Block YouTube
One video in.
An hour gone.
Fella blocks YouTube on iPhone by default and gives you one emergency 5-minute unlock a day, so autoplay and Shorts stop deciding how long you're actually on there.
YouTube has the longest average session of any major app. Recent usage data puts global daily watch time at roughly 48 to 52 minutes, with the average session running about 14 and a half minutes, longer than TikTok or Instagram. It's rarely one video, it's a sitting.
Shorts and autoplay remove the exit. A regular video ends. Shorts and the up-next queue don't, they just keep serving the next clip the recommendation engine thinks will hold your attention a little longer.
Fella doesn't compete with the algorithm. It blocks YouTube by default, gives you one 5-minute emergency unlock a day for anything you actually need, then locks it again automatically.
Why YouTube is hard to block manually
Autoplay is the default, not a choice you make. Once one video ends, the next one has already started. Studies on infinite-scroll formats have found people watch significantly longer than with a paginated feed, simply because there's no natural stopping point.
"Take a Break" is a reminder, not a lock. It's turned off by default for anyone 18 or older, and even when enabled, dismissing it takes one tap and the video keeps playing.
The app is built to reward duration, not intent. Whether you opened it for a five-minute tutorial or to kill ten minutes, YouTube's recommendations treat both sessions the same way: as an opportunity to keep going.
| Approach | Good for | Weak point |
|---|---|---|
| Delete YouTube | Maximum removal. | Reinstalling takes under a minute, and the browser version still works. |
| Screen Time App Limit | Basic usage awareness. | The Ignore Limit button undoes it in one tap. |
| Age rating restriction | Blocking YouTube's 17+ rating. | Blocks every other 17+ app too, and you can raise it back with your own passcode. |
| Fella | Blocking YouTube by default. | Built for one daily unlock, not open-ended access. |
How to block YouTube on iPhone with Fella
1. Add YouTube to your blocked apps. Pick it once during setup alongside any other apps that pull you in.
2. Let it stay locked by default. There's no daily toggle or Ignore Limit button to fall back on when "just one video" feels urgent.
3. Use the emergency unlock for real needs. One 5-minute window a day is enough for a specific video or a quick lookup.
4. YouTube locks again automatically. You don't have to remember to close the door behind you.
Fella isn't Restricted Mode or Supervised Experience
Restricted Mode filters content, it doesn't block access. It's designed to hide mature videos, not to stop someone from opening the app in the first place.
Supervised Experience is a parent-managed account. It runs through Google Family Link for a child's account, with content levels and screen time set by a parent.
Fella is for managing your own use. No linked account, no content filtering, just a personal block with one daily unlock for people who want less friction managing themselves.
Who this is for
People who open YouTube for one video and lose the evening. If autoplay and Shorts reliably turn a five-minute plan into an hour, that's the exact pattern Fella is built to interrupt.
People who've already hit Ignore Limit more than once. If the Screen Time warning has become background noise, a harder default is the next step.
People who still need it occasionally. For a specific video, a tutorial, or work, the daily unlock covers real use without leaving the app open all day.
Block YouTube FAQ
You can use Apple's Screen Time App Limits or Content & Privacy Restrictions, or use a focused app blocker like Fella to keep YouTube blocked by default with one emergency 5-minute unlock per day.
Take a Break is off by default for users 18 and over, and even when it's on, it just pauses the video until you tap dismiss or resume. It's a nudge, not a block, so it doesn't stop autoplay or Shorts on its own.
Setting Content & Privacy Restrictions below YouTube's 17+ rating blocks the app, but it also blocks every other app rated 17+ and can be changed back at any time using your own Screen Time passcode.
No. Restricted Mode filters mature content and Supervised Experience is a parent-managed account tied to Google Family Link. Fella is a personal app blocker for people managing their own YouTube use, not a content filter or parental control system.
No. Fella blocks the app on your iPhone. Your account, subscriptions, and watch history are untouched, and you can still reach the app during your daily emergency unlock.
Yes. You choose which apps Fella blocks. YouTube can be on your list while other apps you rely on stay fully accessible.
See how Fella blocks TikTok, blocks Discord, blocks Twitch, and blocks Netflix, or compare Fella with Apple Screen Time.