By Kylee Botten
The rise of technology has been taking the world by storm. The recent uproars in AI like ChatGPT use have been a topic of conversation widely. We all know what AI and technology are, but we don’t know the full extent as to how these are going to affect our health in the future. There have been studies on the use of technology in children, which have shown that there is a decrease in attention span, downturn in social interactions, growing mental health concerns, and more that we don’t know yet.
I personally struggle every day with keeping my attention on schoolwork or interactions. The urge to scroll on TikTok or Instagram is constant. I am growing up in a time where technology has progressed significantly. So, the other day I was curious as to what type of apps I could get on my phone that could help me stay focused on my schoolwork and stop me from picking up my phone every two seconds.
One of the most successful apps that topped charts for a while at the end of last year when it was created was “Focus Friend” created by Hank Green. When you first open the app, you are presented with a pinto bean that has a cute little face. You then name your bean, and they are plopped in an empty room. The goal is to decorate the room, but to do that, your bean needs to focus, and for that to happen, you need to stay off your phone. Whether you are watching a movie, doing homework, or hanging with friends, all you do is set a timer on the app and let your bean get to work. This comes with the option to turn off access to all your apps. The bean then knits while you are off your phone, creating socks and scarves. If you make it till the end of your timer, you can claim all the socks – but if you go on your phone and stop the timer, all the knitting unravels. The fun part is you then get to use the socks to pay for decorations for your room! If you want a different type of bean, you can also pay through the app for all the different beans they offer.
I love the idea of this app! I love the feature where it blocks all my apps, so I don’t have the urge to go on my phone. Then when I am done with my task, I am rewarded by being able to customize a cute little room. I think that the way Hank Green has tackled this problem is ingenious and so fun! So, if you are needing something to help you get through the rest of the semester and lock in, download “Focus Bean” on the app store and start focusing!