# Add friction to addictive apps

Practice ID: 27
Topic: `attention` (attention: Boundaries that protect focus, presence, and deliberate use from digital pull.)
Added: 2026-09-01
Journey entry point: `reset` (Reduce the strongest default pulls and regain enough space to choose deliberately.)
Start with: `setup` (setup)
Supports: `deliberate-technology-use` (deliberate technology use; group: `daily-life` / My attention and daily life)

## Pattern

A small delay can create enough space to notice and reconsider a reflexive app opening.

## Practice

Place an intentional obstacle before high-pull apps, such as an app lock, hidden location, sign-out, or removal from the phone.

## Start small

Require authentication before opening the app you reach for most automatically.

## Watch out

Friction must not block urgent communication, accessibility, safety, or essential work.

## Concepts

- [intentional friction](https://live.freewith.tech/concepts/intentional-friction.md): A small obstacle creates time to reconsider an automatic digital action.
- [phone dumbification](https://live.freewith.tech/concepts/phone-dumbification.md): Deliberately reduce a smartphone to chosen roles so it behaves like a focused utility.

## Positions

See how these practices fit together: [End the feed](https://live.freewith.tech/by/ending-the-feed.md).

## Related videos

- [not a detox. a redesign of how you use tech](https://fwt.wtf/slow-your-scroll-video?utm_source=live.freewith.tech)

## Continue

- [See more in attention.](https://live.freewith.tech/?topic=attention#practices)
- [Journey](https://live.freewith.tech/journey.md)
- [Concepts](https://live.freewith.tech/concepts.md)
- [Complete agent-readable database](https://live.freewith.tech/llms.txt)