Ripple
Less scrolling in traffic jams, at red lights and while waiting in the car
Stuck in traffic, waiting at a red light or sitting in a parking lot often turns into short video and short drama, and kids in the back seat scroll too. Drivers should not look at the phone at all; these limits are there so your hand does not open a feed when you stop or crawl. The first part below is for adults setting their own in-car limits, the second is for parents whose kids scroll in the car. Android is at v0.1.13 and iPhone at v0.1.5, and the features differ, so both are covered. The site also has commute, waiting queue and tutoring pickup pages; this page covers traffic jams, red lights and parking-lot waits.
Adults: less scrolling in traffic and while waiting
Add a commute or drive-time schedule first
Put short video, short drama, livestream and games on the list, for example 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., or match the hours you usually sit in traffic. Those apps will not open during the window. Maps, calls, music and chats still work. If weekend drives are the problem, set only those windows.
Use daily limits and open limits for one more clip
Set how long each hard-to-quit app can run per day, in custom minutes, or set 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 at a light and a whole jam does not disappear into the feed.
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. Chat itself still works in the car.
Use one-tap focus when you need to watch the road
When traffic is bad, you need to merge, or a parking lot is hard to navigate, turn on one-tap focus to lock short video and games for a while, then it ends on its own. Maps and calls still work.
Turn on strict mode if you undo the rules in the car
Give an unlock code of at least 8 digits to family or a coworker, 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.
Parents: kids scrolling in the car
Add a school-run or outing window for the child
Kids scroll easily in the back seat, while waiting or in a jam. On the child's phone, add a school-run or outing window such as 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with short video and games on the list. Parents keep the unlock code.
Leave a small daily budget, or use 0 minutes on heavy traffic days
On normal days leave short video 20 to 40 minutes and a small open limit. On days that stretch into long in-car scrolling, temporarily set games and short video to 0 minutes, then change it back at home.
The back seat does not bypass the limits
Schedules and daily limits apply to the apps, so scrolling in the car is still blocked. 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.
Set the same in-car limits on your own phone
If the parent scrolls, the child copies it. Set the same commute or outing rules on the parent's phone first. For tutoring pickup, see the tutoring pickup page.
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 a school-run or outing schedule works. Open limits, daily limits, 0 minutes, one-tap focus, strict mode, Channels allowance and website blocking are Android only for now.
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.
Add a commute or outing in-car schedule
Put short video, short drama, livestream and games on the list. Adults often use morning and evening rush hours, or match the hours they sit in traffic. Kids can use a school-run or outing window. Leave maps and calls off the list.
Set daily limits and open limits on apps you open most
Give short video, news and social apps a daily cap and an open limit. Apps that take over a jam can be set to 0 minutes. WeChat Channels can use the short allowance with a written reason to extend.
Set unlock codes and turn on Anti-Uninstall for a child
Adults give the code to family, and parents keep the code on a child's phone. On Android turn on Anti-Uninstall, and strict mode if you want a firmer lock. On iPhone turn on the block on deleting apps.
FAQ
I keep scrolling in traffic jams and at red lights. What helps?
On Ripple for Android v0.1.13, add a commute schedule with short video on the list. Add daily limits and open limits on those apps. When you need to watch the road, turn on one-tap focus. For a firmer rule, turn on strict mode and give the unlock code to someone else. Maps and calls still work.
My kid scrolls the whole time in the back seat. What can I do?
Add a school-run or outing schedule on the child's phone, keep the unlock code with parents, and turn on Anti-Uninstall. On Android, changing the system clock does not help. For a stricter outing, set short video to 0 minutes and change it back at home.
How is this different from the commute, waiting-queue and tutoring-pickup pages?
The commute page covers the ride to work, waiting queue covers hospitals, banks and offices, and tutoring pickup covers waiting outside classes. This page covers traffic jams, red lights and parking-lot waits, and it follows Android v0.1.13 daily limits, open limits, strict mode and Channels allowance.
Can I still use maps while driving?
Yes. Put only short video, short drama, livestream and games on the list. Leave maps, calls and music off the list so they keep working. The limits are there so you do not open a feed when you stop or crawl.
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.