5sec / Pausen - Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for 5sec and Pausen

Last Updated: October 11, 2026

SelfApp Labs built Pausen (called 5sec on Android) as a mindfulness tool to help users develop more intentional app usage habits. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our Service.

By using Pausen, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

Overview

Pausen is a mindfulness app that helps you pause before opening selected apps. When you attempt to open a monitored app, Pausen displays a brief pause screen with a reflection message, encouraging you to consider whether opening that app is intentional.

For the ordinary Pause feature, the following selections and statistics are stored locally. Android Commitments sync the separate information described below.

Information Stored Locally on Your Device

• App Selection: The list of apps you choose to monitor
• Usage Statistics:
• Total number of pauses shown
• Number of successful pauses (where you waited)
• Number of continued opens (where you proceeded after the pause)
• Per-app statistics

Android Commitments and Google sign-in

Commitments are optional. Ordinary Pause settings and statistics remain local. Creating a paid Commitment requires Google sign-in so that your goal and payment history can be recovered after reinstalling or clearing app data.

Firebase Authentication receives your Google account identity and creates or links a Firebase user ID. We store the selected app package name and display name, daily limit, goal dates, timezone, daily usage totals and evidence-completion flags, goal outcome, purchase and refund status, timestamps and purchase references in Firebase Firestore. Our backend uses Cloud Functions in the europe-west1 region; Firebase Authentication and other service providers may process data in other regions.

We also store a hashed device identifier derived from Android's app-scoped device ID to identify the device that measures the goal. It is linked to your Commitment and used to prevent another device from finalizing its usage evidence. Daily measurements use the timezone saved when you create the goal. We do not upload raw Android usage-event streams, app screen content, messages, keystrokes or screenshots for Commitments.

RevenueCat receives your Firebase user ID, the Commitment ID and purchase information. Its purchase webhook sends transaction information to our backend so an interrupted checkout can be recovered. Google Play processes payment; we do not receive your payment-card details. Purchase tokens and order references are used to verify payments, prevent duplicate registration and handle refunds.

Commitment records remain associated with your account so goals and payment/refund history can survive reinstalls. A verified late payment that cannot activate a goal is queued for refund. Missing final usage evidence is not treated as zero; if it remains unavailable for 72 hours after the final goal day ends, the goal is canceled and a full refund is queued. Refund processing is handled manually through Google Play and can take additional time.

Request account and data deletion

To request deletion of your 5sec/Pausen account and associated cloud data, email selfapplabs@gmail.com with the subject “5sec account and data deletion”. Send the request from the Google account email you used to sign in, or tell us which account it concerns. You can start the same request from Settings → Request account deletion in the Android app. You do not need to reinstall the app to request deletion.

We verify account ownership before deleting account and associated data. Active goals and any paid or pending orders must be resolved so that payment and refund rights are preserved; contact support to initiate this process. We may retain the limited payment, refund, fraud-prevention or legal records necessary for those purposes, for as long as those purposes require. Deleting the app alone does not delete cloud records or cancel a Google Play subscription. Local Pause settings can be removed by clearing app storage.

Information Collected by Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect certain information:

1. Sentry (Error Tracking)

• Purpose: To identify and fix app crashes and errors
• Data Collected:
• Error logs and stack traces
• Device information (model, OS version)
• App version and configuration
• Component tags for error context
• Privacy Policy: https://sentry.io/privacy/

2. Firebase (Analytics, Crash Reporting, Authentication, Feedback and Commitments)

• Purpose: To understand how users interact with the app, improve the user experience, collect and manage user feedback and app ratings, provide anonymous and Google authentication, and securely store and process Android Commitments
• Data Collected:
• App interaction events and analytics identifiers
• Device information
• App version
• Firebase user IDs and authentication metadata; Google account name, email address and profile image when supplied during Google sign-in
• User-submitted feedback and ratings (stored in Firebase Realtime Database)
• Optional email address (only if you choose to provide it when submitting feedback)
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

3. RevenueCat (Android Only — In-App Purchase Management)

• Purpose: To manage Pro subscriptions and Android Commitment purchases, verify transactions and support recovery
• Data Collected:
• Purchase transaction information
• Subscription status
• Device identifiers (for purchase verification)
• Privacy Policy: https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy

4. Google Play Services (Android Only — App Distribution and Billing)

• Purpose: App distribution and in-app purchase processing
• Data Collected:
• Purchase information
• Device information
• Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

5. Apple App Store (iOS Only — App Distribution)

• Purpose: App distribution
• Data Collected:
• Device information
• Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

How the App Monitors Your App Usage

Pausen needs to detect when you open apps in order to show you the pause screen. The method varies by platform:

On Android: Accessibility Service

Pausen uses Android's Accessibility Service to detect when you open apps on your device.

What the Service Does:

• Monitors app launches in real-time
• Detects when you open a monitored app
• Displays the pause overlay automatically

What the Service Does NOT Do:

• Does not read or transmit the content of your apps
• Does not capture screenshots
• Does not log keystrokes or passwords
• Does not access personal data within other apps
• Only monitors package names (app identifiers), not app content

Data Access:

• The service only accesses package names (e.g., "com.instagram.android") to identify which app you're opening
• Ordinary Pause monitoring is processed locally. If you use Android Commitments, the selected app identifier and daily usage totals are sent to our backend as described below.
• The service runs as a foreground service to ensure reliable operation

On iOS: Screen Time API (FamilyControls & DeviceActivity)

Pausen uses Apple's Screen Time API framework (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, and DeviceActivity) to manage app usage on your device.

What the Service Does:

• Uses Apple's built-in Screen Time framework to monitor app launches
• Applies managed settings to display the pause screen when you open a monitored app
• Schedules activity monitoring via DeviceActivity

What the Service Does NOT Do:

• Does not read or transmit the content of your apps
• Does not capture screenshots
• Does not log keystrokes or passwords
• Does not access personal data within other apps
• Does not have access to specific app usage data — Apple's Screen Time API is privacy-preserving by design and uses opaque tokens for app identification

Data Access:

• App selections are represented as opaque tokens managed by Apple's framework — Pausen cannot see or export the underlying app identifiers
• All monitoring is handled locally on your device through Apple's system-level APIs
• No app usage data is transmitted anywhere

How We Use Your Information

• To Provide the Service: Your locally stored preferences and monitored app list enable the pause feature to work
• To Improve the App: Error reports and analytics help us identify bugs and improve user experience
• To Respond to Feedback: When you submit feedback or ratings, we use the information to address your concerns and improve the app
• To Process Purchases: RevenueCat and Google Play Services process Android subscriptions and Commitment stakes; Firebase verifies purchases and manages goals and refund status

Data Storage and Security

• Local Data: Ordinary Pause preferences and statistics are stored locally using Android DataStore or iOS local storage. Android Commitment information is additionally stored in your Firebase account.
• Remote Data: Error reports, analytics, voluntarily submitted feedback, purchase information and Android Commitment account and usage records are processed by the service providers described in this policy.
• Security: We use industry-standard security measures to protect data transmitted to third-party services. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties (this is our first priority, we earn money through subscriptions). We only share data with:

• Third-party service providers listed above, who are contractually obligated to protect your data

Your Rights and Choices

• Delete Local Data: You can clear app storage or uninstall the app to remove local data. This does not delete your Firebase account, cloud Commitment history or records held by payment providers. Use the account-deletion request below for cloud data
• Disable App Monitoring:
• Android: Disable the accessibility service in Android Settings > Accessibility
• iOS: Revoke Screen Time access in Settings > Screen Time, or remove the app's authorization in Settings > Pausen
• Control Feedback: You choose whether to submit feedback or ratings, and can choose not to provide your email address

Children's Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at selfapplabs@gmail.com.

International Users

If you are using our Service from outside your country, please note that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries where our third-party service providers operate. By using our Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Notifying you through the app (for significant changes)

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: selfapplabs@gmail.com

We will respond to your inquiry within 24 hours.