MarketMap for Technology Addiction: An Ultimate Guide of 100+ Apps & Software
Best Apps to Break Phone Addiction
Best Goal Trackers and Accountability Tools
Best Online Mental Health Platforms for Technology Addiction
Best Resources For Porn Addiction
Best Tools to Help Kids Reduce Screen Time
Technology addiction is ever-growing problem. In today’s digital age, the constant presence of technology can often lead to feelings of overwhelm, distraction, and disconnection from the present moment. Fortunately, growing number of mobile applications are available to help you cultivate a healthier relationship with technology and achieve digital wellness.
This market map aims to empower mental health consumers with insights into various app solutions tailored to address technology addiction and foster mindful tech usage. Whether you’re seeking tools to track screen time, establish boundaries, practice mindfulness, or connect with supportive communities, this guide offers a curated selection of apps and software to support you on yourjourney toward greater balance and well-being.
Each app featured in this market map has been carefully evaluated based on its features, user ratings, cost, evidence-based approaches, customization options, community support, integration capabilities, and user engagement strategies. Our goal is to provide you with valuable information to make informed decisions and find the apps that resonate most with your needs and preferences.
As you explore the diverse range of offerings in this market map, remember that technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing our lives when used mindfully and intentionally. We hope these apps serve as valuable resources in your quest for digital wellness.
Technology addiction is a global issue
Technology addiction, including phone addiction, social media addiction, and internet addiction, are on the rise around the globe. We’re spending more and more of our time online, and in many cases, this equates to less time spent together in person. Research shows that technology overuse and addiction may be contributing to isolation and loneliness within our society, in addition to mental health problems like depression.
These statistics show the gravity of the technology addiction problem in the world today:
- American adults spend over 4 hours per day using their cell phones. Teens spend over 8 hours per day, according to some reports.
- 900/o of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up.
- 1 in Steens say they’re on social media “almost constantly.”
- Over half of all Americans believe they are addicted to their phones.
- J in 3 people report that social media has an overall negative impact on their mental health.
- A research study found that at least 35% of people have internet addiction.
- Over 60 million people worldwide struggle with gaming addiction.
Best resources and tools to help you reduce compulsive technology use
To help combat the problem of technology addiction, we’ve put together a map of all the best online tools and resources to help you reduce compulsive technology use. These include:
- Apps and desktop software that limit or block screen distractions, including social media, browser tabs, and other apps
- Goal-tracking and accountability programs that help you implement healthy habits and be more mindful of how you’re spending your time
- • Online mental health platforms that provide therapeutic support to help you break technology addiction
- Programs and tools to help you overcome online pornography addiction, including some faith-based programs
- Parental control apps to help limit or reduce children’s screen
time To be included in this list, resources had to meet the following criteria:
- Available on iOS, Android, or for desktop download.
- Clear about being able to assist people specifically with technology addiction
Best apps to break phone addiction
These apps are designed specifically to help you reduce your screen time. Some may block or limit your ability to use apps during focus times, and others may track your overall screen time to help you make more informed decisions.
These resources are best for those who:
- Want to be more aware of how they spend their time online
- Need outside accountability to reduce screen time
- Like gamified experiences when working towards their goals
- BePresent
- Screentime
- Labs
- Aro
- Cold Turkey
- Forest
- Brick
- StayFocusd
- RescueTime
- Freedom
- Space
- Opal
- Offtime
- Off the grid
- ZenScreen
- Social Fever
- RealizD
- FocusMe
- Cleverest
- Siempo
- Antisocial
- Focus Lock
- One Sec
Best goal trackers and accountability tools
These apps and platforms help you implement healthy habits, whether that’s reducing screen time, exercising more, or being more productive. By setting concrete goals around what you want your daily life to look like, you can see more clearly how technology overuse may be getting in the way.
These resources are best for you if you:
- Need support managing your time so you don’t get stuck on your devices
- Often feel like you “waste” your time on technology
- Find yourself scrolling for hours each day and want to be more productive
- Have a clear vision of how you would plan your days if it weren’t for technology addiction
- Go Fucking Do It
- Clockwise
- Sunsama
- Motion
- StickK
- Beeminder
- Pavlok
- Strides
- The Fabulous
- Streaks
Best online mental health platforms for technology addiction
It may sound counterintuitive to seek mental health support online for internet addiction. But the following online platforms and programs make it easy to connect to mental health support by bringing it to where you’re already spending your time — on your devices.
Some of the resources in this category are individual therapy or coaching platforms, while others are “digital detox” communities where you can connect with others experiencing technology addiction.
These resources are best for you if you:
- Believe you have an addiction to your devices
- Have experienced other addiction issues, like drug and alcohol abuse, in the past
- Feel that technology overuse has worsened your overall mental health
- Want to connect with other people about the topic of technology addiction
- Have already tried to reduce screen time before by using other apps(and have been unsuccessful)
- BetterHelp
- Digital Detox
- Coach Me
- Healthy Garner
- Reset Summer Camp
- Phreedom
- Orpheus Pledge
- rTribe
- Digital Wellbeing by Google
- Lil Space
Best resources for porn addiction
These resources are specifically for those struggling with online pornography addiction. Porn addiction is a growing problem; experts estimate that around 7% of all people who watch online porn are addicted to it. Luckily, the following apps and online programs help people break porn addiction for good.
These apps and software options help you with porn addiction in variousways, including blocking porn sites on your browsers and connecting you with communities for accountability.
- Fortify
- Covenant Eyes
- Rewire
- Companion Ever
- Accountable
- Relay
- Brainbuddy
- Porn Addiction Calendar
- Remojo
- X3 Watch
- Purity Browser
Best tools to help kids reduce screen time
Lastly, we’ve included apps and software that help parents limit and/or monitor their children’s screen time. Research shows that young people are especially vulnerable to technology addiction, so it’s important to set boundaries in ways that work for your family.
- Oustodio
- Canopy
- Norton
- Family Bark
- FamiSafe
- Mobicip
- Net Nanny
- OurPact
- unGlue
- Screen
- Coach
- Familytime
- Flashget Kids
- M sPY
- Kidslox
What are the psychological efiectsof technology overuse?
While technology has brought innumerable benefits to our lives, overusing it can cause negative effects. Research has shown that some people become addicted to technology(like smartphones, social media, and online pornography).
Just as with drug and alcohol addiction, people with technology addiction aren’t able to stop using when they want to, and continue using even when technology is causing detrimental effects in their lives.
Technology addiction isn’t yet officially recognized as a mental health condition, but it has very real consequences. Research shows that people who are addicted to technology, especially social media, are more likely to face mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Technology overuse and ADHD also often appear together.
These resources are best for you if you:
- Body image problems
- Eating disorders
- Lowself-esteem
- Loneliness and isolation
- Problems with focus and attention
- Stress
- Decreased productivity
- Sleep disturbances
- Cyberbullying
- Muscle tension
- Eye strain
FAQs about technology addiction
Why is technology so addictive?
Using technology platforms like social media gives us a boost of dopamine to our brains; dopamine is the brain chemical that controls feelings of pleasure, reward, motivation, and more. We tend to want to repeat the behaviors that provide us with dopamine. Sometimes, this is healthy. For example, activities like exercise, sex, and acts of kindness increase dopamine levels.
But seeking dopamine can quickly become addictive. The same pathways that are involved in substance addiction come into play with technology addiction as well. The more dopamine you get from looking at a screen, the more motivated you feel to repeat the behavior (continue looking at the screen). Eventually, if you’re not mindful, this can become an addiction in which we’re continually returning to our devices in seek of the dopamine hit.
How many people are addicted to technology?
Because technology addiction hasn’t yet been officially defined as a mental health condition with a clear set of symptoms, it’s difficult to measure exactly how many people live with it. One study found that over 35% of people are addicted to the internet. In other reports, up to half of all adults have reported that they believe they are addicted to their phones.
How to help someone with a porn addiction?
If someone you love is addicted to online pornography, it can be painful for everyone involved. Supporting someone with online porn addiction typically involves offering non-judgmental encouragement, helping them access professional help or support groups, and encouraging healthy habits and alternative activities to reduce cravings. However, don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.
Is screen time bad for kids?
Excessive screen time can have negative effects on kids’ brain development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to 1 hour per weekday for children aged 2 to 6. For children aged 6 and up, they recommend promoting balanced use, focusing on educational content, and ensuring quality family time.
