Want to stop scrolling? New app by and for McMaster students aims to curb device time
CBC
Ryan Tse, a third-year medical student at Hamilton's McMaster University, says he finds himself on his phone, scrolling through social media, "at least" a few hours a day.
"It's probably more than I'd like," says Tse, 25.
He uses social media for entertainment, contacting people, staying in touch and catching up on the news.
He and others his age feel almost obliged to be present on social media, he said, but many also find that requirement exhausting and comes at a cost to other aspects of his life such as studying.
To help remedy this, he recently started using LockIn, a new app developed by McMaster students that temporarily blocks phone apps and rewards users based on how long LockIn is turned on.
Rewards include discounts at real-life venues near the university, such as The Westdale or Pita Pit, the founders told CBC Hamilton.
It's also free to download so more people can access it, they said.
The app was launched in October and already has about 3,500 users, who are using it for two hours a day on average, said co-founder Simone D'Amico, 22, a recent graduate of McMaster's psychology, neuroscience and behaviour program.
He came from Italy to study at McMaster and is now researching digital health for McGill University.
It is targeted at McMaster students, with many of the reward partners located in Hamilton's Westdale neighbourhood, but anyone is welcome to use it, say its creators.
They plan to expand the roll-out of the app to other cities and post-secondary institutions over time.
"Problematic phone usage has an impact on our attention and our health," said D'Amico. "Social media works exactly like a slot machine. Every time you open your phone, you are looking for something new, and you can't stop doing that because you want some novelty."
His partners in the company are Giulia Violati, an Italy-based masters of business administration student, and Kyle Fernandes, who grew up in Hamilton and is in his fourth year of an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
Fernandes said his team was motivated by research that showed members of Gen Z use their phones for more than seven hours a day on average, which adds up to 109 days a year.
A Nova Scotia bird rescue has had to stop accepting new surrenders, as animal rescues in the province deal with increasing demand for their services.
Kwanzaa decorations in New Brunswick have to make a long journey to get to the province.
Stream This is Saskatchewan (formerly Good Question, Saskatchewan) on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
From construction and demolition waste to old mattresses and furniture, officials in Surrey and Vancouver want residents to put waste in its place rather than dumping it in green spaces, ditches or other inappropriate spaces.
Redevelopment of Windsor's Riverfront Festival Plaza has been discussed for years, but now there's a recommended design — and its estimated price tag is $20 million.
A little more than a year ago, Alberta's environment minister wrote to municipalities, asking them to find ways to use less water in light of a looming drought.
Thunder Bay residents may want to keep their umbrellas handy if they're heading out this weekend.
Ryan Tse, a third-year medical student at Hamilton's McMaster University, says he finds himself on his phone, scrolling through social media, "at least" a few hours a day.
As Prince Edward Island's first significant snow of the season touched ground on the Island, so did Jason Bowie.
With over a hundred Yellowknife homes in the race for best holiday lights this year, a former city mayor recalls light displays being much simpler 20 years ago.
An investigation by Indian officials that alleges dozens of Canadian colleges and universities might be linked to a scheme of illegally ferrying students across the Canada-U.S. border reveals the "staggering" extent to which holes in the immigration system can be exploited, some experts say.