We've added a "swiping" block on the notifications area when screen time is up (scheduled screen time and/or device allocated timer).
Many apps on Android apps now allow you to reply from notifications. This is greatly convenient as you do not need to open the app to quickly reply to a text or a message via Snapchat and other apps. The challenge with this is on child devices, kids can continue to use their devices when they receive messages via the notifications reply actions. Here's a screenshot:
What can be done?
In our October 2018 release, we've added a "swiping" block on the notifications area when screen time is up (scheduled screen time and/or device allocated timer). On most Android devices, when your child swipes the Notifications bar down, we will swipe it back up very quickly, blocking any attempts to reply from a notification. In our experience and testing, on some slower devices, there may still be a possibility for your child to reply quickly but it's hit and miss. We will continue to optimize this and let us know in the comments below the type of device your child has and its results (i.e.: Samsung S8 + it works!).
One more thing, if replies are being done when the phone is locked (replying from the lock screen), we currently cannot do anything about this as Android doesn't allow us to monitor this area of the phone/tablet.
Comments
5 comments
does the swiping block need to be activated by the parent or is it already by default?
Hi Bret - on by default. As mentioned above, on some devices the swipping block isn't perfect yet. Have you seen it in action?
My son has a Moto e4, and the swipe block works intermittently or it doesn't block fast enough. He has been able to get to settings as well as set up guest users. Also, if he manages to get the swipe to stay down long enough before it retracts, that will cause it to show up as an open app, he can tap that, and he can access settings as well as create guest users that way.
Hi Lany - we continue to monitor and optimize this blocking. Seems like it acts differently on the various mix of Android devices. Regarding Guest Mode, is there any way to remove the user icon from the notification bar via Android Settings > Users? On some devices this is possible. That would at last remove this potential loophole.
Yes I did think of that and I'm still trying to find a way to remove it.
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