Digital Wellbeing App Exclusion Problem

[joecoolhamster]

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 ! 

[realaud]

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.

[joecoolhamster]

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

[realaud]

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

[joecoolhamster]

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

[realaud]

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.

[joecoolhamster]

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.

[realaud]

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

[joecoolhamster]

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 ?

[realaud]

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.