Since the advent of the smart phone, our mobile phones have become an almost ubiquitous feature of modern life. Our screens act as traveling companions. They connect us with the world, with those around us. They provide us with world news, business e-mails, daily reminders, soundtracks for our daily commutes, they even offer us the opportunity to find real-life romantic partners. There is little we do without the aid or accompaniment of our phones.
But we seem to be treading a fine line between optimal utilization and utter dependence. Screen and social media addiction have become so prevalent that Apple has felt the need to, rather ironically, help us out. Back in June, the tech giant introduced ‘Screen Time’ as a way to better manage one’s hours staring at our ever-present iPhone screens. “In iOS 12, we’re offering our users detailed information and tools to help them better understand and control the time they spend with apps and websites, how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad during the day and how they receive notifications,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
Screen Time creates detailed daily and weekly Activity Reports that show the total time a user spends in each app they use as well as an account of how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad. According to Federighi, “Screen Time empowers you with both insight and control over how you spend your time.” The App Limits feature allows people to set a specific amount of time to be in an app, and a notification will display when a time limit is about to expire. If you’re looking for a little digital assistance to combat your digital addiction, Screen Time might be able to offer you some sweet relief.