Mobile Fence calculates the usage time of an app when the app is displayed while the device screen is on.

When an "Emergency/Safety Alert Message" is received, the device screen automatically turns on to display the alert pop-up. In this case, Mobile Fence counts this as usage time for the messaging app. Consequently, a timeline log may be recorded as if the child used the messaging app, even though they did not actually use it.

This can be resolved by configuring the child's device not to receive emergency/safety alert messages in pop-up form. However, please note that this will also prevent the child from receiving these emergency alerts. Please consider this carefully before changing the settings.

1. Android 11 or higher

1) On the child's device, go to 'Settings' → 'Notifications'

2) Tap 'Advanced settings'

3) Tap 'Wireless emergency alerts'

4) Turn off 'Extreme threats', 'Severe threats', and 'Amber alerts' (or 'Safety alerts')

2. Android 10 or lower

1) Open the 'Messages app' on the child's device
2) Tap [More → Settings]
3) Tap 'Emergency alert settings'
4) Turn off 'Emergency alerts' and 'Safety alerts'

1) Open the 'Messages app' on the child's device

2) Tap the 'Settings' button in the 'Messages app'

3) Emergency alert settings

4) Turn off 'Emergency alerts' and 'Safety alerts'

If you wish to keep receiving emergency alerts, you can minimize the inflated usage time of the messaging app by shortening the "Screen timeout" setting. Note that depending on the device model, the screen timeout may not function as expected while the charging cable is connected.

Change to [Device Settings → Display → Screen timeout → 15 seconds]