topic Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem in Samsung Apps and Services

Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Thu, 15 May 2025 22:28:41 GMT

Recently, I've begun to notice that I've been spending far too much time on my phone. To combat this, I told my wife to set a pin so I couldn't give myself any more time past my limits placed on my apps. However, I realized that my digital wellbeing was also counting the time that my clock was "on," and so I went to go exclude it. I think this is an excellent feature, but I do believe that a pin should be required to exclude apps as well because what's stopping people from just excluding all their app timers without a pin ? This just seems like a loophole that negatively affects the system that wants to help people's digital wellbeing. Thank you for your time, and I hope you hear back from you guys soon !

Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:04:38 GMT

It's not there to police you. It's there to make you aware of how much time you spend doing stuff and let you make your own decision.

Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:12:33 GMT

I understand. But whats the point of havign limits if they can be easily bypassed ? I feel like that defeats the whole purpose.

Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:14:35 GMT

The purpose us to make you mindful of your behaviors. Just like in school, bypassing the limits you set is only cheating yourself.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:21:07 GMT

Could you give me more of an explanation on the school analogy ? Im not seeing how it connects to limits

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:24:10 GMT

They used to tell you if you cheated on a test, you'd only be cheating yourself. Same principle with bypassing the limits you set, you get the gratification of continuing your bad habit, but you don't learn to curtail your habit. It's like knowing when to leave the casino and ignore the ATM.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:28:14 GMT

I understand that the purpose of the app is for us to be mindful and make our own decisions . However, I feel like it would be much easier if we had the tools necessary to guide us all in our journey wherever we may be. I understand the purpose. I just feel like the implementation of timers and pins is redudent if the user could just disable them by excluding the app.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:36:12 GMT

That's a very valid point. But I feel like simply telling people to have self-control isn't an effective way to change their habits. Habits are behaviors that are deeply ingrained in somebody and can be very difficult to correct without the proper tools. For example, you wouldn't simply tell a cheater to stop cheating on their math exam. Instead, you would monitor them more closely so they are disuaded from cheating.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:44:44 GMT

That's what digital well being is supposed to do. It is not a real accomplishment if someone else is exerting control.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:07:46 GMT

I disagree. I believe having someone there by your side will make it a lot more possible to help accomplish your goals. Like they taught you in school, it's wider to work in a team than to work solo. Also, even just looking at it from a technical standpoint, why would you require a pin to change your timer/content restriction, but not to completely remove them ?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:14:51 GMT

Someone by your side is not the same as someone controlling your actions. But have at it. I'm just explaining to you the entire purpose for the existence of digital well being. The whole idea is to guide you into behavior modification. You know what happens ehen someone else has control? The minute they no longer have it, the comtrollee goes hog wild.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

joecoolhamster — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:26:57 GMT

My wife doesn't control how much time I have on my phone. I manually inputted all the timers to get me off my phone as much as before. She simply helps me by setting a pin that doesnt allow me to bypass the system. And with all due respect, when another member suggested adding a pin for different focus modes you commented " How is a PIN going to stop that, unless someone is in control of it" I feel like this contradicts your argument a lot. Also is it a bad thing to have someone control/help you achieve your goal ? If it's helping my digital wellbeing then I would consider that a success. kind of feels like you're ragebaiting me here.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Pr..

realaud — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:28:03 GMT

She has the pin, she's in control.