.

Google says the change can take about five minutes to apply, or until the child’s device reconnects to the internet. The block applies to the child’s Android devices or Chromebooks covered by Family Link.

Which option fits your situation?

Need iPhone / Apple Android / Google Important limit
Block one app Screen Time’s Apps & Websites controls can block a selected app. Android app controls can turn off Allow app; Family Link can block eligible apps on a supervised child’s device. Family Link cannot block every app. Blocking the Google app in Android controls may affect device function.
Set time limits or schedules Updated Screen Time includes schedules and category Time Allowances, including social media. Android offers app limits; Family Link offers app limits and downtime for supervised children. Names, availability, and supervision requirements vary with the operating system and account setup.
Restrict websites Screen Time can block individual websites, filter web content, or use an approved-sites approach. The documented built-in web filter targets explicit sites and search results through supported providers. Android’s described filter is not a general social-media-site blocker and does not cover every app or browser.
Manage a child’s phone remotely A Family Sharing organizer or parent/guardian can manage the child’s Screen Time settings. Family Link provides remote app and screen-time management for supervised devices. Confirm the account, device, OS, region, and family-group requirements for the feature you plan to use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What to check if a restriction does not work as expected

  • The app is blocked, but the service still opens: Check whether the website is available in a browser; an app block and a website restriction are separate controls.
  • A website filter misses a site: Confirm that the browser or provider and software versions are supported. On Android, the built-in filter is not designed as a social-media-domain blacklist.
  • A child’s setting is unavailable: Verify that the device is part of the relevant Family Sharing or supervised Family Link setup, and that account, OS, region, and device requirements are met.
  • A Family Link block has not appeared yet: Allow about five minutes or wait for the child’s device to reconnect to the internet.

Apple and Google document these controls as restrictions and management tools; their documentation does not establish that any setting blocks every possible route to a service or guarantees a behavior change.

Best Value
EZ-GLAZ-4 Pack for iPhone 16 Pro Max Privacy Screen Protector (6.9")
  • 【Innovative 1-Step Installation! 】Simplify the application process! Featuring automatic alignment functionality, enjoy a quick and easy installation,swiftly eliminate air bubbles, providing you a hassle-free installation experience for the iPhone 16 Pro Max privacy screen protector.Friendly Reminder: Please watch the installation video before you begin.
  • 【Indestructible Ultra 9H Glass for Ultimate Protection】With nearly diamond-like 9H hardness, this privacy screen protector for iPhone 16 Pro Max effectively avoids shattering, cracking, and scratches. It is up to 4X stronger than traditional tempered glass protectors and reliably protects the entire phone screen from compression and other impacts.
  • 【Ultra-Clear and Ultra-Sensitive】This protective film covers the iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9-inch, ensuring you feel as if there's nothing on your iPhone screen.The high-quality anti-fingerprint surface keeps your screen clean, bubble-free, delivering the most natural viewing and sensitive touch for videos and gaming.
  • 【26° Anti-Spy Privacy Protection】Featuring upgraded micro-louver optical technology, this iPhone 16 Pro Max privacy screen protector delivers a precise 26° privacy viewing angle. It maintains ultra HD clarity from the front view, while instantly darkening the screen for anyone viewing from the sides or behind.
  • 【Professional After-Sales Support】Each package contains 4 privacy screen protectors for the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Pro Max. We also offer a 365-day warranty service. We provide free replacement support for installation failures caused by product defects, size mismatch, or other verified quality issues. Please feel free to contact our customer support team for assistance.
Rank #4
Sale
UltraGlass TOP 9H+ Armor for iPhone 17 Pro Privacy Screen Protector, 2 Pack
  • 【Industry-Leading 100% Anti-Spy Privacy Protection】Designed for iPhone 17 Pro. Larger iPhone screens are easier for others to glance at, so UltraGlass uses patented, SEGI-certified 25° Blackout-3 optical technology to help block side views and keep emails, banking apps, and private content visible only to you—while keeping the front view HD-clear and comfortable through hours of scrolling and streaming.
  • 【Unbreakable TOP 9H+ Glass, the Excellent 2nd Screen for Your iPhone】Boasting unparalleled shatter resistance and durability. And the core excellence is the top 9H+ tempered glass material, which is widely applied in aerospace and military fields for its ① Shatter-proof ② Scratch & Wear Resistance ③ Durability that is 7-8 times higher than other materials. Thus, UltraGlass builds a second tough screen for your iPhone 17 Pro.
  • 【Industry NO.1 Military-Grade Shatterproof】Authorized by the International Military Standard with 50+ rigorous engineering tests of 220 lbs impact, 8,000+ drop tests, 20,000+ scratch tests, etc., its strength, toughness and durability perform NO.1 among all glass. By especially breaking the industry's record with a 12ft drop, the iPhone 17 Pro screen protector is ensured to be unbreakable from its surface to every edge and corner!
  • 【Invisible Armor, 1:1 Full Covers the iPhone's Screen】Mimicking the iPhone's original screen design, it uses a 1:1 3D curved reinforced black edge that wraps around every curve — case friendly — while securing even the most vulnerable edges. Seamlessly blending with the iPhone 17 Pro screen, it's virtually invisible and feels like the original screen while offering enhanced full-screen protection!
  • 【0 Bubbles + 0 Dust + 0 Misaligned =100% Successful Installation】Includes everything you need with pioneering automatic positioning, dust removal, and absorption technology, making the installation just effortlessly easy in seconds. No bubbles, no troubles—transforming beginners into experts.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.