Do you keep binge watching YouTube? Have you ever thought that you have YouTube addiction?

This article helps to block YouTube and come out of YouTube addiction.

YouTube is a phenomenon with the rise of social media platforms. It has a vast audience because of what it offers to the users. It has grown exponentially since its origin in 2005 and already has an over-saturated content for all the concepts.  

The users have access to different nationalities, ethnicity, religions, sexuality, and other niche groups. Currently, it is one of the world’s No.1 streaming websites available in almost all countries.  

We understand, and it is evident that users have an uncontrollable urge to watch social media and spend a lot of time. With so many of us having technology in our hands, the cause of infotainment has reached a stage of addiction.  

YouTube has become a routine for billions of us. Some content creators and influencers provide education as well entertainment. It has become the number 1 streaming website and is made available across geographics with all of these attributes.   

The algorithm is highly advanced and can suggest the videos of our interest based on our search on YouTube. It makes it more personalized for the users, as many of us prefer to watch the content that interests us.   

However, with the uprising dependency , we have come across the new syndrome of YouTube addiction. This article reflects on YouTube addiction and its impacts.   

YouTube Addiction: 

YouTube is like a drug, which is gratifying and highly addictive. It has to lead to addiction to a greater alarming level. There are billions of users out there who are severely addicted and don’t mind entertaining themselves to any extent.   

Let us look at the statistics:

• YouTube is the second most popular social media platform, with 79% of users having a YouTube account.  
• YouTube has 2 billion users worldwide.   
• People watch 1 billion hours of video on YouTube daily, and that’s an average of 8.4 minutes per user.  
• People upload 500 hours of video on YouTube per minute.  

Of course, there is nothing wrong with watching YouTube unless it leads to addiction.   

Let us now learn how to deal with YouTube Addiction:   

1. Realize that you have a problem  

The first step to beating any addiction is realizing, recognizing, and accepting that you have a problem with social media, mainly YouTube addiction.   

First, figure out what addiction looks like. Watching a few videos during your break at work does not constitute an addiction, and however, it would be if this habit is negatively affecting your work.  

It commonly looks like a daily routine of sneaking in time to watch videos when it is obvious, you’re not supposed to be watching them. If you’re addicted to content on YouTube, you will continue to watch compulsively.  

Even when you are not interested in this process, you’ll even end up forgetting deadlines and other commitments.  

If your daily life consists of spending an unhealthy amount of time on YouTube, recognize the problem. Accept that you have a problem and be ready to take steps to deal with it.

2. Block YouTube (At least temporarily.)  

The easiest and most effective solution to this problem is to block YouTube, and you can block both the website and the app on both your phone and computer.   

There are tons of apps and extensions available on the internet that can help with this.  

How to block YouTube on Chrome  

Open the Chrome web store on your laptop/desktop and search for “website blocker.”  

There are a lot of website blockers available on the market. Browse through and choose one based on your liking. Block site and BlockerX are two good ones we’d recommend.   

To install the blocker, all you need to do is click on the “Add to Chrome” button, and a pop-up should appear. Click on “Add extension.” The extension will install on your computer.  

Once it is installed, the extension icon will be displayed on the top right corner of the Chrome page.  

Click on the extension icon to open up the page.  

Next, please copy and paste the YouTube URL and click Enter to have it blocked in the appropriate space. It’s as easy as that!

How to block YouTube on Android  

Open the Google Play Store, and type “Website blocker.” There’ll be a large number of options available; choose any one of your likings. Click the ‘Install’ button to download the app on your phone.  

Once the app is downloaded, you can create an account using your details.  

Next, you can look through the list of apps available on your phone and click on the YouTube icon to have it blocked.  

To block the website in the appropriate space, copy and paste the YouTube URL and click Enter to have it stopped. Done!  

Refer to this article to learn more about website blockers and how to use them on different platforms.  

3. Delete the App  

We also have the luxury of choosing what apps we’d like to keep and what to delete on smartphones.  

If you believe blocking the app won’t help you and you’re sure that you won’t need YouTube for any other important work, you can delete it off your phone.  

This way, you no longer have to worry about giving in to your urges any time soon. If you’re worried, you’ll end up reinstalling the app, then we suggest you sign out of the app stores.  

Remember, there is always a solution.  

4. Pick a New Hobby  

Find alternatives that can replace that “high” you feel when watching YouTube.  

There are a plethora of options for you to explore. Just ensure you end up picking a healthy alternative.  

Fill your day with activities and tasks you usually enjoy at spaced-out intervals. It will help produce dopamine in your body throughout the day and reduce your association with hours of content on YouTube.  

5. Turn off your Wi-Fi  

In general, limit your internet usage throughout the day. Use it only when necessary, and don’t give in to your temptations.  

But, more importantly, always switch off your Wi-Fi before you get into bed.  

Statistics show that YouTube recorded its highest number of views around this time.  

To ensure that you don’t give in to your temptations and dive into the endless pit of videos on YouTube, switch off your Wi-Fi connection before you hit the bed.

Conclusion  

Always remember, you have the power to change your mental attitude, adjust your mindset, and create a better future.  

The choice is yours.  

We hope the tips mentioned above help you build a better life, understand the psychology behind your addiction, and finally overcome the obsession that is holding you back from achieving greatness.