It’s no secret that smartphones can feel incredibly addictive, and sometimes, at the most inconvenient times, you open an app and feel like you can’t get off.
On smartphones like iPhones, you’ll be suddenly made aware of your ‘screen time,’ or how long you’ve spent actively using your phone and a specific app. It can be quite startling or upsetting when you notice that you’ve spent so many hours in your day using your phone, and for many people, that time is sucked up by ‘addictive’ apps. We spoke with tech expert Mitchell Cookson, co-founder of AI Tools Inc., about four “highly addictive” apps you should consider deleting immediately if you’re struggling to lower your screen time. Read more about them below.
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1. TikTok
TikTok has become one of the most popular apps on the planet, with people relying on it around the world for entertainment, news, and more. It's gone way beyond the point of just people dancing or lip-syncing to music in short videos. Now, people can post up to ten-minute vlogs, news outlets can upload full reports, and some people have even begun uploading long clips from movies, making it all the easier to get sucked into it.
Cookson calls TikTok "the master of infinite scroll."
"Its algorithm is incredibly good at learning patterns and will constantly feed you what you like most," he continues. "The videos are short, so there is no friction to keep watching. You get a constant, unpredictable stream of new content, which makes your brain want to keep scrolling the slot machine for the next hit."
2. Instagram
Instagram is very similar to TikTok, as it's a lot more than a platform that just shares pictures. Users can easily spend 30 minutes to several hours a day scrolling through photos, videos, carousel posts, stories, and more. Additionally, it can also be satisfying for people to post to Instagram.
"Stories, reels, and endless notifications from this app eventually create a constant cycle of checking in, without realizing how much time is lost," says Cookson. "The core issue here is the social validation loop. You post something and then log in constantly for comments and likes."
3. Free Mobile Games
While they may n ot be just as popular as certain social media apps, some people struggle to get through a day without playing a particular game on their smartphone. Free game apps like Candy Crush, Subway Surfers, and more, which are usually available to download for free, offer addictive game strategies and numerous levels to keep you wanting more every time you play.
"These games are expertly engineered to keep you hooked for endless hours," explains Cookson. "Daily rewards and time-gated energy are designed to turn a simple login into a longer session. These games create a powerful fear of missing out on a reward you have earned just by logging in."
4. YouTube
YouTube is another website and app that has shifted and changed a lot over the years, as now you can watch full-length movies, episodes of television shows, high-quality content from creators, livestreams, and more. Therefore, you can easily spend hours on YouTube if you want to. Plus, it has an auto-play function that simply keeps the content coming, making it harder for you to exit.
"The auto-play function and recommended videos make YouTube a huge time sink for a lot of people," says Cookson. "It is almost impossible to stop at one video once you log in. What feels like a quick watch can easily turn into an unintended marathon."
