Hi Opal team & community,
I’ve just started using Opal and noticed one issue I’d love to see addressed.
Sometimes I want to listen to content in the background, for example:
- YouTube videos like podcasts, lectures or audiobooks
- TikTok livestreams like ASMR, with the screen off
I see these as relaxing or productive, not “wasted screen time.” But right now, Opal blocks this if I’m in a scheduled block or if I’ve hit my limit for those apps.
It would be amazing if Opal could:
- Detect when an app is being used for background audio only (screen off, video not actively watched) and not count that toward my screen time limit.
- Optionally allow a quick 1–2 minute “grace period” to open the app, select the content, and then keep playing it in the background — even during a block.
This way, people can keep active screen time in check while still enjoying productive or calming audio content.
Also, I would like to add that could they fix the lagging effect in the app. Whenever I am in a session the app begins to lag
Cool idea! it would be so helpful if Opal could tell the difference between a video you’re just listening to versus one you’re actively watching. That way, relaxing audio content isn’t unfairly blocked. I also run into issues when I travel with a chauffeur service, BlueNileLivery, and want to quietly play a YouTube podcast or music without triggering “active watching.”
Absolutely I totally get that It would be really convenient if Opal could distinguish between listening and actively watching it would make background learning or music so much easier without unnecessary interruptions. I have noticed the same issue when commuting or on long drives with services example like Bnlbostonlimo sometimes I just want to have a podcast playing quietly without it being flagged. Do you think there a way Opal could detect when a video is playing in the background versus full screen?