Stanford Screenomics

Stanford Screenomics

About this app

■ RESEARCH DISCLOSURES & PERMISSIONS

The Stanford Screenomics app is a specialized mobile research platform developed by the Screenomics Lab at Stanford University. This app is designed exclusively for enrolled participants to study the complex relationships between daily smartphone usage, media exposure, and real-time behavioral habits.

Because this study relies on granular, scientifically accurate behavioral metrics, the application requires access to system permissions. We are deeply committed to your privacy: all collected data is securely encrypted, transferred strictly over Wi-Fi connections, utilized solely for academic analysis by Stanford researchers, and never sold or shared with third-party advertisers.

Permission mapping for the 28 declared system utilities:

• Media Content Exposure (FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PROJECTION, android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PROJECTION, android:project_media, SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW, android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW)
Captures automated screenshots at 5-second intervals and upon screen unlock to map passive media exposure.

• App Usage Metrics (PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS, android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS, GET_TASKS, android.permission.GET_TASKS)
Logs active application package names and screen on/off events to understand workflows.

• User Interactions (BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE, android.permission.BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE)
Listens for user interaction gesture events (specifically clicks, long-clicks, and scrolls) to analyze app navigation patterns.

• Physical Activity (ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION, android.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION, com.google.android.gms.permission.ACTIVITY_RECOGNITION, SENSOR_ACCELEROMETER, android.permission.SENSOR_ACCELEROMETER)
Records step counts to correlate physical activity with smartphone use.

• Geographic Context (ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION, android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION)
Collects GPS coordinates to analyze how spatial mobility correlate with smartphone use patterns.

• Background Continuity (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC, android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC, WAKE_LOCK, android.permission.WAKE_LOCK, REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS, android.permission.REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS, RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED, android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED, PREVENT_POWER_KEY, android.permission.PREVENT_POWER_KEY)
Maintains a persistent background foreground service to ensure data tracking survives system reboots and aggressive battery-saver optimization.

• Syncing & Orchestration (INTERNET, android.permission.INTERNET, ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM, android.permission.SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM)
Schedules low-overhead connection windows to securely upload research logs to Stanford servers over Wi-Fi.

• Cache Management (READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE, android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE)
Provides local directory access to temporarily stage and encrypt data payloads before server syncing purges them.

• Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS, android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS)
Displays non-intrusive alerts to notify participants that the research study window is actively running.

• Platform Integrity (ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID, android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID, ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION, android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION, com.google.android.gms.permission.AD_ID, AD_ID, com.google.android.providers.gsf.permission.READ_GSERVICES, READ_GSERVICES, com.google.android.finsky.permission.BIND_GET_INSTALL_REFERRER_SERVICE, edu.stanford.communication.screenomics.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION)
Establishes baseline device installation targets across varying Android versions and prevents demographic data duplication across sample groups.

Ratings and reviews

Terrible, even though my husband and daughter were able to complete it none of us got the payments promised. The app always showed we were being tracked, but then I would get messages warning me I have not had the app on and active for some time. I would log in and it shows tracking. It was a waste if time. They got what they wanted but didn't hold up there end of the bargain.

this app is for a study. note to the developers: please add a feature for direct feedback through the app and make the pop-up to turn it back on (new versions of Android) either pop-up instantly or after a 15 seconds. currently there's enough time to think you can do something then when you try it appears

Every time I download, delete, or update an app I get a message that screenomics has stopped unexpectedly and I have to restart it. Aside from that, it's fine.

What’s new

Firebase authentication connection issue fixed. Only backend configuration. No other changes.