Featured Image Credit: FG Trade / Francesco Carta fotografo / Getty
We could all use a little less screen time. But for those who are glued to their screen, Apple has introduced a feature to help take care of your eyes.
The tech giant released iOS 18 in September and with it came a wealth of upgrades.
Among the customisable home screens, RCS messaging and advanced AI functions, it's no wonder a small health feature was overlooked.
Apple launched the feature Screen Distance in iOS 17 which is being praised for its health benefits.
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Screen Distance is designed to help reduce eye strain by encouraging you to keep your iPhone or iPad at least 12 inches from your eyes.
Promoting healthier screen habits, the feature alerts the user when it detects they are viewing their device too close.
We all know how easy it is to hold our phones way too close whether it's TikTok scrolls, gaming, or stalking your ex.
Using the front-facing camera and built-in sensors, Screen Distance measures the distance between your device and your eyes.
If you’re too close for an extended period of time (like five minutes), it flashes a pop-up alert advising you to move the device further away.
Once you’ve adjusted, just tap 'Continue' and you’re good to go.
If you're worried about the privacy side of things, don't worry as Apple ensures that no images or video are captured and all data stays securely on your device.
To enable the Screen Distance feature for yourself or as a parental feature, you first need to make sure your iPhone or iPad is running iOS 17 or later.
Then, simply head to the Settings app, tap Screen Time and select Screen Distance.
Tap Turn On Screen Distance and follow the quick setup instructions.
Once it's activated, the feature works automatically in the background.
For many users, the feature is especially helpful during evening screen time when your eyes are more prone to strain.
It’s a small tweak, but one that can make a big difference over time.
Elsewhere in Apple news, iOS 18 hasn’t exactly won over users. Some have been calling it the 'worst experience' they've ever had and are trying to uninstall it.
Complaints poured in over Reddit and X about the new photo gallery, emoji sizes and a host of other additions and changes.
TikTokers and content creators have been sharing tips to make the user experience on iOS 18 more bearable by turning off a few settings.
