Khaberni - At a time when health and psychological risks associated with excessive use of smartphones and social media are increasing, a collection of tricks, applications, and technological innovations has emerged that aim to help users regain control of their time, maintain their focus, and reduce digital addiction.
This coincides with an ongoing global debate about the responsibility of major technology companies, such as Meta and YouTube, for designing their products in a way that leads to addiction, especially among children and teenagers. On February 10, a jury in California considered a lawsuit filed by a girl against Meta, the owner of "Facebook" and Instagram, and Google, the owner of YouTube, accusing them of designing tools that target children's minds and intentionally drive them to addiction.
In an attempt to control the aforementioned risks and revert to a normal life compass, technology companies and researchers have developed tricks and tools that can be described as follows:
1- "MindShift" and "Time2Stop" with artificial intelligence:
Researchers have created a new AI-based project called "MindShift," which uses large language models (LLMs) to generate compelling, customized content that helps reduce phone use through messages or smart alerts that adapt to the user's context and mental state.
Sometimes these messages are comedic, such as "I am a failure if I open this app" or "What will I lose if I stay on the phone?", serving as self-reminders in a funny yet effective way.
Another system called "Time2Stop" interacts in the same previous manner but determines the optimal timing for sending its interventions to cause significant effects that reduce smart phone usage, making artificial intelligence act as a "conscience" to humans.
2- The alternative phone.. satisfy the grip habit:
Austrian inventor Clemens Schillinger has developed a new treatment to combat smartphone addiction, through five models of a smartphone that contains no electronic circuits or lit screen, essentially just a mute model.
The idea of the alternative phone equipped with a number of small balls instead of buttons on traditional phones is based on satisfying the habit of holding the phone and moving fingers on its surface without using a real phone, similar to "weaning a baby off breastfeeding," according to the "TNW" site.
3- "Touch Grass"... Touch the grass first:
An app known as "Touch Grass" forces users to touch natural grass in an attempt to curb their most addictive phone habits and encourage them to go outside and interact with nature before opening their phone, according to "People" magazine.
4- "Hold" app.. Reward yourself and earn money
This app focuses on the idea of reward and self-control, calculating the duration of the user's abstinence from their phone and all social apps, which is not a "punishment," but rather a "reward," as the further the person stays away from their phone and platforms, the more "points" they earn.
These "points" act as a reward system that the user can redeem at commercial venues, with every twenty minutes without using the phone giving them 10 gift points from the app.
5- Analyze your habits through "AntiSocial":
It allows the user to determine the amount of time they spend on social platforms and browsing the phone in general, and provides advice to break the habit of excessive use, by analyzing daily usage, number of times the apps are opened, and time spent.
6- "Forest" app.. Take care of your tree:
It provides a unique way to stop using the phone and focus on important tasks by planting a virtual tree and motivating you to focus with it to succeed in your tasks, and if you pause or leave the app in the middle, the tree dies, and as you continue focusing, you add more trees to your forest.
7- "Flipd"... Study your lessons with others:
The app allows users to block access to distracting apps during focus sessions, making it easier for them to continue accomplishing their required tasks, and it can activate a "multitasking" mode if the user wants to keep accessing some important apps.
"Flipd" is not limited to blocking other apps, but it is entirely based on "social interaction," as users can study with others through live study rooms, track their achievements, and even compare their progress with friends to keep their enthusiasm high.
8- "Minimalist Phone":
It acts as a subscription-based app on your phone; it aims to reduce your daily screen time by directing your focus to your productivity apps.
This app replaces your regular home screen with a simple, customized home screen interface that displays only the important apps.
9- "Moment"... Set a time limit you won't exceed:
This app tracks the user's device and pushes them to set a clear plan for their daily use of the phone and platforms within a specific number of hours, and blocks them from using it if they exceed this limit through a log that informs them of the number of times they used the device.
The notable feature of this app is that it sends numerous annoying alerts to the owner of the phone when they extend their usage time, and it includes a feature to track "children's" devices and their usage hours with many parental control tools specifying suitable apps for them to access.
10- "Offtime" app... Declare an emergency:
This app blocks all distractions, whether from social media like "Facebook" and Instagram or games and calls, by declaring an "emergency state and disconnecting from the outside world," allowing the user to be alone with their tasks until they are accomplished.
It also enables analysis of the actual number of hours used on their smartphone through a tool specialized in reviewing usage times, in addition to a "customization" feature by allowing several modes such as "Work," "Family," or "Me Time" to access only specific apps, or giving specific people the possibility to communicate with you without others.
