I am looking for a solution for Android that enables parental/self control, especially the feature to set schedules that restrict app usage at specific times.
For example only allow whitelisted apps from 23:00/11PM to 09:00/9AM.
It would be preferred if its possible to have multiple restricted time window’s
The solution should also full fill the following points
100% Open Source, without closed source dependencies like Google Services.
Only allows changing it’s settings with password and/or timelock rule (password is not the device password)
Strong tamper protection against disabling, uninstallation, permission’s removal and other tampering methods
Works when the restricted person has access to the owner profile / the owner profile is used as the main profile
Don’t consume to much battery, at least outside the restricted time window.
Works without rooting the device (If it fullfill’s the other point’s, you can still suggest it, but please say that it requires root)
If you want to change the settings of the app you need to wait a specified amount of time before you can do them.
This ensures that you can’t make impulsive decision’s.
This doesn’t answer your question about an app directly, but if it is for your own use - have you tried charging your smartphone in a different room than where you sleep at night?
The major problem is not that my phone prevents me from sleeping while I’m in bed, but that I go later to bed because I’m distracted by my phone or another device.
Or that I eat dinner to late because of such distractions.
Don’t think this is possible on (certified) Androids unless the device is ‘managed’ (as in via MDMs or Google FamilyLink).
You may have some luck with Scroll Block (but it uses AccessibilityService, which means it might drain battery quite a bit & I am not sure whether it supports PIN lock).
Sorry to hear that. I don’t have an answer for you about a self-control app. It seems that as the manager of the device, you’ll always be able to find a work-around to beat the app.
What has helped me create more space away from my smartphone is to leave the smartphone at home when I go to work or just out shopping or whatever. The Light Phone was a game-changer for me that way, because I enjoy having it on me. It wouldn’t help with your issue of not being able to turn the device off at night, but it would give you many hours away from the screen during a given day.
it’s hard to define effective because that is literally dependent on your brain for some people using a DNS solution is enough for others they need serious restrictions that unfortunately just simply do not exist in the fashion you are asking for. Accessibility and parental controls has always been a shortcoming of FOSS projects
you may be better off trying to set physical boundaries I feel like trying to make a smart phone less addictive when that’s what it’s designed to do is a bit like trying to make the casino less enticing by just turning off the lights. Like yes it does technically help but it’s not solving the core issue
I’d say if you’re on GrapheneOS the best you can do is keep all your distractions in one profile with a super long and complicated alpha numeric password with no biometrics. and then just make your phone as super annoying to use as possible disable JavaScript within Vanadium except for trusted sites you actually need to go to frequently
I need my phone and get just lock it away all day.
Phones and computers are just designed to run software, and I see no reason why the souldn’t be able to run a software that enforces restriction’s.
A Smartphone is a general purpose device and a casino is a special purpose location.
And since you mentioned casino’s, as least where I live, people can ban themself from the casino.
So they actually have more “help to self help” then Smart phones.
this looks different for everybody and it depends on your set of values for me the moment I’m around people that don’t drain me my phone becomes irrelevant. A creative hobby that ignites you also helps. if your school/job requires you to be online consistently take breaks away from tech there is a lot of pressure to be always on but even if it’s for just 15 minutes a day just staring into space is still a massive improvement
OK that might be poor communication on my part. Yes all computation and technology is neutral. But whom designs it isn’t. Those in silicon valley cant give a fuck about their customers mental health. and even with a custom ROM you’re still using their design language which does have an impact on how you use it. The limitation isnt a technical one but ideological. much of big techs software is specifically designed for pavlovian conditioning which is the same tatics casinos use and for smaller projects its usually having to do with blindspots or lacking resources to build something effective for niche use cases. Though personally what I desire isnt “a smart device” but an actual pocketable computer. Ideally you want something like this built in because any 3rd party tool you install will always be trivial to bypass by just uninstalling it. No such FOSS solution exists yet.
Thank you for your advice.
I think I have not made clear enough what my issue is, its not that I can never get away from my phone or that I spend to much time in total, but that my phone, and also other devices distract me from going to sleep on time or eating dinner on time.
I agree, and at least from my point of view, it feels like the big tech firms are on the opposite site of the consumer on most such issues.
My situation is probably especially worse because of my ADHD.
But from personal experience and what is represented in some studies, many people struggle with bad device related habits and it would improve many lives if there would be a solution for this.
Yes, best case would be an option inside the operating itself to set password and timelock rule to harden specific app’s against changes.
Then an app could enforce the parental/self control.
Or build in an entire parental/self control system inside the operating system.