JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mobile apps are a popular strategy or intervention to reduce maladaptive mobile phone use (MMPU). There have been some previous attempts to understand the features of apps that have the potential to reduce phone use and MMPU. A critical gap in the literature is a comprehensive examination of the effectiveness of such apps and their acceptability.

Objective:

This paper examined the existing apps to prevent MMPU and the evidence of their efficacy. In addition, users’ perceptions of the apps and the various features offered are analysed to understand the acceptability of the apps.

Methods:

This study involved a combination of methods: a review of scientific evidence, content analysis, and sentiment analysis.

Results:

We extracted features and classified them into seven types: self-tracking, social tracking, goal setting, blocking, gamification, simplification, and assessment. According to academic literature, the apps that reduce phone use and MMPU level have varied evidence of effectiveness ranging from low to strong. Specifically, the intervention strategies of the 11 apps include grayscale, app limit, and mixed intervention. Based on content analysis, the most frequently available features are self-tracking and goal-setting, and the least frequent are gamification and assessment. The sentiment score ranges from 61 to 86, which means that users tend to accept those apps to reduce phone use and MMPU.

Conclusions:

The present study shows that app-based mobile phone use management can reduce phone use and MMPU