A Creative Solution to Excessive Screen Time

If you struggle with endless social media scrolling and want to increase your daily activity, a new feature from the fitness app WeWard might be the solution. Backed by tennis icon Venus Williams, the French app has officially rolled out a "walking mode" designed to bridge the gap between digital habits and physical health.


How the Walking Mode Works

The core concept of this feature is simple: it gamifies your movement by locking specific apps on your phone—such as TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube—until you have completed a personalized number of steps. In essence, users must "earn" their screen time through physical activity.

Key features of the system include:

  • Customizable Goals: Users can set their own daily step targets directly within the app settings.
  • Automatic Reset: Progress clears at midnight, allowing for a fresh start each day.
  • Connectivity: The app integrates seamlessly with wearable technology, including the Apple Watch and platforms like Apple Health.
  • Flexibility: While designed to encourage movement, the walking mode can be toggled off by the user whenever necessary.

The Broader Context of Digital Wellness

The push to reduce "doomscrolling" has led to a surge in digital wellness tools. While Apple’s native Screen Time settings and third-party solutions like Screen Zen or physical "focus" gadgets have gained popularity, WeWard differentiates itself by directly linking physical exertion to digital access. According to the company, since its launch, users have increased their daily walking volume by nearly 25% on average.


Privacy and Business Model

With a user base of 30 million people across 29 countries, WeWard emphasizes that it does not sell user data. Instead, the company generates revenue through advertisements, affiliate partnerships, in-app purchases, and premium ad-free subscriptions. Regarding the motivation behind the app, CEO and co-founder Yves Benchimol stated: «Our goal has always been focused on motivating real-world behavior and improving our users' well-being.»