Latest news with #digitalwellbeing
CNET
19-07-2025
- CNET
Need to Decrease Your Screen Time? Change These iPhone and Android Settings Now
If well-meaning friends and family have told you recently to go touch grass, this is for you. Whether you're scrolling on your phone or working on a laptop, it's too easy to rack up ungodly screen time numbers throughout the week. And I'm sure it's not breaking news to you that screen time is not so great for your physical and mental health. But even with good reason and intentions to limit your screen time, it can be hard to stop doomscrolling. That's why both Apple and Google launched the first versions of their digital well-being features in 2018 to help us disconnect. Newer generations of software like iOS 18 and Android 16 have added more functionalities that can help you put down your phone. Here's how to take advantage of the digital wellness settings on Apple and Android devices, including how to set up app timers, downtime and bedtime mode. For more, check out these essential iPhone and iPad parental controls. Set up app timers on iPhone, iPad and Mac You can set up app timers on your iPhone, iPad, and your Mac. By adding a timer to apps in your settings, you're giving yourself an allotted amount of time on each app -- once time is up, Apple will stop your scroll and alert you that it's time to log off. Before you begin, it's important that you have screen time notifications allowed. Check this setting under Settings > Notifications > Screen Time and ensure you have enabled Allow Notifications and Time Sensitive Notifications. Here's how to create time limits for your apps on your iPhone, iPad and Mac: Open your iPhone, iPad or Mac's Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap App Limits. Tap Add Limit. Select the individual or categories of apps you want to set timers for. Tap Next in the upper right corner. Scroll and set the amount of time you want to allow yourself on each app. Tap Customize Days if you want to customize your limit's schedule. Tap Add in the upper right corner. This is what it looks like when you are in an app when time is up (left) and the view from your home screen after (right). Katelyn Chedraoui/CNET Once you're approaching your set time limit, Apple will send you a notification when you've got 5 minutes remaining. After you hit your limit, the app stops whatever it's doing and presents you with a new screen that prompts you to tap OK to exit the app. If you're doing something particularly urgent, you can tap Ignore Limit below. After you've hit your limit for the day, the app will appear grayed out on your home screen with an empty timer next to it. Read More: This App Blocks Your Social Media Until You (Literally) Touch Grass Set up downtime on iPhone, iPad and Mac Another way to limit your screen time on Apple devices is to schedule downtime. Downtime is just what it sounds like -- time to put down your device and do something else. This setting will alert you once your chosen rest period begins. Here's how to set up downtime: Open your iPhone, iPad or Mac's Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap Downtime. Toggle on the widget next to Scheduled. Set your downtime schedule. Set up app timers and bedtime mode on your Android phone now. Screenshots by Moe Long Set up app timers on Android phones and computers If you have a Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy or another Android smartphone, you can set up time limits for each app as well. These settings give you the same options as Apple to set an allotment of time you can spend on each app. Here's how to set them up. Open your Android's Settings. Tap Digital wellbeing and parental controls. Tap the screen time graph. Find the app you want to set a limit for. Tap the hourglass icon next to the app you want to set a limit for. Set the amount of time you want to give yourself on each app. Tap OK. App timers on Android phones reset each day at midnight. Read More: Looking Down at Your Phone is Distressing Your Neck. Here's How to Correct Tech Neck Set up bedtime mode on Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks You can also limit your screen time by establishing a bedtime routine for your Android. This will alert you when it's time to put your device down for the night according to your schedule. Here's how to do this. Open your Android's Settings. Tap Digital wellbeing and parental controls. Tap Bedtime mode. Tap Bedtime routine. Choose whether to set a custom schedule or pick Turn on while charging, then select your desired time frame. For more about digital well-being, check out one expert's reasons to consider a social media detox and CNET's picks for the best apps to help manage your screen time.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Is THIS the key to finally slashing screentime? 'Dumb' iPhone is devoid of the internet, games, or social media apps - but it comes at a hefty price
If you're in the clutches of smartphone addiction, a 'dumb' new device promises to dramatically slash your screen time. The Sage phone is a simplified iPhone handset launched in the UK this week by American technology firm Techless. It comes without internet, web browsers, games and social apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Simply a modified iPhone 16 loaded with custom software, its lack of engaging apps is designed to encourage smartphone addicts to turn their attention elsewhere. According to the firm, the simplified handset lets children and adults 'reconnect with real life' and reclaim important 'life hours' - but it comes at a hefty price. The Sage phone starts from £119 per month, which is more than double the cost of a typical two-year iPhone contract. According to Techless, the Sage phone is 'built on a foundation of digital wellbeing and simplicity' and offers a 'sleek, secure alternative to traditional smartphones'. 'Designed for children taking their first step into digital life, as well as adults seeking a healthier relationship with tech, Sage challenges the norms of always-on culture,' it said. The Sage phone is an iPhone 16 but with modified software that prevents the internet and certain apps from being accessed The new device has been created with children in mind, although it's suitable for adults in the throes of a smartphone addition too. Chris Kaspar, CEO and founder of Techless, said his firm 'didn't want to build a "parental control" phone where parents keep tabs on what kids are looking at.' 'We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance,' said Kaspar, who has six children with his wife in Texas. 'With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time.' The Sage phone is available as two modified iPhone models – the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 Pro – which are loaded with Sage's custom software. Although it won't allow downloads of popular additive apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, it's not completely lacking in apps. Preloaded are some described as 'essential' – among them Phone, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Calculator, PayPal, Spotify, Uber and the camera app. While a typical iPhone is 'built for endless engagement', the Sage phone only carries the essentials that a young adult getting their first taste of independence might need. Preloaded are some apps described as 'essential' - Phone, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Calculator, PayPal, Spotify, Uber and the camera app. For example, if a young user of the Sage phone was at a parent-free school ball, they'd be able to take photos, phone their parents for a lift and listen to music on the way back. In this way, Sage phone is truer to the concept of what a mobile phone was 20 years ago, but packaged in the familiar confines of a modern device. Techless acknowledges that kids are 'smart' and know how to delete apps, perform factory resets and download VPNs in an attempt to access the apps they want. But the firm promises parents there are 'no loopholes for workarounds', meaning young users won't be able to trick the software into downloading the banned platforms. For adults, meanwhile, the device offers acts a form of 'rebellion against digital noise' – ideal for creatives, minimalists, and anyone who wants to 'live more and scroll less'. It will give people a clean break from time-sapping social apps, although they'll have to rely on Messages instead of WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. Already available in the US, the Sage phone was officially launched on Wednesday and is available for Brits to pre-order on the Sage website before shipping the week starting August 25. It costs £119 per month for a modified iPhone 16e (which includes the Apple Care insurance policy) or £149 for the iPhone 16 Pro (which includes Apple Care Plus). The brand's UK launch coincides with increasing concerns surrounding online safety and smartphone addiction for kids and teens. The Sage phone aims to greatly reduce the risk of kids being contacted online by eliminating the platforms sexual predators use. A recent NSPCC report revealed more than 7,000 online grooming crimes were recorded in the UK in a single year, with most victims aged 12 to 15. Heavy smartphone use in kids has been linked with mental health problems like depression, emotional isolation, reduced physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns. According to a study last year, one fifth of teens have 'problematic' smartphone use putting them at risk of issues like depression. Another 2024 study found children addicted to technology including smartphones and video games are more at risk of psychosis. What is smartphone addiction? Currently, smartphone addiction isn't officially recognised by psychologists as a separate mental condition like depression or bipolar disorder. However, the term has now become far more accepted as scientists warn of a worrying rise in cases. Recent studies have suggested more than a quarter of the global population suffers from smartphone addiction while rates could be as high as 70 per cent in countries such as China and Saudi Arabia. Likewise, a survey from the Pew Research Center found that 95 per cent of UK teens said that they were online 'almost constantly'. However, several prominent researchers suggest that this could be stretching the term 'addiction' a little too far. Professor Mark Griffiths, a leading expert on internet addiction from Nottingham Trent University, told MailOnline: 'There's a difference between problematic smartphone use and addictive smartphone use.' Even if you spend hours on your phone each day and feel that you just can't put your phone down, that doesn't necessarily mean you are addicted. Previous studies have shown that problematic smartphone use has generally increased across the world. However, many people may have problematic use but not be fully addicted Addiction, unlike problematic use, changes our behaviour at the neurological level and embeds deeply compulsive and dependent behaviours. 'Most children would not ever fulfil my criteria of being addicted to a smartphone,' says Professor Griffiths. 'Even though a lot of them will experience problematic use which will quite clearly have detrimental effects on their life.' Professor Griffiths adds: 'If I'm assessing smartphone addiction I'm using the word addiction in exactly the same way I would apply it to heroin, alcohol, or any other drugs.' Likewise, Dr Daria Kuss, a chartered psychologist and expert on addictive behaviour from Nottingham Trent University, told MailOnline: 'Smartphone addiction is a psychological condition in which a user develops symptoms traditionally associated with substance dependence.'
CNET
14-07-2025
- CNET
Hack Your Screen Time With These iOS 18 and Android 16 Wellness Settings
If you've been told recently you need to go touch grass, this is for you. Whether you're scrolling on your phone or working on a laptop, it's too easy to rack up ungodly screen time numbers throughout the week. And I'm sure it's not breaking news to you that screen time is not so great for your physical and mental health. But even with good reason and intentions to limit your screen time, it can be hard to stop doomscrolling. That's why both Apple and Google launched the first versions of their digital well-being features in 2018 to help us disconnect. Newer generations of software like iOS 18 and Android 16 have added more functionalities since the initial launch. Here's how to take advantage of the digital wellness settings on Apple and Android devices, including how to set up app timers, downtime and bedtime mode. For more, check out these essential iPhone and iPad parental controls. Set up app timers on iPhone, iPad and Mac You can set up app timers on your iPhone, iPad, and your Mac. By adding a timer to apps in your settings, you're giving yourself an allotted amount of time on each app -- once time is up, Apple will stop your scroll and alert you that it's time to log off. Before you begin, it's important that you have screen time notifications allowed. Check this setting under Settings > Notifications > Screen Time and ensure you have enabled Allow Notifications and Time Sensitive Notifications. Here's how to create time limits for your apps on your iPhone, iPad and Mac: Open your iPhone, iPad or Mac's Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap App Limits. Tap Add Limit. Select the individual or categories of apps you want to set timers for. Tap Next in the upper right corner. Scroll and set the amount of time you want to allow yourself on each app. Tap Customize Days if you want to customize your limit's schedule. Tap Add in the upper right corner. This is what it looks like when you are in an app when time is up (left) and the view from your home screen after (right). Katelyn Chedraoui/CNET Once you're approaching your set time limit, Apple will send you a notification when you've got 5 minutes remaining. After you hit your limit, the app stops whatever it's doing and presents you with a new screen that prompts you to tap OK to exit the app. If you're doing something particularly urgent, you can tap Ignore Limit below. After you've hit your limit for the day, the app will appear grayed out on your home screen with an empty timer next to it. Read More: This App Blocks Your Social Media Until You (Literally) Touch Grass Set up downtime on iPhone, iPad and Mac Another way to limit your screen time on Apple devices is to schedule downtime. Downtime is just what it sounds like -- time to put down your device and do something else. This setting will alert you once your chosen rest period begins. Here's how to set up downtime: Open your iPhone, iPad or Mac's Settings and tap Screen Time. Tap Downtime. Toggle on the widget next to Scheduled. Set your downtime schedule. Set up app timers and bedtime mode on your Android phone now. Screenshots by Moe Long Set up app timers on Android phones and computers If you have a Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy or another Android smartphone, you can set up time limits for each app as well. These settings give you the same options as Apple to set an allotment of time you can spend on each app. Here's how to set them up. Open your Android's Settings. Tap Digital wellbeing and parental controls. Tap the screen time graph. Find the app you want to set a limit for. Tap the hourglass icon next to the app you want to set a limit for. Set the amount of time you want to give yourself on each app. Tap OK. App timers on Android phones reset each day at midnight. Set up bedtime mode on Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks You can also limit your screen time by establishing a bedtime routine for your Android. This will alert you when it's time to put your device down for the night according to your schedule. Here's how to do this. Open your Android's Settings. Tap Digital wellbeing and parental controls. Tap Bedtime mode. Tap Bedtime routine. Choose whether to set a custom schedule or pick Turn on while charging, then select your desired time frame. For more about digital well-being, check out one expert's reasons to consider a social media detox and CNET's picks for the best apps to help manage your screen time.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Children limiting own smartphone use to manage mental health, survey finds
Children are increasingly taking breaks from their smartphones to better manage their mental health, personal safety and concentration spans, research has revealed. They are reacting to growing concerns that spending too much time online can be harmful by taking control of their own social media and smartphone use rather than relying on parents to enforce limits, according to experts. The number of 12- to 15-year-olds who take breaks from smartphones, computers and iPads rose by 18% to 40% since 2022, according to the audience research company GWI, drawing on a survey of 20,000 young people and their parents across 18 countries. Prof Sonia Livingstone, the director of the LSE's Digital Futures for Children centre, said these findings were echoed in soon to be published research, which has found that children and young people are trying various options to manage how their online lives affect their wellbeing, including taking a break from social media, distracting themselves from negativity online, seeking more positive experiences on the internet and in some cases quitting social media altogether. Livingstone said: 'Children have got the message – from their parents, the media, their own experiences – that too much social media isn't always good for them. 'So they are experimenting with different ways of protecting their wellbeing, without wanting to give up on social media entirely. I'm sure they're talking to each other about what works for them and figuring out the way ahead.' Daisy Greenwell, the co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, said she was increasingly speaking to young people who were 'questioning the idea that growing up online is inevitable'. She said: 'We regularly hear from teenagers who are exhausted by the pressure of being permanently connected and who are choosing to step back for their own mental health. 'Many of them are waking up to the fact that these platforms aren't neutral. They're designed to manipulate attention … They are realising that their time, focus and self-esteem are being monetised by some of the world's biggest companies. Taking a break has become an act of rebellion.' This is reflected in Ofcom research. A report from 2024 found that a third (33%) of eight- to 17-year-olds who are online think their screen time is too high, while another found that 47% of 16- to 24-year-olds who use social media deactivate notifications and used 'do not disturb' mode, an increase from 40% in 2023, and compared with 28% of older adult users. Thirty-four per cent of younger people were more likely to take a deliberate break from social media (compared with 23% who said they would not do this), 29% would delete apps because they spend too much time on them (compared with 19% who would not), and 24% would delete apps for their mental health (compared with 13% who would not). David Ellis, a professor of behavioural science at the University of Bath, noted that teenagers may have discovered the features that let people control their time on social media and smartphones more quickly than their parents – though evidence that these features change behaviour in the long term was mixed, he said. Ellis said: 'If someone is going to spend less time sitting in front of a screen and instead increase their levels of physical activity, then most people would probably view that as a net positive. On the other hand, that time could be replaced by something else less beneficial.' Young people aged 18 to 25 who spoke to the Guardian previously said they felt their 'parent's generation didn't have a clue' and had granted them too much access to smartphones too young, while several said they would restrict access for their own children until their late teens. A recent poll found that almost half of young people would rather live in a world where the internet did not exist and a similar proportion would support a digital curfew, while more than three-quarters felt worse about themselves after using social media. The GWI research also found that social media addiction ranked among parents' top three fears for their children from a list that included climate change, war and the cost of housing, while 8% said they had become tougher about screen-time limits after watching the hit Netflix show Adolescence about the dangers of online misogyny.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
TikTok launches ‘Family Academy' in the UAE to empower families with digital safety and wellbeing tools
Dubai, UAE – TikTok, the world's leading short-form video platform, hosted its Family Academy initiative in the UAE. The event brought together parents, creators, digital safety advocates, and experts to spotlight digital wellbeing, online safety tools, and positive digital habits for families navigating today's complex online environment. UAE's Family Academy event featured a dynamic panel discussion titled 'Empowering Families to Navigate the Online World Together,' offering expert insights from Ilunga Mpyana, Head of Public Policy Programs for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan and South Asia at TikTok, and Dr. Jana Bou Reslan, educator and TikTok Changemaker, moderated by prominent parenting content creator Remie Salloum. The panelists explored prevalent themes in today's digital age including recognizing digital fatigue in teens, modeling mindful screen habits, co-curating positive and personalized digital experiences, and effectively using TikTok's safety tools, such as Screen Time Management, Content Filters, Family Pairing, Manage Topics, and Advanced Keyword Filtering, to support healthier digital boundaries and encourage open family conversations. Ilunga Mpyana, Head of Public Policy Programs for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan and South Asia at TikTok adds, 'Our goal is to provide families with meaningful control and customizable features that not only encourage responsible online behavior but also foster creativity within a supportive community. This year alone, we've introduced over 15 new safety features to enhance our existing Family Pairing tools. TikTok's Community Guidelines form the backbone of our safety ecosystem, continuously evolving to stay ahead of emerging risks. Every time someone engages on TikTok, they're protected by a dynamic and ever-adapting framework designed to keep them safe.' The event showcased TikTok's latest safety feature enhancements designed to support family wellbeing. Many of these enhancements build on Family Pairing, a feature launched five years ago, which continues to evolve with input from families and digital safety experts. Key enhancements include: Time Away: Allows parents to decide when it's best for their teens to take a break (e.g., during dinner, study time, or bedtime). Teens can request extra time, but parents make the final decision. Privacy Controls: Parents can now view who their teen follows and who follows them on TikTok, along with accounts their teen has blocked. They can also manage who sees their teens' content, who can interact with them, and who can send them direct messages. Wind Down Mode: Teens under 18 who use the app after 10 PM will receive a full-screen reminder accompanied by calming music to help them unwind. A second reminder follows, harder-to-dismiss, full-screen prompt will appear if they continue scrolling. Screen Time Management: Parents can now set personalized reminders for teens to limit app usage throughout the day. Dr. Jana Bou Reslan emphasized the need for a proactive and thoughtful approach to how young people engage with technology. 'It's vital that we understand the psychological impact of screen time on our teens. By combining education with innovative safety tools, we can help teens develop healthier, more balanced relationships with digital content. The reality is, teens will be online, so let's focus on equipping them with the knowledge and support they need to navigate that space safely and responsibly.' Popular UAE-based content creator Remie Salloum opened up about her personal journey on the platform, sharing how she's intentional about creating content that's safe and inclusive for all audiences, especially as a parent. 'As a creator and a mother myself, it was important for me to take part in sessions like this to share my experiences and highlight how TikTok's safety features are helping families navigate the digital world more confidently and responsibly. It's a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in creating a safer online space for the next generation.' TikTok also highlighted its STEM Feed, which provides engaging educational material in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across more than 100 countries. Through these initiatives, TikTok continues to reinforce its role in fostering a safe, enriching, and creative digital environment for families, one grounded in mutual understanding and positive exploration. The event served as a platform for meaningful conversations around digital wellbeing, highlighting the importance of collaboration between platforms, parents, and communities to create a safer online environment. TikTok remains committed to empowering families with innovative tools, education, and ongoing support, fostering a digital space that encourages creativity, connection, and well-being for all. For more information on the Family Pairing features, please visit: About TikTok: TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and its offices include New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. For media inquiries, please contact: Current Global – tiktok@ TikTok MENA –
