'Stop distraction' switch on Android devices

Google has introduced a new feature 'Focus Mode' for Android devices designed to prevent its users from being consistently distracted by their smartphone.

The feature allows users to turn off distractions - like social media updates or email notifications - for a period of time, so a user can get things done without interruption.

Focus mode was first announced at Google's developer conference in the summer as part of Android Q/10. 

"Focus mode is a new Digital Wellbeing tool on Android, now out of beta, that helps you get things done by temporarily pausing apps so you can focus on the task at hand. You can select apps you currently find distracting (like social media or games) and if you try to open them, Focus mode will remind you that app is paused. 

"Focus mode will also silence those apps' notifications until you are ready to switch out of the mode," Dayson Pais Product Manager, Android said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Focus mode is available on all devices that currently have Digital Wellbeing and parental controls settings, including new phones launching with Android 9 and Android 10.