Yale Students Launch Scroll Toll App to Curb Screen Time

Three students from Yale University have developed an innovative app called Scroll Toll to help users reduce their screen time while also encouraging charitable donations. Launched in November 2023, the app allows users to set personal limits on their app usage. Once users exceed these limits, Scroll Toll prompts them to make a donation to a charity selected by the app.

The initiative is the brainchild of students Asher Barondes (class of 2026), Benjamin Siegel (class of 2029), and Chase Reynders (class of 2026). Barondes, who oversees the app’s interface and marketing, explained that the aim was to create “more friction” to encourage users to spend less time on their devices. He stated, “We recognized that one way to do so is by having some money tied to it. But at least if you exceeded your screen time limit, you would be contributing to some social good.”

Upon downloading the app, users can establish time limits for specific applications and choose an amount to donate for each time they surpass those limits. For example, a user might opt to donate $0.25 for every additional five minutes spent on Instagram. The app then offers users the choice to either set up automatic donations or donate manually, allowing flexibility in how they manage their contributions.

Siegel compared the app’s functionality to “congestion pricing” in urban environments, noting that behavior change often requires a tangible balance between financial implications and personal habits.

The collaboration among the three founders began when Barondes and Siegel, who met through mutual friends, discovered they were both independently working on similar projects aimed at minimizing screen time. They quickly brought Reynders into the fold to enhance their efforts.

The app’s origins were influenced by Siegel’s personal experiences during a gap year, where he gained significant social media traction through an account called @boys.with.the.bus, documenting adventures with friends. With two million followers, Siegel reflected on how posting content made him aware of the vast amount of time people spend online. He expressed a desire to foster a healthier relationship with technology, stating, “Through Scroll Toll, I hope to provide users with structure and discipline for screen time and social media usage.”

Since its launch, Scroll Toll has garnered initial interest among Yale students. By January 2024, the app had attracted 130 users, with early feedback indicating an average reduction in screen time of 20% to 30% among its first 65 users.

User experiences have varied. For instance, Evan Daneker, a user who lives with Reynders, has been donating to American Forests, a non-profit focused on forest restoration. Daneker appreciated Scroll Toll’s approach, which does not force users into an all-or-nothing scenario, unlike other screen time management apps. He noted that allowing users to set and override limits makes the app more user-friendly and encourages gradual changes in behavior.

Another user, Sofia Jacobson, shared her insights on how Scroll Toll helped her establish realistic screen time limits without the pressure of constantly requesting more time. She particularly noted that the app prompted her to reconsider her phone habits, especially during moments of “mindless scrolling.”

The app’s founders are continually exploring ways to enhance their offering. Plans are underway to improve partnerships with charities and create monthly challenges, such as featuring organizations related to breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

While the creators acknowledge that not every user will respond to the financial incentive model, they remain optimistic about their target audience. Reynders stated, “At the end of the day, you can always delete the app. We’re really trying to be intentional about our audience. We know this isn’t for everybody, but we also believe the people it is for, it really is for.”

As Scroll Toll continues to evolve, its founders hope to inspire a more balanced approach to screen time, merging digital wellness with meaningful contributions to society.