Ripple
Can't Stop Checking the News, and Kids Refresh Fan Pages All Day
A lot of people glance at trending topics in the middle of work, then go through a news app and Reddit, and on a big news day that adds up to dozens of opens. Each look is a few minutes, the morning is gone, and you feel worse for it. Kids who follow an idol do the same with fan pages and fan group chats, picking up the phone between homework questions to see if there is a new post. Ripple can set how many times a day these apps open, how long the wait before opening is and how long they can be used, and it can close them during set hours. The first part below is for adults, the second part is for parents, and both Android and iPhone are covered.
Open limits, the pause and custom daily limits (Android, Chinese interface)
Adults: a few news checks a day is enough
Give news and social apps an open limit
In Daily limits, tap X, Reddit, a news app or Weibo and choose 3, 5 or 10 opens a day or a custom number. Morning, lunch and after work is three. When they are used up the app will not open until midnight.
Wait a few seconds before it opens
Set a 5, 10, 20 or 30 second pause. The screen shows which open this is today and how long you have used the app. Seeing the number is often enough to put the phone down, and you can tap Don't open. With longer waits turned on, each open adds 5 seconds, up to 60.
Cap the time per day
The same app can also get a daily time limit, like 30 minutes. From v0.1.9 you can set any length from 1 minute to 12 hours in 1 minute steps. Whichever runs out first closes the app for the day.
Close them during work hours
Create a focus schedule like weekdays 9 to 12 and 2 to 6. News and trending apps will not open then, and you can catch up after work.
If you tend to turn limits off, use strict mode
With strict mode on, loosening rules needs the unlock code. The code is at least 8 digits and you can give it to family or a coworker. Strict mode also turns on Anti-Uninstall, and if the code is lost you can request removal and wait 72 hours.
iPhone: block by schedule
The iPhone version is v0.1.5 and has no open limits or daily limits. Put news and social apps into work hours and bedtime schedules and iOS blocks them in the background. The unlock code works there too.
Parents: kids refreshing fan pages for their idols
Close the apps during homework
On a child's Android phone, create a weekday 6:30 pm to 9 pm homework schedule and put the fan apps in it. Outside those hours they work as usual, which kids accept more easily.
Leave a few checks a day
A full ban often sends kids to another phone. Give the app 2 or 3 opens a day with a 20 second pause before opening, so they check and put it down.
Block it all day before exams
In the weeks before finals you can set the app to 0 minutes so it never opens, then change it back after.
They cannot change settings or uninstall
With strict mode on, loosening rules needs the unlock code you keep, and Anti-Uninstall turns on. Android timing uses device uptime, so changing the clock does not help. See the clock change page.
Split screen and floating windows do not get around it
A blocked app in split screen, a floating window or picture-in-picture is blocked too. On OPPO phones a floating window is covered and its sound stops, though the window itself has to be closed by hand.
iPhone: block by schedule
On a child's iPhone, put the apps into homework and bedtime schedules and turn on the block on deleting apps so long press removal does not work. See the iPhone page.
Setup steps (Android v0.1.9)
Install or update to v0.1.9
Install the latest APK and turn on the accessibility service. With an older version, update from Settings › About › Check for updates and your rules stay.
Open the app in Daily limits
Choose a daily open limit, turn on the pause before opening, and add a daily time limit if you want. Before exams you can set a child's app to 0 minutes.
Create a work or homework schedule
Add a focus schedule by weekday and time with the news and social apps in it.
Set the unlock code and strict mode if you want
On your own phone give the code to family. On a child's phone keep it yourself. With strict mode on, loosening rules needs the code.
FAQ
How do I stop checking news and trending topics all day?
In Ripple for Android give the app a daily open limit and a pause before opening, and a daily time limit if you want. Add a focus schedule to close it during work hours. iPhone v0.1.5 can block by schedule.
I still need direct messages in the same app. What can I do?
Ripple works on whole apps and cannot block one page inside an app. Leave a few opens a day with a pause before each, read your messages and close it.
How do I handle a kid who refreshes fan pages all day?
On a child's Android phone close the app during a homework schedule, leave 2 or 3 opens a day otherwise, and set 0 minutes before exams. Turn on strict mode so only your unlock code can loosen rules, which also turns on Anti-Uninstall. On a child's iPhone use schedules and the block on deleting apps.
My opens are used up and something urgent came up. What now?
Wait a moment for one more open, or enter the unlock code. In strict mode only the code works.
Does iPhone have open limits?
Not yet. iPhone v0.1.5 has schedules, the block on deleting apps, clock change protection and the unlock code. Open limits, daily limits, 0 minutes and strict mode are Android only.
Does it cost money or need an account?
It is free with no ads and no account. Settings stay on the phone.