Google's "Digital Wellbeing" Wants To Save Users From Their Phones

Without a doubt that smartphones have transformed the world. But the very bad thing is that, people are always glued to their phones.

In an effort to help improve "Digital Wellbeing," Google introduces a collection of features for Android that are designed to make smartphones less addictive, and making users more aware of the time they spent staring at it. The goal is to help users understand their online habits, and telling them when it’s time to switch off.

"70 percent of people want more help striking this balance," said Google’s Sameer Samat, who discussed the Digital Wellbeing features during the his 2018 Google I/O keynote.

The Dashboard of the app allows users to see how often they interact with their phone at a glance.

From the number of times they've unlocked their phone, which app are consuming most of their time, and so forth.

The app can show a summary of users' smartphone on a daily or hourly basis, and lets them select individual apps to know how often they've spent their time on them.

"We’re creating tools and features that help people better understand their tech usage, focus on what matters most, disconnect when needed, and create healthy habits for the whole family,"

Google CEO Sundar Pichai also highlighted the increasing needs for mobile users to be on their devices, either from social pressure to respond to messages, or from the fear of missing out.

With the initiative, Pichai said that Google wants to take responsibility for its effect on users by offering them a way to track their online habits.

Using the app, users can set time limits on apps they have installed on their phones, and configure notifications to let them know that they have been online for too long. YouTube can also remind users to take a break after long viewing periods.

Pichai also announced "Be Internet Awesome," a game designed by Google which teaches young children how to navigate the web safely, how to respond towards other users, how to be mindful of one’s online reputation, avoid scams, protect privacy, report inappropriate content and deal with online harassment.

"A lot of technology is designed to be addictive," said Caroline Knorr from technology watchdog Common Sense Media. "Companies have created business models around keeping users engaged as long as possible and using persuasive techniques developed with psychologists."

"Some of them seem great. However, Google is one of the biggest innovators in some of the sneaky techniques to keep people hooked, like auto-play videos on YouTube."

So here the initiative Digital Wellbeing is meant to temper the negative effects of mobile technology, and this apparently includes Google's products that have effects on people's lives, according to the Digital Wellbeing site.