MeBeMe’s new ‘interrupter’ app helps you become your best self instead of doomscrolling - TechCrunch

What the report says

TechCrunch reports that MeBeMe, a new iOS app from creator Eric Wolfram, is positioning itself as an “interrupter” for people trying to cut down on doomscrolling. Instead of preventing access to social apps or locking users out of their phones, MeBeMe sends short prompts meant to redirect attention toward offline or constructive habits.

The app asks users to choose the kind of person they want to act more like, such as a lifelong learner, athlete, chess player, gardener or classics reader. It then delivers brief “missions” tied to those identities, such as spending a few minutes with educational material or seeking out a book club or lecture. TechCrunch says the app includes more than 75 identity options across areas including mind, body, relationships and home interests, and users can follow more than one at the same time.

Users can set how frequently they receive prompts, from daily reminders to less frequent notifications. A feature called “Break Your Scroll” can use Siri to read messages aloud. Wolfram originally made the app for his son, according to TechCrunch, before finding it useful for himself as well.

The launch comes as app makers experiment with tools aimed at reducing compulsive phone use and social media overconsumption. TechCrunch reports that MeBeMe is free on iOS, has no ads or subscriptions, does not require an account, keeps user data on the device and lets people disable anonymous usage-data sharing. An Android version is planned, though no release timing was specified in the supplied article.