Apple and Google Announce Plans to Reduce How Long Phones Are Used

New tools from Apple and Google aim to help users analyze how long they spend on their phones and set timers to prevent access to certain apps, similar to child controls.

GadgetsNow.com reports that Apple and Google are both working on ways to get users to actually spend less time on their phones, despite years of attempting to convince consumers to purchase their devices and use their platforms. Apple recently announced that with the introduction of their new iOS 12 update for Apple devices, time-limiting functions would be available for apps in order to control how long users spend on their phone. Similar functions are now being tested by Google on its line of Pixel phones.

One of Apple’s new functions, called Screen Time, is primarily aimed towards controlling the amount of time kids spend on their phones and allowing parents to monitor what they’re looking at and using the device for. A parent can link their child’s iPhone to their own and monitor the websites their child is browsing, which apps they’re spending the most time on and even restrict their child from accessing particular types of apps.

Apple previously had restrictions available to stop children from watching R-rated movies and browsing adult websites but these were buried in the device’s settings. With iOS 12 these features are pushed to the forefront in the Screen Time app.

While these features may be useful for children, they’re not exclusive to them. Adults can also set similar limits on themselves, limiting the amount of time that can be spent on a particular app but the time available can be extended by entering the Screen Time passcode, meaning extra self-discipline will be required to follow the Screen Time limits.

Google’s similar product, Digital Wellbeing, is aimed more towards adults than Apple’s Screen Time and is currently only available on Google’s Pixel phones. Similar to Screen Time, Digital Wellbeing sets timers for specific apps, provides information on which apps are used the most and can mute certain notifications.