{
  "id": 17904,
  "title": "Apps that help you break free from doomscrolling and get active",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/apps-that-help-you-break-free-from-doomscrolling-and-get-active",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-01T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/01/apps-that-help-you-break-free-from-doomscrolling-and-get-active/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Doomscrolling can lead to an unhealthy cycle of prolonged screen time, poor posture, and negative self-perception. To combat this habit, several apps offer solutions to encourage movement and minimize excessive social media use. One such app, Digital Carrot, locks distracting apps, websites, and games until users achieve daily fitness, productivity, or screen time objectives. Users can customize their targets, such as walking 6,000 steps per day. The app supports GPS and time-based challenges, enabling users to block apps until they've completed a specific number of steps or spent time at a location, like a 60-minute workout at the gym. Available on iPhone, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux, Digital Carrot helps users break the doomscrolling cycle through physical activity.\n\nMeBeMe focuses on cultivating healthier habits by sending notifications for challenges like doing burpees, connecting with others, or warming up for three minutes. While not exclusively about physical activity, its \"Body\" category includes challenges for various athletes and sports enthusiasts. The free iOS version allows users to access its features, making it accessible to a wide range of individuals seeking to improve their habits.\n\nStepBloc offers a unique approach by linking app access to physical movement. Users can specify the number of steps required to unlock selected apps, including social media platforms. Once a workout, such as push-ups, planks, or squats, is completed, users can access chosen apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or games. The app is free on iOS devices, though a subscription is needed for unlimited access. Created by the founder of Kayak, Steppin allows users to trade physical movement for screen time. For instance, it offers one minute of scrolling for every 100 steps taken, with users able to set their own step goals for accessing social media, streaming services, or mobile games.\n\nTouchGrass takes a creative approach to preventing doomscrolling by requiring users to step outside and take a photo of grass to unlock distracting apps. Using computer vision models, the app scans photos and only accepts images of grass, distinguishing it from trees or other plants. The freemium version allows users to lock two apps, with a monthly or yearly subscription available for unlocking additional apps. TouchGrass integrates with Apple Health to limit access to designated apps based on daily step goals, tracking steps using iPhone or Apple Watch data. The app features a lockscreen widget displaying progress throughout the day, enabling users to monitor their advancement toward unlocking apps.\n\nWalkly provides a similar experience to WalkLock, locking selected social media, gaming, and distracting apps until users walk a predetermined number of steps. The app continuously monitors physical activity and automatically unlocks apps once the walking goal has been met. Walkly is available for Android devices, making it accessible to a broad audience seeking to reduce their screen time through physical activity. Lastly, WeWard initially launched as an app incentivizing walking by awarding users \"Wards,\" an in-app currency exchangeable for cash, gift cards, or donations. Recently, it introduced \"Walking Mode,\" allowing users to restrict app access until they meet specific step counts. Both step goals and locked apps are customizable in WeWard, catering to individual preferences and goals in the fight against doomscrolling.",
  "summary": "If you’re looking to cut back on screen time and get a little more active, here’s a roundup of the apps that might help.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}