A mindfulness feature designed to curb endless scrolling on social media is expanding beyond its initial device restrictions, dagens.no reported. The tool introduces a deliberate pause before users can open time-consuming apps, breaking automatic habits.
Google launched the screen-restricting feature earlier this year to prevent users from mindlessly opening apps. The mechanism inserts a conscious delay whenever someone attempts to launch a distracting application, providing a brief interval to reconsider the action.
Until recently, the tool remained exclusive to Google’s own Pixel phones. However, the CHIP publication noted that the utility is now appearing on other manufacturer devices, moving away from closed ecosystems.
Google's Pause Point screen-time tool is starting to appear beyond Pixel phones, with the feature reportedly spotted on a OnePlus 13R running ColorOS 17 beta. #Android17 #ThisIsGameSEAhttps://t.co/jrGJmPYMXT
Android Updates Integrate Digital Wellbeing Delays
The first sign of this broader rollout emerged when the feature surfaced on a OnePlus phone running a beta version of a new operating system, a development also confirmed by a Digital Trends report.
The reporting indicates that the function is transitioning into a standard component of the wellbeing center within newer Android updates. The system avoids total bans on phone usage, functioning instead as a mild reminder to make conscious choices.
Delaying App Access to Discourage Routine Opening Habits
How does the new screen time delay work?
The feature inserts a deliberate pause when a user attempts to open a distracting app, giving them a brief window to stop and evaluate if they are opening it out of pure routine.
Which phones are receiving the updated wellbeing feature?
While the tool was previously restricted to Google Pixel devices, recent beta software on OnePlus phones and upcoming Android updates indicate a rollout to a much wider range of manufacturers.
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