How we can block facebook website from your computer


How to Block a Work Computer From Accessing Facebook | Small Business

By Grant Updated June 03, 2019

When you find that Facebook or similar social media websites are interrupting your employees or negatively impacting your company’s productivity, blocking your work computers from accessing Facebook is a step in the right direction. The steps that you take to block FB can also be used to block other social media websites.

Blocking Facebook Through the Company Internet Router

One way to block Facebook on all work computers is by blocking the Facebook URL through the company router. To do this:

  1. Identify the IP address for your router. In Windows, go to Start, type cmd in the search menu, type ipconfig in the command box and click enter. The number associated with the entry labeled gateway IP address is the IP address of the router. On a Mac, click AppleSystem PreferencesNetwork > Advanced and locate the IP address in the TCP/IP tab.
  2. Type the IP address of your router into your internet browser’s search bar to open to your router’s login page. If you don’t have the administrator password, your IT guy or systems admin who set up your company’s internet router has it.
  3. Locate the content filter feature for your brand of router. It is usually found in the Firewall or Content sections, but if you can’t find it easily, look up your specific router on Google to get the exact directions.
  4. In the content filter section, add the Facebook URL to the filter. This blocks all computers on the network from accessing Facebook. 
  5. To be thorough, block the mobile Facebook, Instagram and Facebook Messenger URLs as well. 

If your business depends on Facebook ad spending, you may want to leave the Facebook Business URL open to access.

Blocking Facebook Through the Windows Host File

Another method that is a more tedious FB block than the router method is to block Facebook manually through an individual computer’s host files. Since this method is manual, you have to follow this process on each company computer instead of applying a network block. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Windows Start menu and search for the Notepad application. 
  2. Instead of opening it, right-click on it and select the option to Run as Administrator.
  3. When the Notepad application opens, go to File > Open.
  4. In the File Explorer window, navigate to the Local Disc (C:) drive. 
  5. Click open the Windows folder, followed by the System32 folder and the drivers folder. Select to open the etc folder and elect to see All Files instead of only .txt files.
  6. Now you should see the hosts file. Right-click the file and select Properties to click the check box and enable Full Control mode from the Security tab. This allows you to open and edit the hosts file.
  7. Open the hosts file in Notepad. Scroll to the bottom and add a new line.
  8. Type 127.0.0.1, press Tab and type facebook.com
  9. To ensure that the FB block works on all web browsers, add the whole URL next to it, like so: 127.0.0.1 facebook.com  https://www.facebook.com.
  10. Block the mobile version by adding the mobile URL, m.facebook.com, on another line using the same formatting.
  11. In Notepad, go to File > Save As and select the hosts file as you did before. Click Save and confirm you want to replace it by selecting Yes.
  12. To confirm the changes, go back to the command prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns to flush the DNS cache, where saved browser information lives.
  13. Close any open browsers, restart your computer and open a browser.
  14. Type in the URL for Facebook. If you can’t access it, the FB block is finalized.

Repeat this process for every computer in the company where you want to block Facebook.

Blocking Facebook Through the Mac Host File

You can complete a similar version of the FB block method on Mac computers. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Terminal app, either by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities where the Terminal app is or by searching for it in Spotlight.
  2. From the Terminal, open the hosts file by typing in the following command: sudo nano /etc/hosts. Press enter.
  3. Enter your administrator password to continue and open the hosts file.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and start a new line.
  5. Type out 127.0.0.1, press Tab, and then enter the facebook.com URL.
  6. To confirm that all browsers block Facebook, add the https://www.facebook.com URL below it with the same formatting, like so: 127.0.0.1 https://www.facebook.com.
  7. Add the m.facebook.com URL as well.
  8. Save the editor and exit the hosts file.
  9. Go back to the Terminal. To remove any saved browser information by flushing the DNS cache, type this command into the Terminal: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
  10. Restart your computer and launch your internet browser. Try going to Facebook to confirm the FB block was successful. If you can’t load Facebook, then it worked.

Executing a FB Block via Third-Party Software

All kinds of third-party website blockers are out there, and most offer suitable solutions to keep your web browsers from accessing Facebook. Most good anti-virus protection programs come with built-in website filters, but some may be generalized for suspicious or inappropriate websites and not allow you to input individual website URLs. Check what your specific anti-virus software has as far as web-filtering capabilities on its website.

You can also find website-blocking extensions for your internet browser. For example, if you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, there are plenty of third-party website-filtering extensions you can download and add. Keep in mind that if you use this option, and not any of the others on this list, your employees might use another web browser as a workaround, so it might be worth your while to apply a FB block that is more universal, like the router or hosts file solutions.

References

  • Gadgets 360: How to Block Any Website on Your Computer, Phone, or Network
  • VentureHarbour: 10 Best Website & App Blockers to Block Facebook, Instagram & More

Resources

  • Facebook: Factsheet

Writer Bio

Grant Harvey is a writer with experience in the tech and crowdfunding space.

How to Block Facebook Website on Personal Computer

Have you ever felt as if you can’t get away from Facebook?

That whenever you sit down in front of your computer, you end up signing into your Facebook account and forget all about the office, Blogging or academic work you were supposed to do? Not, to worry, as the same thing has happened to me and many of us. And I believe that it’s time that we put our foot down and block Facebook from our computers.

  • Read: Deactivate Facebook account for killing Facebook additction

Sometimes, I really feel sites like Facebook, Twitter and many others in the same category, are useful but hampers our productivity. As time spends on these sites are countless and probably using a Websites counter time extension, may give you a better idea about how much time you spent on different social networking sites including Facebook.

Staying in contact with other people and making new friends can be considered as a good thing as it allows us to socialize and get to know about other cultures, using Facebook for hours at a time can’t be considered healthy. That is why you should know how to block the Facebook website on a personal computer. Or if you are parents and find your child spending countless time on Facebook or app like airtime, it’s in the best interest to allow limited time to access Facebook.

According to recent reports, it has been seen that using Facebook too much can hurt a person’s self-esteem. People, who use Facebook, have a lot of interactions with other people through the internet, and that is why it can be said that they sometimes lack the skills necessary for interacting with different people in real life. Sometimes it also happens that people are so engrossed in using Facebook that they forget about the work they have to do, and they spend that time checking Facebook status updates and visiting their ‘walls’. So, knowing how to block Facebook on a personal computer is a good thing.

  • Read: 10 Facebook tips and tricks you should know

Learning how to block Facebook on your Personal Computer is easy enough. You can do this kind of block through software, or you can do this manually.

You can always buy software’s which let you set parental control or block access to certain sites or complete social networking sites group. Though, I prefer using manual way to block Facebook or similar sites. It may be little geeky for many, but I’m sure you might not like the idea to open your Windows hosts file regularly to play block and unblock game.

In the manual method, you will be making some changes to the ‘hosts’ file present in your computer system, by using a notepad.

These ‘hosts’ file is present in different locations depending on the OS your computer has;

  • For Windows NT/2000/2003/XP/Vita and 7, the file is in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\
  • If you have Unix or Linux, it is at /etc/hosts
  • Go to System Folder and then Preferences, if you have Mac OS 9
  • For the Mac OS X, the file is at /private/etc/hosts

Though the location of the ‘hosts’ file is different, the method of blocking a website on your PC is the same.

Open the host’s file in notepad and at the end of the script, simply add the lines:

  • 127.0.0.1     www.facebook.com
  • 127.0.0.1     facebook.com

Now, save the changes that you have made, and you will see that your computer won’t open Facebook when you try to access it.

If you have Windows 7, then you can’t edit the ‘hosts’ file, so just follow the method below;

  • Right-click the host’s file and go to the file properties and then move to the Security tab, select Users under Group or the user names and then select the ‘edit’ button. ‘Permission for Host Window’ will now open.
  • Select Users account and grant the permission in ‘Permission for SYSTEM’ by clicking all the checkboxes under ‘Allow’ Name and then press OK. Keep in mind that you are not to check any of the ‘Deny’ checkboxes you see.

I have told you two methods through which you can know how to block Facebook website on Personal Computer. Knowing these methods is a good way if you don’t want Facebook distracting you from your work or anyone else who might be using your computer system.

For Bloggers, I recommend to use this Chrome extension call Pomodoro,  You can block all such sites like Facebook, Pinterest or any other which works as a distraction while you are working. Simply enable the extension and add list of sites you wish to block.

Related reading:

  • How to unblock Facebook

Well, blocking Facebook or not is your choice and if you have a great self-control, you don’t need any software or use any of the above-mentioned tricks to block Facebook or any other social networking sites. My usage of Facebook is limited to managing my Fan pages, and for this, I use the Page manager app on my iPhone and iPad and avoid spending lots of time on Facebook. You can easily convert those unproductive time to productive by reading or learning new stuff.

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How do I block a user's profile or prevent them from accessing your Facebook Page?

Help Center

Using Facebook

Pages

You can manage the classic or new version of Pages. The new version is not yet available for all Pages.

Classic Pages

We recommend blocking access to a Page for people who consistently spam it. You can allow them access again at any time. If you stop someone from accessing your Page, that person can still share content from your Page elsewhere on Facebook. But they will no longer be able to message and like your Page, post to it, and comment and like posts on your Page.

Deny access to your Page

There are two ways to prevent someone from accessing your Page.

In a post this person posted on your Page:

Click the icon in the top right corner of your Facebook screen.

Click Pages.

Go to your Page and click Posts, then Visitor Posts.

Click in the top right corner of the selected person's post.

Click Deny Page Access and then Confirm.

In the list of people who like your Page:

Click the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook screen.

Click Pages.

Go to your Page and click the icon.

Click People and other Pages and select People who like this Page.

Click Deny access next to the selected person's name.

Select OK.

To use other options to deny access, go to your Page from the Facebook Pages Manager app or sign in to Facebook from a computer.

Allow access to the Page

Tap the icon in the upper right corner of the Facebook screen.

Click Pages.

Go to your Page and click the icon.

Click People and other Pages and select Blocked people and Pages.

Click Unblock next to the name of the person you want to allow access.

New version of Pages

If you help manage a Page on the new version of Pages and want to block user access, you must have access to that Page on Facebook. If you have access to perform certain tasks related to content, messages, or community activities on your Page, you can block people from accessing other tools.

If you block a profile from accessing your Page in the new version of Pages, they will no longer be able to:

See posts on your Page.

Tag your Page.

Invite your Page to events or groups.

Start a conversation with your Page.

Find your Page using Facebook search.

If you block a follower of your Page, they will lose that status.

Note. By blocking a profile or a Page, you are only blocking access to your Page. Your Profile or Page will retain access to the apps, games, and groups that you share.

Profile blocking

You can block profile access to your Page in your Page settings or in the comments on your Page post.

In Page Settings

In Post Comments

Unblocking Your Profile

To unblock profile access to your Page:

Click your profile picture or icon at the top of the Facebook window.

Click the icon and select the desired Page.

Tap your profile photo or icon again, and then select Settings and privacy.

Click Settings and then Page Settings.

Select Lock.

Click Unblock next to the desired profile.

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Why and what to do with it - marketing on vc.ru

can be found under the blocking by negligence, and getting out of it is quite difficult. We figure out why advertisers are usually blocked and how to avoid it in order to save time, money and nerves. Going from the simple (can happen to anyone) to the complex (a danger to even the most professional advertisers).

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The main principle: the site checks not only your ads themselves, but also where they lead (page, site), and you as an advertiser. Blocking usually occurs due to several actions, but in case of serious violations, one is enough.

Now let's look at the points.

Facebook profile blocked

But do not forget about personal profiles, because this is the basis of any of your activities within the site. Without a personal Facebook profile, it is impossible to create a business page. Also, specific people profiles are associated with your Business Manager - they are assigned different levels of access. Blocking personal profiles can cause problems in the future, including preventing you from unlocking your ad account or accessing Business Manager.

Why Facebook blocks personal profiles

  • fake name;
  • fake account that passes the user off as another person;
  • systematic violations of Facebook community norms;
  • using the profile for illegal activities (for example, advertising of prohibited goods).

If the profile is blocked: fill out the form. If you have seriously violated the rules, Facebook has the right not to restore the profile.

Facebook advertising account blocked

An account ban causes an increase in suspicious Facebook activity. Here are some important rules to help you avoid this.

Be sure to set a profile photo, add a valid description, and make a few posts. Facebook must be sure that you will not advertise anything prohibited and that your business is not connected with this in principle. Lead the page so that it is clear what you are selling.

Check Facebook's advertising policies and remove any organic content that may violate them before running ads.

BOARD

The profile must not contain questionable content

  • Don't post too many ads in a row

Let's start with an example. You have always spent a certain budget on advertising, but you have come up with a great promotion and want to spread the word about the offer to as many people as possible. You are ready to invest in a campaign and allocate a budget that is 5-7 times your usual budget. Campaigns are running, and suddenly your account is blocked.

What went wrong because you did nothing wrong?

If the activity in the ad account increases dramatically, Facebook becomes suspicious. Usually scammers who hacked into an account behave like this: they run a lot of ads for significant amounts in order to unscrew as much as possible at someone else's expense.

Any increases in the budget and number of announcements must be made gradually. Prepare your accounts in advance: add a budget smoothly within a month or two, upload creatives for moderation before the expected start of campaigns.

BOARD

  • Obviously, but still: do not advertise prohibited goods or use prohibited techniques

Check the Facebook Advertising Policies again. Advertising should not offend users, affect them psychologically, or mislead about the operation of your product.

Pay attention to 18+ content, there are many nuances here.

Also be careful about showing people's characteristics in a negative light with before/after (fat/thin, bald/haired, flabby/tight figure) – this is common in beauty salons, fitness centers and other service industries .

Facebook Advertising Policy Violation Examples

  • Monitor ad rejection

Repeated ad rejections, especially those with additional violations, lead to account suspension. Ads accumulated in the account, the blocking of which you have not challenged, spoil the reputation of the account.

If you are sure that you have not violated anything, submit your ad for re-moderation. If there are violations or support has denied you, be sure to remove the disapproved ads.

Check the reputation of all your accounts regularly. This can be done in the Account Quality section of your Business Manager. Watch out for notifications about ad blocking: in Business Manager, mail, or emergency notifications in Telegram (you can connect using Aitarget One).

BOARD

Facebook account reputation check

  • Do not advertise different businesses from the same account

A common mistake advertisers make is umbrella accounts. These are accounts that advertise different businesses (these can be brands with different sites/pages or multiple clients if you have an agency).

Here is an example: you have a beauty salon that you have been successfully advertising for several years. You have a store of related products - with a separate website, name and page on Instagram. Your new brand needs a separate account. If you use the current one in which you are promoting the salon, you will be blocked.

Facebook blocks an account if it promotes several different brands at the same time

According to Facebook rules, a separate ad account must be created for each advertiser (or client), and you cannot change the advertiser in the account. Umbrella accounts are unfortunately almost impossible to unlock. It's not worth the risk: create a new account through "Company Settings".

BOARD

How to create a new Facebook ad account

  • Check the website

As we said before, Facebook checks not only ads, but also where they lead, so as not to misinform the user.

The site should work correctly. Also, the products on the site must match what people see in the ad: do not try to change the products to bypass moderation, Facebook will immediately recognize this, there will be problems.

Facebook bans account if ads mislead users

If your ad account has been blocked: contact support here or via chat. Be prepared to provide additional details if support requests them. If violations are nevertheless found when contacting support, you need to correct them, and promise the support employee never to break the rules again.

By the way, if Facebook rejects an ad, you see a notification about the reason (in the account or in the mail), but if the account is blocked, the reasons are not reported to prevent block bypass.

When blocking an account, do not create new ones - most likely, they will also be blocked. In this case, it’s better to have a backup account created in advance so as not to waste time waiting for an unlock (you can check if you can create multiple accounts in Business Manager in the “Company information” section, the line “Ad account creation limit”). Blocking several accounts is potentially already a ban for the entire Business Manager.

IMPORTANT

Business Manager blocked

Blocking Business Manager is the worst thing for an advertiser, as you can lose a pixel, audiences, all accounts, and ads running before blocking. As a first step, Facebook usually prohibits the creation of new accounts in Business Manager where it has found violations, but it's best not to go that far.

  • Keep track of your balance

Your account's reputation is damaged if Facebook can't charge your card for ads. When this happens regularly, it can cause Business Manager to be blocked.

Keep track of your card balance, don't forget about VAT and adjust for currency rates so that there is always enough money to debit. Or pay in rubles from the current account of an individual entrepreneur or legal entity without surprises and surprises - through Aitarget One.

BOARD

  • Do not neglect account blocking

If your accounts are blocked - apply for an unblocking, analyze what the problem is, and try not to violate it again. Each Business Manager has its own limit of allowed blocked accounts, which depends on the size of the business, but it's better not to risk it.

If you are granted access to accounts that have been suspended, your Business Manager's reputation is affected. Don't forget to keep track of partners' assets.

ADVICE FOR AGENCIES

  • Do not create a fake/work/general profile for all employees

The algorithm will suspect that you have been hacked and will block you. Personal profiles of your employees should be added to Business Manager (with different roles depending on tasks). Facebook can verify the authenticity of profiles and ask you to send official documents, such as a passport. If the data does not match, you can lose Business Manager forever.

  • Do not forget to block personal profiles

If blocked profiles are added to Business Manager, it will ruin its reputation. Remove employees who leave the company immediately to avoid problems.

You must have at least two employees with administrator rights. Only administrators can manage business data, payment information, accounts, add new people and assign roles to them. If the administrator is the only one and is blocked, it will not be possible to restore access to Business Manager.

BOARD

If Business Manager was blocked : nothing original, you need to write to support. Prepare the entire list of blocked accounts - it is quite possible that the algorithm was wrong, and BM is subject to recovery. Do not delay contacting support: if a lot of time passes, the account may be permanently deleted, and it will no longer be possible to challenge it.

General action plan for any blocking on Facebook/Instagram

It's best to prevent problems, not solve them. Be sure to read the Facebook Advertising Policies inside and out before running an ad.

If the blocking still happened, the algorithm is as follows:

Emotions can overwhelm, but you should not give them free rein (and even more so, be rude to support).


Learn more