Pause, Please Privacy Policy
This privacy policy applies to the Pause, Please app (hereby referred to as "Application") for mobile devices that was created by Carly Gettinger (hereby referred to as "Service Provider") as a free service.
Information Collection, Local Processing, and Permissions
The Application is designed to function locally on your device. It runs a persistent background service to continuously monitor foreground app usage and enforce your configured budgets. It does not collect, transmit, or store your personal data off-device.
To provide its core accountability features, the Application requires the following device permissions and data access:
- Usage Access (PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS): Required to detect when restricted apps are brought to the foreground.
- Display Over Other Apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW): Required to display the accountability intercept screen over restricted apps.
- Installed Application Inventory: To allow you to select which applications to restrict, the Application queries the list of installed apps on your device.
- Do Not Disturb Access (ACCESS_NOTIFICATION_POLICY): Allows the Application to enable Do Not Disturb mode on your behalf during Focus sessions. This permission is only exercised when you have opted into the feature — it is never used without your configuration, and it does not allow the Application to read or access your notifications.
- Boot Autostart (RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED): The Application restarts its background monitoring service automatically after your device reboots, so your screen time budgets remain active without requiring you to manually relaunch the app.
- Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS): Used to show a persistent notification indicating the monitoring service is running, as required by Android 13+.
- No Internet Access: The Application does not have internet permission and cannot directly transmit data off your device.
Financial Transactions
The Application utilizes Google Play Billing to facilitate optional voluntary commitment-based unlock fees. All payment processing, credential storage, and transaction security are managed exclusively by Google Play Services. The Service Provider does not intercept, access, or store any financial credentials or credit card information, as all transactions are processed through Google's secure billing infrastructure.
Third Party Access
The Service Provider does not transmit user data to any external services. The Application does, however, utilize Google Play Services for billing, which has its own Privacy Policy about handling payment data:
Legal Disclosure
Because the Service Provider does not collect or store user data on external servers, the Service Provider does not possess user data to disclose to law enforcement or government entities.
Opt-Out Rights and Data Retention
You can stop all local processing and permissions by uninstalling the Application. Because no data is stored externally, uninstalling instantly removes all local preferences and settings.
Children
The Application does not address anyone under the age of 13. Because the Application operates locally and without user accounts, the Service Provider does not knowingly collect or possess personally identifiable information from anyone, including children under 13 years of age. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has made an unauthorized in-app purchase using your device, please contact the Service Provider with the Google Play Order Number so that a refund can be issued.
Changes
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The Service Provider will notify you of any changes by updating this page. Continued use of the Application constitutes acceptance of any changes. This policy is effective as of 2026-05-28.
Your Consent
By using the Application, you are consenting to the local processing of your information as set forth in this Privacy Policy now and as amended by us.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding privacy while using the Application, please contact the Service Provider via email at carly@carlygettinger.com.