Zift Advisory
Moment is an app designed to track screen activity for more mindful technology use. Moment is rated for users of all ages, is free to download and use for iOS devices, and features in-app purchases. In all, the Moment app is perfectly safe for the entire family to use and may prove to be an eye-opening app for tech-loving families.
What is Moment – Screen Time Tracker?
Moment is an app designed to track screen activity for more mindful technology use. Moment is rated for users of all ages, is free to download and use for iOS devices, and features in-app purchases.
For those who may be starting to wonder if their family might be a little too attached to their devices or those who already feel like their lives are being ruled by tiny screens, the Moment app can be an eye-opener.
The Moment app isn’t meant to be used actively. Users input limits and let the app run in the background. The most basic use of the Moment app is to use it as a simple time tracker.
At the end of each day users can log into the Moment app and take a glance at the number of minutes they’ve been on their device that day in comparison to other days.
The goal of the Moment app is not to have users ditch digital technology completely, it’s to promote a sense of mindfulness about their daily screen use by showing them exactly how long they’re spending on their devices.
As the goal of the Moment app is not to eschew technology altogether, it also features an option for tracking users’ real-life moments.
Users have the option of having the Moment app track where they go throughout the day, so in addition to a screen time tracker, Moment can be considered a real-life experience tracker as well. A perfect fit for those looking to find the perfect balance between their digital life and their real one.
The Moment app makes it incredibly easy to set up screen time tracking. Once users open the app, a popup appears asking if they’d like the app to track their screen time automatically, and they’re done.
After the screen time popup is another popup, this one with a message saying, “For technical reasons, Moment also needs to be tracking the places you go to track your screen time automatically.” Users can select “Track” or “Why?” to learn more.
Is Moment – Screen Time Tracker safe for my kids?
Parents will be interested to know that the app’s developer designed the app after he discovered that his digital life was affecting his real life.
For those parents curious about the location tracking, Moment developers explain:
Currently, iOS doesn’t have an easy way for an app to determine if you’re using your phone or not. That’s why there is no app (other than Moment) that does it well.
To automatically track your screen time, Moment must be running in the background. Apple only allows apps to run consistently in the background in very specific use cases. Tracking the places you go is one of those, which allows Moment to run in the background.
If you’re concerned about privacy, know that I am too. Location data is stored on your physical phone in a secure place that other apps cannot touch. Moment never sends that location data over the internet and I personally never see that data, by design. Your location data is your private data, and I have not desire to collect it or sell it to anybody.
When you delete Moment from your phone, that location data is gone forever.
What may be of concern, however, is the amount of memory and storage the Moment app takes up on a user’s phone, especially with the app constantly running in the background and location data being saved and stored locally.
However, the developer has addressed the battery concern, saying:
“If you’re concerned about Moment killing your battery, the GPS tracking doesn’t affect your battery much. I’ve worked really hard to minimize that impact. That feature uses about 0.25% of your battery per day, slightly more if you’re moving around a lot.”
Families will appreciate the helpful tips the Moment app provides to manage screen time better, especially if users find that they’re spending significantly more time on their phones than they’d initially thought.
Moment offers a Phone Bootcamp, which is a two-week course that pushes users to take a hard look at their daily phone use and make changes in behaviors.
The Daily Limits feature allows users to set a regular time limit. Once a user’s time limit is met, the Moment app will boot them off of their phone.
A more subtle approach comes in the form of reminders, subtle notifications the Moment app sends to users throughout the day, letting them know where they are in their daily screen use, as well as when they’re getting close to approaching their daily limit.
It’s important to note, however, that the additional features are part of a premium package, offered for a one-time in-app purchase of $3.99. Those who do not buy into the premium package still receive screen time tracking, they just don’t receive all of the other helpful additions.
In all, the Moment app is perfectly safe for the entire family to use and may prove to be an incredibly eye-opening app for tech-loving families.
Remember, the goal with the Moment app is not to have users ditch technology altogether, but to help them find and maintain a healthy balance between their digital and real lives.
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