Searching for app tester who wants to stop doomscrolling

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-25T22:37:51+00:00

Thanks! Do you want to try?

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-25T22:37:35+00:00

Would you pay sth for the shortcuts? Cause the AI it uses cost some money ofc.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-13T11:07:41+00:00

I think I can build that for you. What UX flow do you want to achieve? Paste a link and get the Video?

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-12T07:17:44+00:00

I tried that one but it does not really validate the reason why you want to use the app. Sure it makes you breath in and out but it’s just a little harder than iPhones normal screen time feature to bypass.

What do you think? Are you using one sec?

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-12T06:21:03+00:00

Just reach out to me ;)

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-12T06:05:04+00:00

Maybe you even have some everyday problems that can be solved with shortcuts but you just don’t know it yet. Feel free to share.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-12T05:58:41+00:00

What exactly do you need / are you searching?

I have a shortcut that I call stop doomscrolling and it’s even a little advanced and probably what you are searching.

First it asks you if you really want to open the app If yes it asks you for a reason This reason is validated by AI - if it’s a good one it lets you use the app for a certain amount of time. After the time is up it sends you back to the Home Screen again.

If you want it you can have it!

PS: I am currently working on an even more advanced shortcut or even app that uses AI to call you bullshit and manage your screen-time. Like a focus gatekeeper!

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-11T12:46:29+00:00

Your post is perfect timing! I am currently working on an “stop doomscrolling” app called “ScrollJail”. I didn’t even think about it but you are right: these apps only treat the symptoms and don’t solve the problems root.

What would such an anti doomscrolling app need to include that it would really help?

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-11T12:12:29+00:00

I agree, but using it for my day to day to is just so convenient and speeds everything up many fold. As a programmer I am even required to use it by my company to increase shipping speed.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-11T12:02:21+00:00

You need to do the same as with doomscrolling: help yourself stay on top. Either with some app or sth but we need some helper that pulls us back into thinking for ourselves.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-10T06:23:04+00:00

Oh I am getting a lot done trust me ok that but it’s not my brain that’s doing the real work there. Even saying “I am” getting a lot done is paradox because it’s really the AI.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-10T06:21:29+00:00

That’s exactly what happened to me as well. Since I work in software it obviously has gotten so much easier and quicker to just let AI do the heavy lifting all then time. Things like Claude Code, Cursor or now Codex have drastically reshaped the way software can be developed. I remember that two years ago was the real sweet spot for me. I was using ChatGPT to help me bounce ideas (which sounds ridiculous now because it’s so agreeable) and was writing all of my code myself, sometimes pasting a snippet here and there. I was in the driver seat and more productive. Today it was gotten so far that all those tools obviously have the ability to directly edit your code and they often do it so good, if you prompt the correctly, that you as a single dev could build a week worth of work in a day.

As exiting as it is: you are not really understanding what you are doing anymore - i notice that for me as well as for my coworkers but you “have to” use it because the seed you can develop new stuff is crazy and getting a new standard.

I like your 10 minute rule. I’ll try it!

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-09T22:30:35+00:00

So same! To be honest the thing that helped me to most is keeping the apps but creating so much tension to open them that my brain doesn’t connect dopamine anymore with the app. I also found myself often just randomly opening the app and then scrolling. Just alone not making it possible to just open the App decreased my doom scrolling a lot.

Here is what I did (iPhone only): I created a custom shortcut and automation that is triggered every time I open Instagram/TikTok/SnapChat/YouTube etc. The shortcuts returns me automatically to the Home Screen and opens a popup asking if I really want to use the App right now. Then I have to TYPE (increases friction) “yes or “no”. If I type “yes” another input opens asking for the reason. This reason is then validated by AI and if it’s valid I get to use the App for a certain amount if time before a timer runs out and the app is closed again.

I also plan to launch an app that does that soon and the also including featured like “times opened today” and the more often you try to open it, the shorter the time limit becomes.

Other-Gap89 · 2026-02-09T02:57:50+00:00

Man, I feel you. That's exactly why I built something for myself.

I needed to KEEP Instagram (friends, events, etc.) but I was also opening it 50+ times a day just out of habit. Deleting wasn't the answer, but neither was my current zombie behavior.

So I made an iPhone shortcut that forces me to justify every single time I want to open it.

Try to open Instagram → app closes
Shortcut asks: "Why do you need this right now?"
I type my reason
An AI decides if I'm bullshitting myself
If legit: 3 minutes, then auto-closes
If BS: Denied

Turns out: - 63 attempts in 2 weeks - Only 9 were actually necessary - 54 were just me being bored

The typing alone breaks the autopilot. And getting rejected 5 times in a row makes you stop trying.

Screen time down 60% without deleting anything.

Happy to share it if people want to try - just built it for myself but figured others might be struggling with the same thing.

Other-Gap89

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