‘Foqos’ Can Actually Keep You From Using Your iPhone
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The problem with distraction blocking applications is ease of deactivation. But what happens if you needed to access a physical object to unlock distractions? In this way, you can leave the object at home or give it to someone who can keep you responsible. This is the basic idea behind Foqos, an iPhone application of the Ali Waseem developer, which is open source, completely free and works very well.
At first, Foqos may seem similar to other development applications to block distractions. You can select a set of applications and websites you want to block, then activate the blocker. The difference occurs when it is time to deactivate this distraction. To do this, you must scan a “key”, either an NFC chip or an QR code.
Credit: Justin Pot
If you are looking for the simplest option, opt for the QR code: you can print the code on a piece of paper and place it somewhere in your home. Personally, I configure a QR code and saved it to the back of an office drawer. The NFC chip, on the other hand, is a little more cheesy. You will have to buy a white and configure it yourself. These chips are extremely affordable and have all kinds of other users, from the automation of routines to the sharing of your wifi passwords.
The configuration process is simple. First of all, you must give authorization for the application to access your screen time settings – this is used to allow blocking. Then you can create profiles. I did one to block social media applications as a category, then I added the web versions of Reddit, so I did not have a bypass solution. After that, you can choose the key you want to use. You can use your choice key – the NFC chip or the QR code – both to trigger the blocking and finish it. Alternatively, you can start the blocking manually and require the key to stop it.
What do you think so far?
Whatever you have configured this, there are all kinds of ways to use it. You can leave the key at home before an evening, which facilitates concentration on the people around you. Or, during the working day, you can give the key to a friend and ask them not to return it before you finish with the current project. I have been trying this for a few days, leaving my phone without the possibility of accessing Reddit or Bluesky. I hope I will spend time reading instead of scrolling, and it seems to work. Even if the key is only on the other side of the room, there is enough friction to prevent me from scrolling.
The application, as mentioned, is completely free, although the developer asks you to cut a few dollars if you find it useful.
