cute funny and effective!!
edit after a week: i have found a loophole where after you watch an ad for a 10 minute screentime, the limit does not end unless you click on the app again. an update where shutting the app off after 10 minutes ends would be great.
Great app
Good app
AMAZING
App Controversy and Irony
Response from developer
Totally fair criticism! We actually like the “just a countdown” idea too. The reason we use ads is honestly simple: we wanted Barrier to stay free, and the ads help keep the lights on while we keep building the app. There’s also a bit of intentional irony to it. A countdown is already annoying, but having to watch an ad before opening TikTok makes it an even bigger deterrent from doomscrolling. Weirdly enough, that extra friction actually helps a lot of people. And to be fully upfront: yes, the ads make money. We’re okay with that as long as the app is genuinely helping people while staying free to use. Also, a secret that might make this better for you: if you turn on airplane mode before opening a blocked app, the ads can’t load, so you’ll just get the 30 second countdown.
