Why grayscale social media?

Grayscale is a setting on the iPhone that allows you to remove the vibrant colors from your device. Social media apps like Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok use these colors to create stimulating experiences that trigger a dopamine response in the brain that can make the apps addicting.

In this article we will show you how to set up a shortcut automation on iPhone that allows you to automatically turn your phone to grayscale when using social media apps. The final result looks like this:

Steps to grayscale social media

Quick Steps

1. Open the Shortcuts app
2. Select the Automation tab
3. Tap Create Personal Automation or the '+' button in the upper right corner
4. Tap App in the Automation list (halfway down)
5. Tap Choose
6. Search for Twitter (or another app)
7. Confirm 'Is Opened' is selected, tap Next
8. Tap Add Action
9. Search 'Set Color Filters' and tap it
10. Confirm color filters is 'On', tap Next
11. Toggle Ask Before Running Off, confirm 'Don't Ask' in the pop up, then tap Done
12. Repeat steps 1-11 (this time select 'Is Closed' for step #7 and 'Off' for #10)

Every time you open Twitter your phone will enter grayscale mode, and when you leave it will go back to having colors.

Steps with photos

Open the Shortcuts app, Select the Automation tab, Tap Create Personal Automation

*if you have never created a personal automation you will see the 2nd screen above, if you have an existing automation you will see the screen on the far right.

Tap App -> Tap Choose -> Search Twitter

Confirm 'Is Opened' -> Tap Add Action -> Search 'Set Color Filters'

Confirm 'Turn color filers' is On -> Toggle Ask Before Running Off -> Confirm Don't Ask -> Tap Done

Repeat steps 1-11 (this time select 'Is Closed' for step #7 and 'Off' for #10)

That's all. Every time you open Twitter you will see your screen go grayscale. Try setting this automation up for any apps you find unnecessarily distracting and watch your screen time plummet!

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