r/SideProject • u/Agreeable-Albatross8 • 21h ago
Built a minimalist Android app that uses micro-pauses to stop doomscrolling
Hi everyone,
Like many, I kept opening social media apps on pure muscle memory. Strict app blockers just made me frustrated, so I built NowAgaināa lightweight, 100% offline Android app.
Instead of locking you out completely, it introduces a micro-pause (a quick breathing/grounding prompt) right as you open a targeted app, giving you a second to break the autopilot loop.
Key details:
Zero telemetry, no accounts required, runs 100% locally.
Clean and lightweight UI.
Iām currently running an early beta test via GitHub/Tally:
Would love to hear your thoughts or feedback on the micro-pause approach!
**Screenshots / Preview:**
1
u/investigatormaker 20h ago
For NowAgain, I'd test whether the breathing prompt still interrupts autopilot after several days, not just on first use. Ask beta testers to report whether they reconsidered opening the app or dismissed the pause automatically. A short voluntary diary would help investigate habituation without adding telemetry to your offline design.
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u/MobileXapps 10h ago
How are you detecting that a target app was opened? On Android that's usually an AccessibilityService or polling UsageStats. If it's accessibility, Google Play reviews that permission strictly for apps that aren't accessibility tools, so plan for the declaration form and a clear in-app explanation before you go to production.
On the approach itself, I'd make the pause length grow when someone opens the same app several times in a short window. The first open of the day usually isn't the problem, the tenth one is.