Transform Your Phone Habits with Intenty

Understanding the Problem

Intentional phone usage is a complex habit to break. Platforms like iOS and Android, along with social media networks like Instagram and TikTok, have introduced timers and controls. However, we still find ourselves unlocking our phones out of habit without a clear purpose. This was the problem that inspired Yaroslav Neznaradko to create the Intenty app.

Neznaradko himself faced the issue in 2019 when he spent excessive time on his phone. He tried traditional methods like screen time limits and app blockers but found them ineffective. This led him to the idea of making users state and evaluate their intentions before using the phone.

The Initial Version and Its Limitations

In 2020, Neznaradko released an initial version of the Intenty app. It was limited to asking users one question about why they were unlocking their devices. He also developed an iOS version but faced limitations on that platform. The project stalled until 2023.

Last year, he rebranded the app as Intenty and focused on the Android version. He initially tried a chat styled interface to ask users about their intentions when unlocking the phone, but it didn't gain much traction.

Redesigned for Customization

This summer, Neznaradko released a redesigned version of the Intenty app that allows users to customize nudges. Users can select from various categories such as Intention, Necessity, Grounding, Posture, and Minimalism. Each category has a set of prompts, and users can even add their own.

While users have the option to swipe out of the nudge screen to avoid entering a reason, this defeats the purpose of the app. The app also allows users to set a cooldown time to prevent nudges from appearing immediately after locking the phone. Additionally, users can set the intensity of nudge pop-ups, choosing to have them appear on every 2nd, 3rd, 5th, or 10th unlock.

Tracking and Insights

The Intenty app keeps a history of users' answer logs and the number of times they unlock their phones over time. This provides valuable insights into users' phone usage patterns.

Free vs. Premium Features

The Intenty app is free to use. However, for additional features like scheduling nudges, a hard mode that forces users to enter a reason, and a lock button to lock the phone from the nudge screen, users can pay $1.99 per month.

Comparing with Other Apps

There are other apps available that help reduce screen time, such as One Sec, which shows exercises or actions when opening a social media app, and Minimalist Screen Time, which limits the functionality of the phone. Each app offers unique features to help users manage their phone usage.

Future Developments

Neznaradko is continuously working on improving the Intenty app. He is exploring ways to create reminders or pop-ups during long phone usage sessions to prevent overuse. He is also looking at ways to address fatigue from nudges and automatically refresh prompt content.

In the long term, he plans to add image or video nudges to enhance the user experience and provide more engaging ways to interact with the app.