People sometimes ask how Stratum "really" blocks apps — whether it's a gimmick you can swipe past in two taps. It isn't, and the reason is that we don't try to reinvent blocking. We build on the strongest tool iOS already has.
Screen Time is the engine, not the app
Apple's Screen Time can genuinely restrict apps at the system level. The problem is that on its own it's built for reporting — it mostly tells you what already happened, after the afternoon's gone.
Stratum uses Screen Time's blocking capability as an engine and wraps a full study workflow around it. You get the system-level strength of Apple's restrictions, driven by something that actually fires in the moment instead of a weekly summary.
Why building on it makes the wall taller
Because the block runs through iOS itself, it isn't a flimsy overlay you can dismiss. When a session starts:
- Your chosen apps are restricted by the operating system, not by a pop-up
- The block goes up automatically — you don't get a "confirm" step to talk yourself out of
- When the session ends, access comes back on its own
The friction is deliberate. The harder it is to climb over the wall in a weak moment, the less often you'll try.
Privacy stays on your device
Because we lean on Apple's framework, the sensitive parts stay where they belong. Stratum doesn't need to snoop on what you do in other apps to block them — the OS handles the restriction. Your study data is yours, and the blocking works without shipping your activity anywhere.
The takeaway
Good blocking isn't about a clever trick. It's about using the system's real capabilities and removing the moment of choice. Screen Time supplies the muscle; Stratum supplies the timing, the subjects, the deadlines, and the reason to start.