【Documentary Archives】

For a lot of kids,Documentary Archives growing up in today's world means more time spent staring at screens than biking around the neighborhood with friends. This isn't a huge surprise considering the increase in affordable personal electronic devices. But it puts a difficult task on parents: How do you keep kids from engaging in too much screen time without getting tantrums or moody backlash?

SEE ALSO: Apple iPad Pro 10.5 is Apple's best tablet

A 2015 study by Common Sense Media reported that kids aged eight to 18 in the U.S. spend an average of nine hours each dayusing media. It's become an addiction for many, but a new app called unGlue is here to make management easier. The app helps families agree on an amount of screen time kids will engage in, and then holds them to it.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Alon Shwartz, unGlue co-founder and CEO, is the the father of a daughter and two sons aged 11 to 18 years old. He created the app as a bit of a reality check, and his kids have helped shape it.

"To be honest, kids are kids even if their dad happens to be the CEO and co-founder of unGlue, so they were not 'jumping from joy' when we started the unGlue journey a couple of years ago," said Shwartz.

But involving kids in the decision of how much time they should have on screens and letting them manage that time gives them agency. The chance to earn time by doing chores or to save time, rolling unused time to a new day, teaches valuable skills as well.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

"I don’t want to paint a perfect picture," said Shwartz. "Social media, videos, and games are still as addictive as ever, but unGlue is a way to bring awareness and appreciation of time back to their lives and stop those addictive apps and websites from controlling them."

The app was created specifically to be as family —and user — friendly as possible. It's set up in a way that lets a parent monitor the screen time of all family members from their own devices. In the kid's version of the app, each child can see exactly how much time they have left in each category, like social media and entertainment.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

One problem with some of the parental control apps on the market is that they simply rely on an on/off switch. There are no lessons being taught, and kids don't learn how to manage their time. The most common result from these apps is a parent-child showdown.

Shwartz recognized this and has a message for parents.

"Involve your kids in the conversation before you set their limits. Forget 'parental control,' think kids-empowerment," said Shwartz."Yes, you did buy them the phone, that is not the point. You want to help them learn how to manage their own time. The more your kids are involved in the process, the less resistant they will be."

The free app was originally launched for iOS, but it recently added functionality for Android devices.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Step up your taco Tuesday game with this tortilla toaster

---

Topics Apps & Software iPhone

• Games
• Entertainment
• Tech
• Digital Culture
• Science
• Deals
• Social Good
• Life

• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for February 11: Tips to solve Connections #141
• Capitol Hill covered in Mark Zuckerberg cutouts in frightening protest
• How to read Mark Zuckerberg's prepared testimony for Congress
• Report: New YouTube Kids app will use human curators to protect kiddo
• The Best Sports Video Game of All Time
• How to find out if Cambridge Analytica stole your Facebook data
• Han and Lando are clearly flirting in the new 'Star Wars' trailer
• Uber acquires electric
• Best Presidents' Day deal: Save $44 on Fitbit Charge 6
• If Apple breaks from Intel, will Macs get cheaper?

• Lost faith in humanity? Rejoice, Stephen Hawking says we're doomed
• Watch one great dog absolutely dominate the #MannequinChallenge
• Inmates at an Alabama prison made their own #MannequinChallenge
• Baby monkey finds a home on a bunch of goats, and yes it's very cute
• Researchers are using drones and AI to count dugongs in the ocean
• Bernie Sanders demands Trump kick 'racist' Bannon to the curb
• Echo Fox is allowing its 'CS:GO' players to seek other teams
• Google Earth VR is the godlike virtual reality experience we've been waiting for
• Airbnb Trips app books your whole travel experience
• Workers in Sweden can now report mansplaining using a dedicated hotline

• The Best CPU & GPU Purchases of 2017
• Tommy Hilfiger unveils innovative clothing line for people with disabilities
• Chief Taco Officer could be your next career move
• Huawei P20 Pro teardown reveals its triple
• New 'browser syncjacking' cyberattack lets hackers take over your computer via Chrome
• How to find out if Cambridge Analytica stole your Facebook data
• 5 questions Mark Zuckerberg should answer in front of Congress
• Every hidden detail you missed from new horror hit 'A Quiet Place'
• Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks 2025 livestream: Watch NBA online
• Here's how you can watch Mark Zuckerberg testify before Congress

• Sri Lanka vs. Australia 2025 livestream: Watch 1st ODI for free
• Han and Lando are clearly flirting in the new 'Star Wars' trailer
• Balloon failed at its one job, and no one can stop thinking about it
• Only true Stephen King fans will spot the 170+ references in this terrifying poster
• Getting Started with Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts
• Sesame Street celebrates Autism Awareness Month by launching anti
• iOS 11.3 is screwing up iPhone 8s with third
• This Facebook tool will tell you instantly if your data was harvested by Cambridge Analytica
• Then and Now: 5 Generations of GeForce Graphics Compared
• This Jeff Goldblum ASMR video should be illegal