Home / Privacy
Privacy and permissions.
ScrollTrace uses Android's Accessibility service only inside Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, and only to detect that you swiped to a new short video. It does not read captions, comments, usernames or messages. Your scroll history is stored on your phone. A small amount of usage data goes to Google Firebase, and account and purchase data goes to Google and the subscription provider. You can export or delete your history at any time.
What the Accessibility permission can see
The service is configured to receive events only from Instagram, YouTube and TikTok (including TikTok Lite). From those apps it uses:
- Scroll events — that a scroll happened, and the position in the list.
- Which screen is open — the internal name of the container, such as the Reels or Shorts player, to decide whether to count.
It does not read or store post text, captions, comments, usernames, profile details, messages or the videos themselves. It does not take screenshots, and it does not tap, type or act inside other apps.
Stored on your phone
- A count of videos per app, per day, with times — the history behind your charts
- Session records (when a scrolling session started and ended)
- Your settings, such as daily limits
This history lives in a local database inside ScrollTrace. It is not uploaded to a ScrollTrace server.
Sent off your phone
| What | Sent to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Usage events: "a short video was scrolled" with the platform (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok) and type (Reel, Short, video). No content. | Google Firebase Analytics | To understand how the app is used and fix detection problems |
| Standard app and device information collected by Firebase (app version, device model, Android version, approximate region) | Google Firebase | Crash-free operation and product analytics |
| Your Google account name and email, if you sign in with Google. Guest sign-in uses an anonymous ID. | Google Firebase Authentication | To create your account |
| Account ID, name and email for signed-in users; subscription status | RevenueCat (subscription provider) and Google Play Billing | To manage ScrollTrace Pro purchases and restore them |
| A device notification token | Firebase Cloud Messaging | To send app notifications and announcements |
ScrollTrace does not sell personal data and does not show ads.
Permissions the app asks for
- Accessibility service — detect swipes in Reels, Shorts and TikTok, as above.
- Notifications — limit alerts and the tracking notification.
- Foreground service and start at boot — keep counting when the app is closed and after a restart.
- Internet — sign-in, purchases and analytics.
- Google Play Billing — optional Pro subscription.
Export and delete
- Export: Settings → Privacy & Data → Export data as CSV.
- Delete history: Settings → Privacy & Data → Delete all data. This permanently wipes your scroll history from the phone.
- Uninstall: removing the app deletes the local database.
- Account and analytics data: to ask for deletion of your account or associated analytics records, use the contact form.
Turning tracking off
You can switch off tracking for Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts in ScrollTrace settings, or turn off the ScrollTrace Accessibility service entirely in Android Settings → Accessibility. Nothing is counted while it is off.
Children
ScrollTrace is not directed at children under 13.
Contact
ScrollTrace is developed by Badal Lalwani, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Questions about privacy: contact form.
Third-party policies: Firebase · RevenueCat · Google