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Not Your Mom's Free App Blocker (Because It's My Mom's: I Built It, She Installed It, and Now She's Using Facebook Less!)

·4 mins
Indie-Hacker Tools Productivity
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So, my mom was at my house the other day, scrolling on her phone like a zombie (her words, not mine). She pulls up a cat video on Facebook and goes, “I waste so much time on this. Can you fix it?” And that’s how this started. I didn’t set out to build an app blocker, but here we are—and my mom is actually using it.
Spoiler: This isn’t some fancy $5/month SaaS with Machine Learning™. It’s a scrappy, free app, and it’s been shockingly effective. Keep reading if you’re tired of those overcomplicated blockers that throw “gamification” buzzwords at the wall.

Why Build My Own? #

I tried the usual suspects first: Freedom, FocusMe, even StayFocusd. They’re all decent for most people, but my mom hated them.

  • Freedom: “What’s this subscription nonsense? I just want to block Facebook, not pay rent for it.”
  • FocusMe: Great, but the UI gave her flashbacks to Windows XP. And it costs $7/month.
  • StayFocusd: Chrome-only. That’s a hard pass for someone whose entire tech support is me. Also, I wanted something simple—no analytics dashboards or motivational quotes. Just blocks apps. Period.

The Tech Stack (or Lack Thereof) #

This isn’t some app built in Go with 12 Docker containers. It’s dumb simple on purpose.

  • Platform: Android only (sorry, iPhone folks—Apple hates sideloading).
  • Main tools: Kotlin with the Device Policy Manager API. If you’ve never messed with this API, it’s an easy way to block apps natively without needing a VPN or a background service.
  • Size: 2.3 MB APK, all-in. Works on Android 9 and up.
    The codebase is embarrassingly small. I literally used Jetpack Compose for a “select your evil app” UI that looks like an early 2010s to-do list app. But hey, it works. Setup time? Two minutes tops, assuming you can explain “Enable Admin Permission” over the phone.

Does It Actually Work for Her? #

Shockingly, yes. My mom (who is very much not techy) has been using it for three weeks, and her Facebook screen time is down 54% according to Digital Wellbeing stats. She’s not perfect—she still unblocks Facebook after dinner some nights—but the friction alone is enough to make her more mindful.
Her feedback:

  • “It’s like having a bouncer for my phone.”
  • “The block button should sound angrier.” (This… may end up in v1.1.)

Why I’m Not Releasing It (Yet) #

Here’s the thing: while it works fine for her, this is overkill for most people. I’ve only tested it on a handful of devices, all running stock Android. No clue if it works on Xiaomi phones with MIUI or those random $99 Samsung Galaxy A0.1 Ultra-lite-SE knockoffs sold on AliExpress.
Plus, I haven’t touched issues like scheduled blocks, notifications, or account recovery. If my mom accidentally locks herself out of Netflix and can’t undo it, I’m literally the helpline. That doesn’t scale. But if there’s genuine interest? Sure, I’ll throw it on GitHub under MIT and call it a day.

Alternatives That Don’t Suck #

If you’re not ready to sideload my slightly-janky APK, here are some solid alternatives that work out of the box:

  1. BlockSite (Free + Premium options): Super polished. Great for blocking both platforms and websites, though the free tier pesters you.
  2. Focus Apps (various): Desperate for an iPhone option? Opal or Serene might work—both offer free trials, though long-term use is $$$.
  3. Digital Wellbeing (built into Android 9+): Honestly, 80% of what people need is already in here. It’s just boring and hidden under four menus.

Lessons from Building for My Mom #

Here’s what this project drilled into my brain:

  1. Most apps are too complicated. My mom didn’t want metrics, habits, or progress streaks. She just wanted “Facebook to stop being a thing” for most of the day.
  2. Default settings matter. The app defaults to blocking 9 AM–7 PM because that’s when she’s scrolling. No one wants to futz around with manual schedules.
  3. Tech is good, but friction is better. A great app blocker doesn’t have to be flawless. Sometimes all you need is a speed bump to stop doomscrolling.
    No FAQs here. If you want source code or a sideloadable version, drop a comment on Reddit. Or don’t. Your choice—this isn’t Freedom.