Business / news
Digital Carrot and Similar Apps Reward Movement to Curb Doomscrolling
A wave of apps is helping users cut screen time by linking access to social media and games with physical activity. One app, Digital Carrot, blocks distracting content until fitness goals are met.
Endless scrolling through social feeds has become a common habit, often leaving users on the couch for hours and hurting posture and eyesight. A new wave of apps aims to break that cycle by making movement a precondition for screen time.
One such app, Digital Carrot, blocks access to distracting apps, websites and games until users meet daily fitness, productivity or screen time goals. It syncs with wearables such as the Apple Watch and allows personalized targets, for instance walking 6,000 steps a day.
The app also offers GPS- and time-based challenges. Users can program it to keep specific apps locked until they complete a task at a certain location, such as a 60-minute workout at the gym.
Digital Carrot is available across platforms, including iPhone, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux. Other apps in the space encourage people to step outside before opening social media, with one even requiring users to "touch grass" before accessing TikTok or Instagram.