Get paid to limit social media time: Portland startup’s app monitors usage and gives rewards

If you’ve already tried everything to reduce the amount of time you spend scrolling on social media, perhaps a Portland startup has the motivator to finally get your attention, or, more accurately, limit your attention — money.

Dayo officially launched a new app Monday that rewards people for staying off those others apps — Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. By limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day, users can earn financial rewards redeemable for special pricing on products from participating brand partners.

The app runs in the background and monitors a user’s social media consumption, sending reminders to encourage “mindful engagement.” If you can keep social time under a half hour, it’s good for $5 toward products from such brands as JBL, Rumpl, Ruff, and Yeti. Earned rewards accumulate in a Dayo wallet and can be applied toward purchases within the app’s marketplace, up to 40% off on selected products.

Users who go over 30 minutes will start to see money deducting from the $5 daily total.

It’s all an answer to limiting the effects of apps and algorithms designed to keep us hooked for countless hours, and Dayo launches during an increased time of concern over excessive screen time and social media use by young people. The startup cites research from the American Psychological Association that suggests limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day can have neutral to positive effects on mental health.

“We’re witnessing the first generation raised entirely on social media, and the consequences are devastating,” Dayo co-founder and CEO Corey Scholibo said. “These platforms weren’t designed to connect us — they were designed to extract maximum profit from our attention, regardless of the societal cost. At Dayo, we’re aiming to reduce that trend by rewarding folks for staying offline.”

Dayo generates revenue from its brand partnerships.

The startup, co-founded by COO Patrick Triato, is bootstrapped and the founders have funded most of the work. Dayo received two institutional investments as winners of the Oregon Entrepreneur Network’s 2024 Tech Prize and the City Of Beaverton 2024 Startup Challenge.

Future updates for the platform are expected to include additional features such as peer-to-peer rewards and a Dayo debit card designed to enhance user earnings.

Dayo employs eight people.