WeWard, Backed by Venus Williams, Locks Apps Until You Walk
▼ Summary
– WeWard is launching “Walking Mode,” a feature that lets users lock chosen apps until they reach a customizable step goal, aiming to motivate walking and reduce screen time.
– The app previously rewarded users with “Wards,” an in-app currency exchangeable for cash, gift cards, or donations, and includes a gamified leaderboard for competition.
– Backed by Venus Williams, WeWard has 30 million users across 29 countries, with 4 million in the U.S., and reports a 25% increase in user walking time.
– WeWard states that users spend only a few minutes daily in the app, as it is designed not to monopolize attention but to promote healthier real-world behaviors.
– Unlike some rewards apps, WeWard does not sell user data to third parties; it generates revenue through in-app purchases, affiliate marketing, premium subscriptions, and advertising.
WeWard, the walking rewards app backed by tennis icon Venus Williams, is introducing a new feature called “Walking Mode” that lets people lock certain apps until they reach a daily step goal. The idea is to nudge users toward healthier movement habits while simultaneously cutting down on screen time.
Here is how it works. If a user wants to spend less time on TikTok or Instagram but struggles to squeeze in a daily walk, they can set the app to block access to those platforms until they have walked, for instance, 3,000 steps. Users have full control over which apps get locked and what step target triggers their release.
Until now, WeWard’s primary incentive was rewarding users with “Wards,” an in-app currency redeemable for cash, gift cards, or charitable donations. The app also features a gamified leaderboard for friendly competition among friends. Adding screen time reduction tools feels like a natural evolution, given how many people are actively searching for ways to curb excessive phone and social media usage.
The France-based company reports it has 30 million users across 29 countries, including 4 million in the United States. WeWard also claims its platform has increased walking time by nearly 25%.
“We believe the next generation of products should be designed to create healthier behaviors in the real world, not simply capture more attention,” said Yves Benchimol, co-founder of WeWard. “Walking Mode is our contribution to that vision, and we hope it inspires a broader conversation about mindful design and how the industry defines success.”
WeWard emphasizes that users spend only a few minutes per day inside the app, a statistic the company considers positive because the platform is not designed to monopolize attention.
Unlike some rewards apps that fund payouts by collecting and selling user data to third parties, WeWard says it does not engage in those practices. Instead, it generates revenue through in-app purchases, affiliate marketing, premium subscriptions, and advertising.
(Source: TechCrunch)
