Breaking the cycle of mindless phone use is difficult, even with features like timers and controls offered by Android, iOS, or social media platforms. Ukrainian developer Yaroslav Neznaradko has introduced a solution with Intenty, a free Android app aimed at disrupting habitual phone unlocking.
Each time a user unlocks their phone, Intenty asks them to state the reason for unlocking or perform an action like breathing or stretching. Neznaradko, who began contemplating the issue of phone addiction in 2019 due to his excessive phone usage, initially tried screen time limits, focus modes, and app blockers, but found them frustrating. This inspired the idea to make users evaluate their intention before using their phone.
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The first version of Intenty launched in 2020, asking users only why they were unlocking their phones. Despite releasing an iOS version later, it faced limitations that stalled development until 2023. This year, after researching human-computer interaction, Neznaradko launched a redesigned version with customizable nudges, allowing users to choose from categories such as Intention, Necessity, Grounding, Posture, and Minimalism, each with various prompts. Custom categories and prompts can also be added.
Though users can bypass the nudge screen with a swipe, this undermines the app’s purpose. A cooldown timer prevents immediate nudges after locking, which is particularly useful when awaiting replies. Users can adjust the nudge frequency, setting them to appear on every 2nd, 3rd, 5th, or 10th unlock. The app also tracks unlock history and answer logs.
While Intenty is free, additional features are available through a $1.99 monthly subscription, unlocking scheduled nudges, a mandatory-entry “hard mode”, and a lock button directly on the nudge screen.
