Apple Now Helps Curb Your Screen Time Usage
Over the last year, more people have grown concerned about the amount of time we spend on our mobile devices. Studies and other researchers have also presented compelling data to prove the growing negative side effects associated with screen time. And while there have been a handful of apps you can download to help combat this ever increasing issue, they have lacked the deep integration to better understand our screen time habits - until now.
Today, Apple made headlines after announcing the latest software updates to their product lines at WWDC. After years of blazing a path and introducing revolutionary devices to the masses which have helped change the world, it seems the tech giant is now ready to combat the negative side effects that have been reaching critical mass. Apple unveiled new digital wellbeing tools that empowers you with both insight and control over how you spend your time.
The new app called Screen Time will offer iPhone and iPad users a comprehensive dashboard highlighting how much time they spent using which apps, how many notifications they receive, how often they pick up their device and other overall usage patterns. Once users have a better understanding of their usage habits, they can then set daily limits for individual apps.
"Some apps send us flurries of notifications trying to draw us in for fear of missing out," said Apple's senior vice-president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, speaking at WWDC. "For some of us, it's also become such a habit we don't even recognize just how distracted we've become."
Other digital wellbeing apps include the "do not disturb" feature, which now better helps hide all notifications from the lock screen until prompted. Users will also have better control over notifications so that they can reduce interruptions and better group them together or turn them off completely.
The new focus of digital wellbeing comes during a time when technology companies are being more heavily scrutinized for their use of habit-forming design practices or questionable tactics to keep our undivided attention. Apple's new tools are a step in the right direction to help all of us better understand the habits created by their devices and the ecosystems within all of them.
Over the past year, we have become more passionate about this issue and have partnered with the Center for Humane Technology to help create greater awareness. Their team of tech insiders and CEOs understand the culture, business incentives, design techniques, and organizational structures driving the technology evolutions. Working with their team and seeing Apple today take a leap forward to provide these new digital wellbeing tools is empowering.
All of these new features and tools will be available in iOS 12 later this fall.
