Four Ways to Block Video Distractions

For knowledge workers and students, the internet is both a library and a playground. Video content, specifically on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, represents the most significant drain on cognitive resources. Whether it is a "quick" three-minute clip that turns into an hour of doom-scrolling or a background stream that fractures focus, the need to block video is a prerequisite for deep work.

However, not all blocking methods are equal. Depending on your level of self-discipline and technical environment, you may need anything from a simple browser toggle to a network-wide restriction—or a modern AI-driven assistant like Fomi that understands the difference between a tutorial and a distraction.

1. Browser-Level Blocking: The First Line of Defense

The most common way to block video distractions is through browser extensions. These tools allow you to blacklist specific URLs or entire domains.

• Static Site Blockers: Extensions like Cold Turkey or Freedom allow you to set "Block Lists" for sites like youtube.com. You can schedule blocks for work hours or use a "Locked Mode" to prevent yourself from turning the blocker off mid-session.
  

• Feed Erasers: Sometimes you need the search function of YouTube but want to avoid the "Suggested Videos" rabbit hole. Extensions like "Unhook" or "DF Tube" allow you to hide the homepage feed, sidebar, and comments, turning a distracting platform into a functional tool.
  

• The Problem: These are easily bypassed. If you are on a deadline, you might find yourself switching to "Incognito Mode" or using a different browser where the extension isn't installed.
  

2. Router-Level and DNS Blocking: Network-Wide Silence

If you find browser extensions too easy to circumvent, you can block video at the source: your internet router or through DNS settings.

• DNS Filtering: Services like OpenDNS or NextDNS allow you to block specific categories (like "Video Streaming") at the DNS level. When your computer tries to resolve the address for Netflix, the DNS simply returns an error. This affects every device in your home.
  

• Router Blacklisting: Most modern routers (including Eero, Nest, or Asus) have built-in parental controls. You can identify your work computer and block access to specific social media and video domains during set hours.
  

• The Problem: This is often "too much." If you need to watch a technical demo or a Zoom recording hosted on a blocked platform, you have to log into your router settings to disable it, which breaks your flow completely.
  

3. OS-Level Restrictions: Native Focus Tools

Both macOS and Windows have introduced native features to help users manage their digital consumption.

• Screen Time (macOS/iOS): You can set "App Limits" for video-heavy apps. Once you hit your daily limit, the app is grayed out.
  

• Focus Modes: macOS allows you to create specific "Focus" profiles that filter notifications and can even hide specific home screens or browser tabs.
  

• The Problem: These tools are designed for general wellness, not "Deep Work." They don't know what you are doing inside an app—they only know that the app is open.
  

4. The Superior Alternative: Contextual AI with Fomi

Traditional blockers are "dumb"—they are digital walls that don't care if you're watching a lecture or a cat video. Fomi represents the first AI-native productivity app built to distinguish between work and distraction in real-time.

Why Fomi Succeeds Where Routers and DNS Fail:

• Content-First Recognition: Fomi doesn't just block a site like YouTube. It analyzes visible on-screen content—titles, subtitles, and channel names—to determine if the video supports your "Work Goal".

  
  

• Dynamic Promotion: If your goal is "Researching video editing trends," Fomi's AI will "promote" YouTube from a leisure tool to a Deep Work tool for that session.

  
  

• The Nudge, Not the Lock: Instead of a frustrating error page, Fomi uses a "Brutal Accountability Partner" persona. If you drift from a Figma tutorial to a gaming stream, Fomi literally throws a virtual tomato at your screen to snap you back to reality.

  
  

• Privacy-First Design: Unlike invasive monitoring, Fomi redacts personal information locally on your device before any AI analysis takes place and never stores your screen history.

  
  

Summary of Video Blocking Methods

Method	Strength	Major Weakness	Ideal For
Browser Extension	Easy to set up	Easily bypassed in Incognito	Casual focus
Router/DNS	Impossible to bypass easily	"All-or-nothing" blocking	Total deprivation
OS Screen Time	Built-in to Mac/PC	Lacks contextual awareness	General digital health
Fomi (AI Context)	Adapts to your task	Requires macOS 14+	Deep Work & ADHD

Conclusion: Which Method Should You Choose?

If you need to block video to finish a project, start by defining your goal. If you are doing "dumb" work that requires zero internet, router-level blocking is excellent. However, if you are a creator, developer, or student who needs the internet to learn, static blocks will only frustrate you.

Fomi provides the "gentle rails" that modern work requires. It is smart enough to know when you are working and brave enough to tell you when you aren't. By moving away from static blocklists and toward contextual AI, you can keep the tools you need without falling victim to the distractions they hide.

Ready to reclaim your time? Start by fixing your focus.

👉 [Download Fomi - The AI Focus App for Mac]