Frequently Asked Questions

Sheppie uses social accountability to help you stick to screen time limits. You invite someone you trust to be your 'Shepherd' who can help unlock limits when you really need it, but they can't see your private browsing data or app usage.

Your Shepherd can only unlock existing screen time limits and edit limit durations. They cannot see what apps you use, your screen time data, browsing history, or any personal information. Your privacy is completely protected.

While technically possible, our data shows that people with a Shepherd stick to their limits 8x longer (86 days vs 11 days). We strongly recommend inviting someone you trust for the best results.

Sheppie is currently only available on iPhone (iOS 15+). We're working on an Android version - you can join our waitlist to be notified when it's ready.

Sheppie is free to download and use. We believe digital wellness should be accessible to everyone.

You can set daily time limits for any app category (social media, gaming, etc.), create doom-scroll breaks (like blocking social apps for 15 minutes after 10 minutes of use), or set custom rules that work for your lifestyle.

No, your Shepherd cannot create new limits without your permission. You maintain full control over what limits you set - they can only help unlock or modify existing limits that you've created.

You can always contact your Shepherd to request unlocking a limit. They have the discretion to help you when you have a genuine need, while still providing accountability for casual usage.

Yes, you can invite a new Shepherd at any time. Only one person can be your active Shepherd, but you can change who that person is whenever needed.

Yes, Sheppie is built on top of Apple's native Screen Time API, so it integrates seamlessly with your iPhone's existing screen time features while adding the social accountability layer.

If your Shepherd becomes unresponsive, you can invite a new one or contact our support team for assistance. We're working on features to handle inactive Shepherds automatically.

Absolutely. All screen time monitoring happens locally on your device using Apple's Screen Time API. No personal data leaves your phone unless you explicitly choose to share it. We never sell your data or show you ads.