Social mediaOne headline leads to the next, and suddenly it's midnight
A pause when you open the app, not after.
Offimo does not interrupt the scroll once you are inside an app. It works at the opening: access is held for a few seconds and you choose to close the app or go in.
- What it does, and what it doesn't: A pause at the app's door, Night hours, The news app stays on your phone, A rule set in advance
- Getting started: Download Offimo, Pick your apps, Let the pause work
Doomscrolling, strictly, is scrolling bad news you can't put down. The feed has no last page, and the next headline might be the one that changes something, so the thumb keeps going.
Offimo doesn't interrupt the scroll once you're inside. It works at the opening: when you try to open a protected app, access is held for a few seconds and the screen offers Close app or Ask for access. The guide on the blog covers what helps most, with the studies.
What it does, and what it doesn't
A pause at the app's door
A few seconds to choose between going in and going back to what you were doing.
Night hours
If the scroll gets away from you at night, protection can apply only after a certain hour.
The news app stays on your phone
You don't have to delete anything. What changes is walking in without noticing.
A rule set in advance
According to Allcott, Gentzkow and Song (2022), people who fixed limits on their own future use used social media less.
Getting started
- 1
Download Offimo
Install from the App Store and finish the initial setup.
- 2
Pick your apps
Choose which apps and sites deserve a pause before they open. Change it whenever you like.
- 3
Let the pause work
Next time you tap the icon, the pause appears, and the decision is yours again.
Frequently asked questions
Does Offimo stop the scroll in the middle of the feed?
No. It works at the opening of the app, not at every video or headline once you're inside.
Why isn't cutting my time enough?
According to Allcott, Gentzkow and Song (2022), 31% of social media use came from self-control problems. A rule set in advance helped more than willpower spent in the middle of the feed.
Do I have to delete social media?
No. You can keep the apps on your phone and put them behind the pause.
How long until the reflex fades?
There's no timeline measured for the average person. In the one sec study, attempts to open apps were 37% lower in week six than in week one.
See also
Read more on this topic
Social media
Digital detox
Digital detox
