Paul Englishknown for founding the popular travel search engine Kayak, has launched a new app that promises to change the way we use social media. Is called Steppin and offers an innovative approach to encouraging people to reduce time spent in front of the screen, linking it to physical activity.
The idea is simple: for Unblock access to social media apps like Instagram or TikTok, users must reach a certain number of daily steps. This concept, developed by Paul English together with his son Michael and girlfriend Rachel Cohen during a holiday in Spain, was born from the awareness of how much time was wasted on phones, even in a natural and evocative context.
Steppin allows users to establish how many steps are needed for each minute of use of the chosen social network. For example, you can set 100 steps to equal one minute of time on TikTok. If necessary, you can temporarily bypass the app lock.
You can restrict access to other apps like Netflix or games
While the initial target audience was Gen Z, English emphasized that the app is useful for all age. Many parents, in fact, are thrilled at the idea of being able to control the time their children spend online, but even adults admit that they have difficulty detaching themselves from their devices.
The app, currently free, plans for an annual subscription in the futurethe estimated cost of which will be around 20 dollars. Steppin isn’t limited to social media – it also allows you to limit access to other apps like Netflix or games. The app will also evolve to include other physical activities, such as yoga, to earn minutes of online time.
To make the experience even more engaging, Steppin will integrate a component of gamificationwith a ranking among friends to see who uses social media less and walks more. There will also be a system that allows you to monitor the use of the app over timemotivating users to maintain a good habit.
Initially available on iOSthe app will soon be accessible for Android users too. Steppin represents a creative response to the growing problem of screen addiction, promoting a more active and conscious lifestyle.
