WWDC 2018: New iOS update will help iPhone addicts regulate screen time

New tools will make it easier for you to manage the amount of time you spend on your digital device

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Tearing yourself away from your phone at night can be a huge struggle for anyone who’s grown especially dependent of their handheld device.

Apple has taken note of this common predicament by introducing new features in the latest iOS update to help combat iPhone addiction.

Ironically, this means that your greatest vice could also become your ultimate saviour.

The new tools that will become available when the iOS 12 update is launched include Activity Reports, Screen Time and new controls for Notifications and the Do Not Disturb setting.

The Screen Time feature is particularly interesting, as it will help iPhone users monitor exactly how much time they spend on and away from their smartphones.

“In iOS 12, we’re offering our users detailed information and tools to help them better understand and control the time they spend with apps and websites, how often they pick up their iPhone or iPad during the day and how they receive notifications,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering.

“With Screen Time, these new tools are empowering users who want help managing their device time, and balancing the many things that are important to them.”

iOS 12 Screen Time feature (Apple)

The Downtime tool has been created specifically with parents in mind who want to ensure that their children don’t spend too much time glued to their iOS devices.

When Downtime has been scheduled, certain apps of your choosing will become temporarily inaccessible and notifications will no longer be visible on screen.

Parents will be able to access Screen Time when Family Sharing has been enabled, meaning that they’ll have the ability to change the settings on their children’s devices from their own phones.

The way in which you receive your notifications has also been updated to include a greater range of choices depending on your preference.

You’ll have the power to control whether your notifications are turned off completely or delivered silently, which could come in useful when you’re settling down for the evening.

According to a recent study, teenagers who spend a long time looking at the screens of digital devices are more likely to exhibit signs of unhappiness.

The study, conducted by researchers at San Diego State University, found that just one hour of screen time a day could drastically impact the mental state of adolescents.