ScrollBump is an iOS app built to cut doomscrolling and reduce unconscious screen time by inserting short, intentional, unskippable pauses during prolonged scrolling sessions. Rather than just tracking usage or setting hard limits, it actively interrupts your scrolling so you have to stop and reflect before continuing use.

It works like this:

You install it on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18+.
You set rules based on time of day, location, or specific apps you want to target.
When you hit a threshold you’ve defined (e.g., X minutes in social apps), the app puts up a mandatory break you can’t bypass immediately, forcing a pause in the automatic behavior.
You can allow exceptions (like on your commute) via location-aware scheduling so it doesn’t block everything all the time.

This isn’t a full app lockdown — it’s designed to add friction to the autopilot loop rather than completely lock you out. Because of that, it’s positioned between passive screen-time trackers and strict blockers: it forces pause and awareness instead of just showing numbers or preventing access entirely.

How it’s different from typical screen-time tools:

doesn’t just show usage stats — it actively interrupts scrolling with enforced pauses.
doesn’t lock apps entirely and block access hard — you can still use them after the break if needed.
supports custom break rules triggered by time, schedule, and location.

People who’ve discussed it online emphasize this focus on breaking the automatic hook rather than just blocking to force willpower — that’s the key logic: make scrolling annoying enough to think before you act.

In short: ScrollBump is a behavior-change tool that forces micro-pauses during scrolling to turn unconscious phone use into a conscious choice, helping reduce screen time and doomscrolling without brutal lockdowns.

Mental Health

ScrollBump: Reduce Screen Time