ScreenBuddy

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 2026

About ScreenBuddy

ScreenBuddy is an AI-powered study companion for macOS that helps students stay focused while learning online. The app runs in the background and observes screen activity patterns to provide real-time feedback and insights.

What We Do

ScreenBuddy helps students:

• Stay on task during online learning
• Identify distracting behavioral patterns
• Improve engagement and focus
• Get supportive, non-punitive feedback

Data Collection and Privacy

ScreenBuddy processes screen activity locally on your Mac using:

• Apple's ScreenCaptureKit for screen capture
• Computer vision AI models (YOLOv8-nano)
• On-device processing with CoreML and MLX

How It Works

ScreenBuddy uses AI to understand screen context in real-time. Unlike rigid blockers, our AI can tell the difference between productive activities (like watching an educational video) and distractions (like browsing social media).

Technical Details

The app uses:

• Swift and Apple's native APIs
• ScreenCaptureKit for screen capture
• Vision and CoreML for image processing
• YOLOv8-nano for UI element detection
• Local AI analysis (inspired by Microsoft's Omniparser)

Permissions Required

ScreenBuddy requires:

• Screen Recording permission (to observe your screen)
• Accessibility permissions (for app interaction)

These permissions are used solely to provide focus insights and feedback.

Data Storage

All data processing occurs locally on your Mac. We do not collect, store, or transmit personal information to external servers.

Your Rights

You can:

• Disable ScreenBuddy at any time
• Revoke permissions through macOS System Settings
• Delete the app and all associated data

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy periodically. Any changes will be reflected with an updated date at the top of this page.