OVERVIEW
Our team aims to address the habit of unintentional scrolling. Many of the most popular media apps – TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube – allow for users to continuously scroll down and peruse media for as long as they want. In our research, we found that many users don’t want to scroll for as long as they do. For our comparative research, we decided to focus on apps that somehow interrupt phone usage. Some apps directly block sites, some apps use notifications, and some apps provide statistics. We explored a range of different features and products, including built-in features like Apple’s Screen Time, browser extensions like BlockSite, and productivity apps like Forest to see the different ways that people try to reduce their phone use.
QualityTime
QualityTime is a mobile app on the Google Play Store intended for anyone who is concerned about smartphone overuse. It markets itself as a way for users to better understand their smartphone usage habits, identify where they might be losing “quality time” to their smartphone, and manage their usage through personalized alerts. QualityTime tracks screentime by hour, day, and week, and allows users to see which apps they spend the most time in and/or open most frequently. It can also send users alerts inside certain apps to let them know how long they’ve been using the app. It also has a “Take a Break” feature that allows the user to unplug for a specified amount of time. QualityTime is free to use, but contains ads and in-app purchases.
BlockSite
BlockSite is a browser extension, iOS app, and Android app aimed at students and working professionals which allows users to block certain apps and websites on their devices. It advertises itself as a way for users to improve their productivity and take back control of their time by eliminating distractions. The user specifies a list of websites and/or apps to block, either permanently or during user-defined periods of “focus mode” determined by a customizable timer. Attempting to access a blocked website/app will redirect the user to a full-page photo of a person with a scolding expression, a “Go Back” button, and — notably — no option to override and continue to the blocked location, except by opening BlockSite and editing the blocklist manually. While its basic functionality is free, BlockSite also has a premium (or “Unlimited” version) which offers more options such as the ability to block by category and a blocklist of unlimited length.
Source: https://gadgetstouse.com/blog/2020/08/22/how-to-block-and-unblock-a-website-on-google-chrome/
Moment
Moment is an application that is iOS native and can work with iPads, iPhones, and the iPod touch. The main use case for this application is its constant monitoring of apps, length of use, and location. This application is marketed at parents who would like to limit their children’s screen time, but there are still many privacy concerns due to the vast amount of data it tracks. The mechanism for changing behavior is blocking usage at a certain point, and “group shame” through their Family, multiple-device plan. This application costs $4.99 a month, $14.99 for three months, or $44.99 for 12 months for unlimited devices within a family.
Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/moment-screen-time-tracker
Freedom
Freedom is available on web browsers, iOS and Android app, with no limit to the number of devices (including phones, tablets, and computers) you can connect to your account. This product is marketed towards employees in the technology industry the most. The value proposition is that it blocks distractions, and on average gains “2.5 hours of productive time” each day. Their monetization is the freemium model with premium costing $6.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly. A unique aspect is that you can schedule productivity blocks now or recurring in the future to make focus a habit.
Forest
Forest is a productivity mobile app (on iOS and Android) and a Chrome extension that encourages the user to focus on their work and stay off their phone or websites. To do so, the app utilizes a timer, which is directly tied with virtual trees that only grow when the user is away. If the user uses other services on their phone too early, then the tree they are growing dies. Over time, the goal of the user is to plant a virtual forest filled with various trees and shrubs that reflects their time off of their phone. Forest is free to download with in-app purchases for premium features. A unique point of this app, aside from creating an extra step that blocks the user from using other apps in order to encourage productivity, is that the team is partnered with a real tree-planting organization. When users spend virtual coins they earned in-app to plant real trees, the team donates to the organization and creates planting orders.
Space
Space is a mobile app (on iOS and Android) and a Chrome extension that tracks the user’s screen time and phone usage in order to help them understand their current habits of how they are spending their time digitally. It also helps users manage phone addiction by showing them a summary of their usage, set goals to track phone usage/screen time over time, and help restrict mobile use. Space is free to download with a one-time payment in-app to upgrade to Space PRO if desired. A unique point of this app is that it can exclude apps, create notification blocking, and dim the screen to curb phone usage. In the pro version, users can share your progress with friends and build new habits together, as well as benchmark their performance against other Space users.
RescueTime
RescueTime is designed for individuals looking to increase their productivity and focus throughout the day. It is offered on both mobile and desktop with different features for each device type. RescueTime is designed to allow users to learn more about how they spend their time in order to change media habits and focus on what matters most. The service automatically tracks device use and provides meaningful metrics for understanding where time is spent. This is combined with smart coaching, goal setting, notifications, and ability to turn on focus mode (a time period when certain sites are blocked). RescueTime emphasizes the automatic tracking and smart coaching as key selling points for the product. They sell a subscription with a free 14 day trial followed by $6.50 per month. They also offer a yearly bundle option selling a year subscription along with a productivity ebook for $99.
OFFTIME
OFFTIME is designed for people who are looking to reduce their phone use and focus on other parts of their life. It aims to allow users to focus on what is really important and find balance between technology and life. OFFTIME is offered on both IOS and android, is intended only for phone usage and doesn’t take other devices into account. The core feature consists of taking “OFFTIME” which silences notifications and sends an auto response while allowing white list contacts to get through (i.e. Mom). On returning after the “OFFTIME” period has expired, the user gets a log of everything they missed. It also offers usage statistics, scheduling “OFFTIME”, and app usage limits. It is sold as a one time purchase for $0.99 with the ability to upgrade to the pro version. OFFTIME emphasizes its ability to allow users to disconnect without missing anything important.
Apple Screen Time
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982
Apple’s Screen Time is a feature included for free on all Apple products that allows for Apple users to make more informed decisions on how to use their devices, and set limits. Parents can also use it to manage their child’s usage. The user can turn on the Screen Time feature and see reports of their phone usage. They can then set screen time passwords on apps that turn on after usage limits are reached, and set reminders when a user is approaching their app’s limits. There are four unique features that help with usage: Downtime (only selected apps are available), App Limits (setting specific limits for app categories, like games), Communication limits (mainly for children), and Always allowed (Apps that are allowed no matter the setting, like Phone, Maps, and FaceTime). The user sets all limits and app specifications on their own.
Stay Focused
Stay Focused is an app available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It tracks metrics around usage, like total screen time and how many times you unlock your phone, and allows you to configure your screen time for your workflow and use cases. You can create multiple profiles, actions to block websites, and even set in screen time checks. It allows you to see analytics to help you figure out where you spend your time. It relies on a Freemium model – you can get it for free, and has premium features you can buy through a one time purchase. The app highlights various “strictness” levels for its settings, which allow the user to select different choices based on their need for productivity or phone breaks at a given time. For example, the “Strict Mode” restricts users from deleting the app, or changing any use settings.
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