Ive tried a few different screen time apps before but could never rly stick with one because:
- the walls/popups they show worked at first, but I quickly developed a habit of instinctively tapping through them
- there was no tangible 'reward' for doomscrolling less
So I got to thinking: theres already a whole category of apps (idle games) that basically manufacture a sense of progress/accomplishment out of nothing. So I built an app that uses this concept but to manage my screen time.
The idea is that you manage a little farm on an island and are trying to maximize production. But unlike a regular idle game which rewards you for playing more, you progress by reducing your screen time. You set a daily time limit for yourself and whenever you go over it, the weather on the island gets rainy and your crops grow less.
The app's been working great for me so far (im down to <1hr/day total). And whenever i open instagram/youtube/etc. I find that I actually make a conscious thought about my limit, even with no popups or walls or anything.
the app is built in react native and is available for both iOS and Android. It uses the built-in google/apple screen time apis (and boy was it a pain to get the apple one working lmao).
Id love to hear your thoughts on this concept since afaik there arent really any other apps quite like it
bsonmez19•3m ago
Installed it and tried the concept. Progressing by using the phone less feels clever, and the farm/crop side makes the limit feel more like a game than a restriction.
ethanpronev•57m ago
- the walls/popups they show worked at first, but I quickly developed a habit of instinctively tapping through them
- there was no tangible 'reward' for doomscrolling less
So I got to thinking: theres already a whole category of apps (idle games) that basically manufacture a sense of progress/accomplishment out of nothing. So I built an app that uses this concept but to manage my screen time.
The idea is that you manage a little farm on an island and are trying to maximize production. But unlike a regular idle game which rewards you for playing more, you progress by reducing your screen time. You set a daily time limit for yourself and whenever you go over it, the weather on the island gets rainy and your crops grow less.
The app's been working great for me so far (im down to <1hr/day total). And whenever i open instagram/youtube/etc. I find that I actually make a conscious thought about my limit, even with no popups or walls or anything.
the app is built in react native and is available for both iOS and Android. It uses the built-in google/apple screen time apis (and boy was it a pain to get the apple one working lmao).
Id love to hear your thoughts on this concept since afaik there arent really any other apps quite like it