Ripple
Less scrolling on a sick day at home
When you stay home with a cold or a fever, after minor surgery, or on a few days of sick leave, the whole day is suddenly free and you have no energy for anything else. It is easy to lie in bed and scroll from morning to night, one short video or short drama episode after another, skip the nap and go to sleep later. When a child is off school sick and the parent is at work or busy looking after things, the kid may spend the day on videos and games on a phone or tablet and not rest much. The site also has weekend, bedtime and waiting rooms and queues pages. This page covers the days you are home recovering. It does not give any medical advice; please follow your doctor. It only says that less phone time leaves more time to sleep. The first part below is for adults setting their own limits, the second is for parents. Android is at v0.1.13 and iPhone at v0.1.5, and the features differ, so both are covered.
Adults: less scrolling, more sleep on sick leave
Set daily limits and open limits on apps you scroll most
In bed, short video and short drama are the easiest to overdo. Set how long each of these apps can run per day, in custom minutes, or 0 minutes to block it all day. Add how many times it can open, and turn on the short wait before each open so your hand pauses first. For drama binges see the short drama page, and for open limits the open limit page.
Block apps by schedule at nap time and at night
Add two schedules, for example 1 pm to 3 pm and 10 pm to 7 am, with short video, short drama and games on the list. Those apps will not open in those hours, which makes it easier to put the phone down and sleep. See the bedtime page.
Calls, messages, food delivery and pharmacy apps still work
Only put short video, short drama and games on the list. Leave calls, WeChat messages, food delivery and pharmacy apps off it, so you can reach family, tell work you are off, or get medicine delivered.
WeChat Channels and Moments can start with a few minutes
On Android you can limit only Channels and Moments inside WeChat: start with a short allowance, then write a reason to extend, up to 3 times a day, counted toward the WeChat daily limit. In strict mode, extending needs the unlock code. Replying to coworkers and family still works.
Turn on strict mode if you undo the rules in bed
Alone at home, it is easy to switch rules off. Give an unlock code of at least 8 digits to family and turn on strict mode. Loosening rules then needs their code. Strict mode also turns on Anti-Uninstall. If you forget the code, you can request release after 72 hours. See the strict mode page.
Parents: a sick kid at home on a tablet all day
Set daily limits on games and short video
On the child's phone or tablet, give short video and games a daily cap, for example 30 minutes each, plus an open limit. If one game takes over during the sick days, set it to 0 minutes and change it back when the child returns to school. See the mobile games page.
Use schedules for a nap and an earlier bedtime
Add a nap schedule and a night schedule on the child's device so short video and games stop opening on time. They start on their own even when you are at work. Parents keep the unlock code.
Online class and family contact apps still work
If school runs online classes during the sick leave, leave the class app, calls and family chat off the list, so the child can attend and reach you. See the online class page.
Turn on Anti-Uninstall; changing the clock does not help
A kid home alone may look for settings to turn the app off or remove it. On Android turn on Anti-Uninstall, and strict mode if needed. Ripple counts time since the phone started, so moving the clock back does not reset the limits.
If the child uses an iPhone
iPhone v0.1.5 can block apps by schedule, block deleting apps, protect against clock changes and use an unlock code, so nap and night schedules work. Open limits, daily limits, 0 minutes, one-tap focus, strict mode, Channels allowance and website blocking are Android only for now. For days off see the weekend page.
Setup steps (Android v0.1.13)
Install or update to the latest version
Download the latest Android APK and turn on accessibility when asked. If you have an older build, update in Settings › About › Check for updates. On iPhone install v0.1.5, which needs iOS 16 or later.
Set daily limits and open limits on short video, short drama and games
Apps that take over a sick day can be set to 0 minutes. WeChat Channels can use the short allowance with a written reason to extend. Leave calls, messages, food delivery, pharmacy and online class apps off the list.
Add nap and night schedules
Pick hours that match your usual routine. Blocking starts on time and ends on its own the next morning.
Set unlock codes and Anti-Uninstall on a child's device
Adults give the code to family, and parents keep the code on a child's device. Turn on Anti-Uninstall on Android, with strict mode if you want a firmer lock. On iPhone turn on the block on deleting apps.
FAQ
I am home sick with a fever and spent the whole day scrolling short video in bed. What helps?
On Ripple for Android v0.1.13, set daily limits and open limits on short video and short drama, and add nap and night schedules so those apps will not open then. For a firmer rule, turn on strict mode and give the unlock code to family. Calls, WeChat messages, food delivery and pharmacy apps still work.
While recovering I stay up late watching short drama. What can I set?
Add a night schedule, for example 10 pm to 7 am, with short drama and short video on the list. You can also give short drama a daily limit, or set it to 0 minutes for the sick days.
My child is home sick, I am at work, and the kid is on videos and games all day. What can I do?
On the child's device, set daily limits on short video and games, add nap and night schedules, keep the unlock code with parents, and turn on Anti-Uninstall. If one game is hard to put down, set it to 0 minutes for now. Leave online class, calls and family chat off the list so the child can attend class and reach you.
How is this different from the weekend, bedtime and waiting room pages?
The weekend page covers lying around on days off, bedtime covers every night before sleep, and waiting rooms and queues covers waiting at hospitals and other places. This page covers the days you are home sick and recovering, and it follows Android v0.1.13 daily limits, open limits, schedules, strict mode and Channels allowance. More answers are on the FAQ.
Can Ripple help me get better faster?
No. Ripple only helps you use your phone less; for treatment please follow your doctor. Less scrolling leaves more time to sleep and rest.
Does the iPhone version have these features?
iPhone v0.1.5 has schedules, the block on deleting apps, clock change protection and an unlock code. Daily limits, open limits, 0 minutes, one-tap focus, strict mode, Channels allowance and website blocking are Android only.
Does it cost money or need an account?
It is free with no ads and no account.