FAQs
How does ScreenBuddy help me reduce screen time?
ScreenBuddy works by adding a thoughtful pause between you and your most distracting apps. You set up a blocking schedule that covers most of your day (we recommend 6AM to 11:45PM), and choose which apps tend to pull you in. When you need to use those apps, you can pause the schedule up to 3 times daily. Each pause requires completing a 25-second countdown with haptic feedback, giving you time to consider whether you really need to open that app. Once unlocked, you get 15 minutes of access, which is enough for checking important updates without falling into endless scrolling.
How effective is ScreenBuddy at reducing screen time?
ScreenBuddy's developer created this app to address their own phone addiction, and the results speak for themselves. In just two weeks, the developer cut their screen time by 41.4%, going from 6 hours 53 minutes to 4 hours 2 minutes daily. After nearly two months of using ScreenBuddy, their screen time was down 55.2% overall, settling at 3 hours 5 minutes per day. That's nearly 4 hours saved every single day. These results show that ScreenBuddy's thoughtful friction approach creates lasting change.
How does ScreenBuddy stop mindless phone use?
ScreenBuddy transforms unconscious phone habits into intentional choices. The magic happens through the 25-second countdown that activates whenever you try to open a blocked app. This brief pause disrupts the automatic reach-for-phone behavior that leads to hours of mindless scrolling. Instead of instantly opening Instagram or TikTok without thinking, you're forced to actively decide if you really need that app right now. Many users find they choose not to continue after the countdown starts, realizing they were just reaching for their phone out of habit. When you do complete the countdown, the 15-minute access window keeps your use purposeful and focused. You can check what you need without slipping into that zombie-like scrolling state. With only 3 pauses per day, you naturally become more selective about when and why you use your apps. This combination of friction and limits rewires your relationship with your phone from mindless consumption to conscious, deliberate use.
What makes ScreenBuddy different from other screen time apps?
Most screen time apps rely on strict blocking that you can easily override when tempted. ScreenBuddy uses intelligent friction instead. The 25-second countdown creates just enough delay to break the automatic habit of opening apps without thinking. You can still access your apps when needed, but the process makes you more intentional about it. Plus, once you set your schedule, you can't edit it impulsively, and private browsing is limited to prevent workarounds.
How does ScreenBuddy prevent doom scrolling?
The 15-minute access window is specifically designed to break the doom scrolling cycle. When you pause ScreenBuddy and complete the 25-second countdown, you only get 15 minutes with your apps. This is enough time to check important messages, and catch up on actual updates, but it's not enough to fall into endless scrolling. Doom scrolling typically kicks in after 20-30 minutes when your brain shifts into autopilot mode. By cutting off access at 15 minutes, ScreenBuddy pulls you out before that mindless state takes over. You can use your 3 daily pauses strategically throughout the day for legitimate needs, but the time limit ensures each session stays purposeful. This approach transforms your relationship with apps from endless consumption to intentional, time-boxed interactions.
How do I set up ScreenBuddy?
Getting started is straightforward. First, create your blocking schedule for the hours when you want to reduce distractions (we recommend 6AM to 11:45PM). Next, select the apps that tend to waste your time, like social media, games, or news apps. That's it. Your schedule starts working immediately, and you'll go through the 25-second countdown whenever you want to access those apps outside your pause periods.