Reel Counter- Privacy policy 

Last updated: August 22, 2026

At Reel Counter, we believe your privacy is fundamental. This Privacy Policy explains how our Android application ("App") works, what data it processes, and what data it does not collect.

Reel Counter is a privacy-first digital wellbeing tool. We do not have servers of our own, we do not require an account, and we never collect your personal data.

The most important thing to know: what you watch on Instagram never leaves your device. Your reel counts, watch times and Instagram activity are stored on your phone and nowhere else. We do collect anonymous statistics about how you use the Reel Counter app itself — which of our own screens you open — so that we can find problems and improve it. Section 1 sets out exactly what that does and does not include.

1. Information Collection and Storage

We do not collect your personal data.

You do not need to create an account, sign in, or provide an email address to use the app. We never ask for your name, phone number, contacts, location, or Instagram login.

YOUR REEL DATA STAYS ON YOUR DEVICE

Everything the app measures about your Instagram use — your daily reel counts, watch times, attention span, and time spent in each section of Instagram — is stored locally on your device using Android's app storage. This data is never uploaded, never sent to us, and is completely deleted if you uninstall the app.

ANONYMOUS APP-USAGE STATISTICS

We use Google Firebase Analytics to anonymously track how people use the Reel Counter app itself — which screens you open and whether setup (the accessibility permission) was completed — so we can find problems and improve the app. It never includes your reel counts, watch times, or anything read by the accessibility service, and it cannot identify you personally. We do not collect your advertising ID or use it for advertising.

To request deletion of this data, email info.reelcounter@gmail.com. Uninstalling the app stops all collection immediately.

2. Accessibility Service Permission

Android's Accessibility permission is powerful. Apps that have it can potentially see what is on your screen. We know that can feel uncomfortable, and rightly so. This section explains exactly what we do with this permission and what we absolutely do not do.

a. Why We Need It

We use the Accessibility Service to power two core features of the app: 1. To count how many Reels you scroll through. 2. To show a pop-up message overlay when you reach your configured number of reels limit. There is no other way on Android to detect when a reel is on screen inside another app — accessibility is the only available mechanism.

b. How It Works

When you open Instagram, Android sends accessibility events to us. We check two things:

1. Is the app Instagram? Our detection only runs for the Instagram app (com.instagram.android). If you are using any other app, we ignore the events completely.

2. What section are you in? We read basic screen metadata (specifically, accessibility content descriptions and visible text labels) to determine if a full-screen reel is currently being watched, or to broadly categorize which section of Instagram you are in (like Feed, Messages, or Comments) to provide you with your time-spent analytics.

If you are watching a reel, we increment your count and calculate your watch time. That is all.

c. Supported Apps

Our detection only runs for Instagram. The app completely ignores every other application on your device.

d. What Accessibility Does Not Do

• It does not read, record, or store the content of any reel, video, photo, or story.

• It does not read your private chats, direct messages, comments, or anything you type. (While we check general screen labels to know if you are in the "Messages" section for your analytics, we never read or store the actual messages themselves).

• It does not take screenshots, record your screen, or capture images of any kind.

• It does not monitor, log, or report which apps you open (other than recognizing Instagram).

• It does not capture passwords, OTPs, or authentication codes.

• It does not run at all when you are using any app other than Instagram.

• Nothing it reads is ever transmitted to the internet.

e. What Data Leaves Your Device

Nothing the accessibility service reads ever leaves your device. Not your reel counts, not your watch times, not your Instagram activity, not a single word read from your screen. That data lives on your phone and nowhere else.

The only thing the app sends over the internet is the anonymous app-usage statistics described in Section 1 — which Reel Counter screens you opened, and whether you turned the accessibility permission on. These go to Google Firebase Analytics, are encrypted in transit, and cannot be traced back to you personally.

The two are kept separate by design, not just by promise: the part of the app that reads Instagram has no ability to send anything anywhere.

f. You Are in Control

You can revoke the accessibility permission at any time in your Android Settings. You can also temporarily disable the counter directly from the settings menu inside the Reel Counter app.

3. Other Permissions

To function correctly, Reel Counter requests the following additional permissions:

• Vibrate / Notifications: Used to alert you when you hit your self-configured daily limit, and to send you an occasional reminder if the app has not been set up yet.

• Internet: Used only to send the anonymous app-usage statistics described in Section 1. It is never used to transmit anything read from your screen.

4. Children's Privacy

Reel Counter does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. The app does not collect personal information from anyone, and the anonymous usage statistics described in Section 1 cannot be used to identify a person of any age.

5. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Since the app does not collect contact information, we cannot notify you directly via email. Any changes will be reflected in the app updates and the updated policy will be posted here.

6. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this Privacy Policy or how the app works, please contact us at:

Email: info.reelcounter@gmail.com