Doha: Google announced that it will start testing a new feature in the Digital Wellbeing app in Android, which aims to help users reduce their time spent on distracted apps and games, without having to ban, hide or uninstall them altogether.

According to Qatar News Agency, the new feature is known as Screen Time Reminders, and it gently notifies users when they spend too much time using a particular app or playing a specific game.

The notifications appear at the top of the screen, showing how much time the user has spent running the app, and encouraging it to stop using it to better invest their time.

Users can activate the feature by moving to settings (Digital Wellbeing and Parental controls) in their Android phones.

When accessing the (Screen Time Reminders) option, the “Use Reminders” option can be activated and the apps for which they wish to receive reminders, after which the notifications will automatically appear when spending a long time on one of the selected apps.

The feature was first monitor
ed in an analysis of the Digital Wellbeing app last month, and the feature is now beginning to appear for some users.

The notification appears at the top of the screen after using the app for a long time, indicating how much time it takes, prompting users to close the app and pay attention to other activities.

This feature is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to promote digital health and adds a new dimension to helping users manage their time more effectively without resorting to strict app bans.