Dayo: The App Revolutionizing Social Media Use with Financial Rewards for Mindful Engagement
A Portland-based startup has launched an innovative solution to combat excessive social media usage by offering financial incentives to users who limit their screen time. The new app, called Dayo, monitors users’ social media activity and rewards them with monetary benefits for maintaining their daily usage under 30 minutes.
The application runs quietly in the background, tracking time spent on popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and Snapchat. Users who successfully keep their social media engagement below the half-hour threshold can earn $5 daily, which accumulates in a dedicated Dayo wallet. These earnings can then be used to purchase products at discounted rates of up to 40% off from participating brands, including JBL, Rumpl, Ruff, and Yeti.
To encourage responsible usage, the app sends notifications to promote mindful engagement with social media platforms. However, users who exceed the 30-minute limit will see their daily rewards gradually decrease, providing additional motivation to stay within the prescribed time frame.
The launch comes at a crucial time when concerns about social media’s impact on mental health, particularly among young people, are mounting. Dayo’s approach is supported by American Psychological Association research, which indicates that limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day can have neutral to positive effects on mental well-being.
According to Dayo CEO and co-founder Corey Scholibo, the initiative addresses a pressing social issue. “We’re witnessing the first generation raised entirely on social media, and the consequences are devastating,” he explained. Scholibo emphasizes that social media platforms are designed to maximize profit from user attention, often at the expense of societal well-being. Dayo aims to counter this trend by incentivizing reduced online engagement.
The startup, co-founded with COO Patrick Triato, has primarily relied on bootstrap funding, with the founders financing most of the development. The company has received additional support through institutional investments after winning both the Oregon Entrepreneur Network’s 2024 Tech Prize and the City of Beaverton 2024 Startup Challenge.
Dayo’s business model generates revenue through its brand
partnerships, and the company currently employs eight people. The platform’s roadmap includes plans for future enhancements, such as the introduction of peer-to-peer rewards and a specialized Dayo debit card designed to increase users’ earning potential.
This initiative represents a novel approach to addressing social media addiction, combining financial motivation with mental health benefits. By offering tangible rewards for reduced screen time, Dayo provides users with a practical incentive to modify their social media consumption habits. The app’s monitoring system ensures accountability while maintaining user privacy, and the rewards program creates a positive reinforcement cycle for healthier online behavior.
The startup’s launch reflects growing awareness of the need for solutions to excessive social media use, particularly as research continues to highlight the potential negative impacts of prolonged engagement with these platforms. By creating a system that rewards users for mindful consumption rather than endless scrolling, Dayo is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, mental health, and consumer behavior modification.
Through its innovative approach, Dayo is not only addressing a significant social issue but also creating a sustainable business model that benefits both users and brand partners. The platform’s focus on positive reinforcement through financial incentives could provide a blueprint for future initiatives aimed at promoting healthier digital habits.
