It’s safe to say many of us could afford to spend a little less time glued to our phones and a lot more time moving our bodies.
But getting our daily steps in is no easy task — which is why some people rely on gamified challenges to motivate themselves to go for a simple walk.
Paul English, co-founder of the travel search engine Kayak, is here to help with his new app — Steppin.
The app is designed to help curb screen time and promote exercise by restricting any website or app of your choosing until you’ve “earned” back access to them through your steps.
Available for free on the App store and Google Play, “the app works seamlessly with iPhone’s built-in step tracking and also integrates with a wide range of fitness trackers through Apple Health,” English told The Post.
According to English, Steppin works with all social apps. You can decide which ones to restrict once you’ve set up your account.
“First, you must choose the time you want to use each time you access a restricted app, social or otherwise,” English explained.
“When that time runs out, our block screen appears and you must intentionally choose time to use again,” he continued.
“If you have completely run out of time available, the block screen appears again and will remain until you’ve walked enough to earn some screen time back.”
So far, users are loving it.
English said the feedback “has been overwhelmingly positive, people love the idea of earning their scroll time.”
“Many users tell us they’re not even using the time they’ve earned because the app is shifting their mindset, making them more present in the real world instead of stuck on their phones.”
However, some people might be a little more resistant to the movement — literally — than others.
“Our research shows that Gen Z struggles with phone and social media addiction more than any other generation,” English said.
Indeed, a 2022 Gallup poll revealed 58% of Americans believe they are on their phones too much — for Gen Z, that figure was closer to 80%.
Experts say too much screen time can negatively affect mental health by increasing depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness or envy — especially in younger people.
Meanwhile, walking is so good for you studies show that doing it for only 150 minutes per week can reduce the risk of premature death by 31%.
The good news is that hope lies in self-awareness. By knowing the risks and rewards of phone addiction and physical activity, it seems like kids might be taking steps in the right direction.
According to English, while Gen Z may be the most screen-addicted generation, “they’re also the most aware of it and highly motivated to change their habits for good. So far, the response from Gen Z has been incredible, they’re loving Steppin.”
It’s a great start for a company that wants to hit the ground running.
“We’re really trying to show that Steppin isn’t just an app, but a movement that’s teaching us how to break free from doom scrolling, and take back our time,” he said.
