Ripple
Lost the Whole Weekend to Scrolling
On Friday night you plan to go out, get some exercise and finish that book. By Sunday night you realize you spent most of two days in bed watching short videos. Kids on school holidays do the same from breakfast to bedtime. The first part below is for adults setting a weekend schedule on their own phone. The second part is for parents setting weekend and holiday schedules on a child's phone. Both Android and iPhone are covered.
Adults setting a weekend schedule on their own phone
A separate schedule for Saturday and Sunday
Schedules can be set by day of the week. Leave weekdays alone and close short video and short drama apps on weekends, for example from 9 AM to noon and 2 to 5 PM, so you get real blocks of time to go out, exercise or cook.
Android: add a daily time limit
Decide how long you can scroll on a weekend day. Once it is used up the apps stay closed for the rest of the day.
Android: WeChat without Channels and Moments
Messaging friends and family still works while Channels and Moments stay closed.
iPhone: blocked by the system
On iOS 16 and later the apps on the list are blocked on schedule through Apple's Screen Time frameworks, and the block keeps working even if Ripple is closed.
Opening early takes a wait
The cooldown can be set from 15 minutes to 2 hours, and by then you have usually moved on to something else. You can also give the unlock code to a partner or friend.
Maps, payments and music keep working
Only the apps you put on the list close, so the things you need when you go out are not affected.
Parents setting weekend and holiday schedules on a child's phone
Weekends and holidays set on their own
Set school days and weekends separately. For example games and videos stay closed from 9 to 11:30 on weekend mornings while homework gets done, with a window to play in the afternoon. Long holidays work the same way.
Android: a clear daily allowance
Give games and short video apps a daily time limit. When it runs out they close for the day.
Clock changes and uninstalling do nothing
On Android time is counted from device uptime, see the clock change page, and uninstall protection can be turned on right on the phone. On iPhone enable the block on deleting apps, see the iPhone page.
Keep the unlock code yourself
Begging does not open anything, and it still works while you are out at work.
Android: messaging stays open
Only WeChat Channels and Moments close, so the child can reach you during the holidays.
Setup steps
Install Ripple
On Android install the APK and turn on the accessibility service. On iPhone you need iOS 16 or later and Screen Time permission.
Put the apps that are hardest to stop on the list
Usually short video, short drama, live streaming and game apps. Leave messaging apps off the list.
Set Saturday and Sunday on their own
Pick Saturday and Sunday and set the schedule. Weekdays and school days can have their own schedule or none.
Add daily time limits on Android
Adults and kids can both give these apps a maximum time per day.
Set the unlock code, cooldown and uninstall protection
Give your own code to someone you trust and keep the child's code yourself. Turn on the uninstall guard on Android and the block on deleting apps on iPhone.
FAQ
I spend whole weekends scrolling in bed. How does Ripple help?
Put short video and short drama apps on the list and give Saturday and Sunday their own schedule, for example closed from 9 AM to noon and 2 to 5 PM. On Android you can also add a daily time limit.
Can it apply to weekends only?
Yes. Schedules are set by day of the week, so you can choose only Saturday and Sunday and weekdays are not affected.
I use WeChat to make weekend plans. What then?
On Android WeChat can keep chat open while Channels and Moments close. The iPhone version limits whole apps, so leave messaging apps off the list.
My child is on the phone all day during the holidays. How do I set it up?
Set weekend and holiday schedules on the child's phone, add a daily limit on Android, and keep the unlock code yourself. On Android changing the clock does nothing and uninstall protection is available. On iPhone the block on deleting apps stops long press removal.
Can I set a daily time limit on iPhone?
The current iPhone version blocks apps on a schedule. Daily time limits are an Android feature.
Does it cost anything? Do I need an account?
It is free with no ads, needs no account, and all settings stay on the phone.