WeWardan app that rewards users for logging their steps is launching a feature called “Walking Mode” that allows users to limit their use of select apps until they reach a certain number of steps. The feature is supposed to encourage people to walk while also helping them reduce their screen time, if that’s something they want to do.
If a user wants to scroll less on TikTok or Instagram while still making sure to make time for a daily walk, they could limit app access until they walk 3,000 steps, for example. Step goals and locked apps are customizable.
Until now, WeWard has encouraged users to take a ride by rewarding them with “Wards,” an in-app currency that can be exchanged for cash, gift cards or donations. There is also a gamified leaderboard feature so you can engage in some gentle competition with your friends. However, adding screen time reduction features makes sense for the app, as many users are looking for new ways to cut down on unnecessary phone and social media use.
Funded by tennis star and angel investor Venus Williams, the France-based app says it has 30 million users in 29 countries, including 4 million in the US. The platform also says it has been proven to increase walking time by almost 25%.
“We believe the next generation of products should be designed to create healthier behaviors in the real world, not just to get more attention,” WeWard co-founder Yves Benchimol told TechCrunch. “Walking Mode is our contribution to that vision and we hope it inspires a broader conversation about thoughtful design and how the industry defines success.”
WeWard says users only spend a few minutes a day on the app, which it sees as a positive statistic since the app isn’t trying to monopolize attention.
While some rewards apps fund their payouts by collecting and selling user data to third parties, WeWard says it does not engage in these practices. Instead, it makes money from in-app purchases, affiliate marketing, premium subscriptions, and advertising.
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