Slowth: Short Video Blocker
What is Slowth?
Safari extension that hides infinite-scroll feeds like YouTube Shorts, Reels and X Explore, and can block TikTok and.
Slowth is a free Safari extension that hides or blocks infinite-scroll feeds on YouTube Shorts, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok while leaving the rest of each site available. On iPhone and iPad it can use screen access, started by you through the system broadcast prompt, to detect YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and Stories and block the app through Screen Time. The app is open source.
Pricing. Slowth is free to download, with in-app purchases on the App Store.
Good for
- Cutting back on YouTube Shorts while still using YouTube
- Limiting Instagram or Facebook Reels during the day
- Keeping TikTok blocked for a set period
Screenshots
Why this app is in A tier
A tier follows from that score within this list. The full explanation, as data.
Slowth scores 86 out of 100: rating 92, rating count 53, App Store search rank 100, update recency 100. The four parts are averaged and A tier follows from that score within this list.
Description
A Safari extension that quietly hides infinite‐scroll feeds.
Slowth blocks YouTube Shorts, Instagram and Facebook Reels, plus Explore and trends on X while leaving the rest of each site available.
Each site has labels that match what it blocks. Instagram and Facebook add a feed mode; TikTok is Off or Block site.
TikTok is replaced with a friendly blocked page. You can opt any site into full block too.
Enable Slowth in Safari, then choose what to hide or block for each website.
Safari blocking works on websites without screen recording.
Read more
For 24 hours, enabled restrictions cannot be turned off. You can add restrictions, but cannot enable whole-site blocking. The timer survives restarts and force-quits.
On iPhone and iPad, Slowth can detect YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and Instagram Stories and block the app when your selected content appears. This uses screen access that you start and stop.
Choose YouTube or Instagram in Screen Time, then enable the content types you want to block. Start screen recording to use the apps while detection runs. When Slowth detects selected content, Screen Time blocks the entire app, not just that video or story.
Slowth needs screen images to recognize Shorts, Reels, and Stories inside other apps. To receive these images, it uses the iOS screen recording feature. You start this access yourself through the system broadcast prompt.
Screen images are analyzed on your device to recognize the content you chose to block. Audio is ignored.
Screen frames are analyzed entirely on your device and never uploaded. By default nothing is saved; confirmed frames are saved only after explicitly enabling hidden debug capture.
Slowth is open source. You can inspect the app and its on-device detection pipeline on GitHub.
Compare
Slowth
SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts
ScrollGuard
ShortformBlock
SocialFocusTop Short Video Blocking
Recently Updated
Questions about Slowth
Does Slowth upload my screen?
The listing says screen frames are analyzed entirely on your device and never uploaded. By default nothing is saved; confirmed frames are saved only after explicitly enabling hidden debug capture.
Can I turn off a restriction right away?
For 24 hours, enabled restrictions cannot be turned off. You can add restrictions but cannot enable whole-site blocking. The timer survives restarts and force-quits.
Is the detection code public?
Yes. The listing says Slowth is open source and its app and on-device detection pipeline can be inspected on GitHub.
Is Slowth free?
Slowth is free to download, with in-app purchases.
Is Slowth right for me?
Slowth is built for cutting back on youtube shorts while still using youtube, limiting instagram or facebook reels during the day, keeping tiktok blocked for a set period. It sits in the short video blocking list on AppTierList.
Is Slowth worth it?
Slowth is A tier, ranked #2 of 6 short video blocking apps with a score of 86 out of 100, from a 4.6 App Store rating across 19 ratings. It is in the list's top tiers; 1 app ranks above it.
How does Slowth compare to SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts?
Slowth is A tier at 86; SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts is S tier at 95. SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts ranks higher. Slowth is free to download, with in-app purchases, SocialLite-Block Reels&Shorts is free to download, with in-app purchases.
How often is Slowth updated?
Slowth was updated 8 days ago, which counts in its favour.
Alternatives
Most similar
Top rated in Short Video Blocking
Categories
All the facts
Ranking
- List
- Short Video Blocking (A tier, #2)
- Tier
- A (Excellent)
- Score
- 86 / 100
- Rank in list
- #2 of 6
- Ranking certainty
- settled
Ratings
- App Store rating
- 4.6 out of 5, every App Store country
- Ratings
- 19
App
- Price
- Free + IAP
- App Store category
- Productivity
- Current version
- (8 days ago)
- Size
- 35 MB
- Requires
- iOS 16.0 or later
- Age rating
- 4+
- Languages
- 53
- Runs on
- iPhone, iPad, Mac
- iPhone Duo
- Made for iPhone Duo, with screenshots for both screens on the App Store
Links
- Developer pages
- Website · Support · Privacy policy
- Maker
- not verified
- As data
- JSON · why it ranks here
App Store data read · ranking