Product Introduction

1. Dayo is a free mobile application that incentivizes users to reduce social media usage by offering financial rewards for staying under 30 minutes of daily screen time on tracked platforms. Users earn up to $5 per day, which can be redeemed for discounts on products from over 100 brand partners in the Dayo marketplace. The app operates on iOS and tracks usage without collecting personal data or engagement metrics.
2. The core value of Dayo lies in reversing the traditional attention economy model by compensating users for reclaiming their time from social media platforms. It combines behavioral nudges with tangible financial incentives to promote healthier digital habits while maintaining user privacy. The app’s revenue model relies on brand partnerships rather than data monetization, aligning user and corporate interests.

Main Features

1. Dayo tracks daily social media usage across major platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter), and Snapchat, providing real-time updates on screen time. Users earn $5 daily by staying under 30 minutes, with incremental deductions of ~3.33 cents per minute for exceeding the limit, capped at a minimum $1 reward for the first 30 minutes.
2. Earned rewards are stored as "Dayo dollars" in a digital wallet and can be applied to discounts of up to 80% on products from brands like JBL, Yeti, and La Creuset in the Dayo marketplace. Discounts are automatically applied at checkout, requiring no manual coupon codes or complex redemption processes.
3. The app operates in the background without monitoring user activity details (posts, interactions, or content), ensuring privacy compliance. It includes tools for blocking social media access after daily limits are reached and provides mental health resources to support habit formation.

Problems Solved

1. Dayo addresses the negative mental health impacts of excessive social media use, which the American Psychological Association links to reduced well-being beyond 30 minutes daily. By enforcing this threshold, the app mitigates screen-time-induced anxiety, distraction, and productivity loss.
2. The target user group includes individuals aged 18-35 who recognize their social media overuse but struggle with self-regulation. It also appeals to privacy-conscious users seeking alternatives to ad-driven platforms that monetize personal data.
3. Typical use cases involve users setting daily limits to avoid endless scrolling during work breaks, commutes, or bedtime. Parents may use it to model balanced screen habits for teens, while professionals leverage it to minimize distractions during focused work sessions.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike screen-time tracking apps that only provide usage analytics, Dayo uniquely combines financial incentives with behavioral limits. Competitors like Freedom or StayFocusd lack monetary rewards and brand partnerships, making Dayo’s value proposition distinct.
2. The penalty system for exceeding time limits introduces gamification mechanics absent in similar tools, where users lose potential earnings incrementally rather than facing all-or-nothing consequences. The $1 minimum daily reward preserves motivation even after occasional lapses.
3. Competitive advantages include a zero-cost model for users, integration with premium brands for meaningful rewards, and a privacy-first architecture that avoids data harvesting. These features create a defensible market position against free alternatives reliant on ads or subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How does Dayo work? Dayo monitors time spent on selected social media apps and rewards users with $5 daily for staying under 30 minutes. Earnings are stored as Dayo dollars, redeemable for discounts of up to 80% on products from partnered brands in the marketplace. The app deducts ~3.33 cents per minute beyond the limit but guarantees a $1 minimum reward if the first 30 minutes are used.
2. What social media apps does Dayo track? Dayo currently tracks Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter), and Snapchat, with plans to expand to additional platforms. Tracking is limited to total screen time and does not include content interaction, messaging, or browsing history.
3. How do I redeem my rewards? Earned Dayo dollars are automatically applied as discounts during checkout in the Dayo marketplace, which features products from brands like JBL and Yeti. Users select items, proceed to payment, and see their savings reflected without needing promo codes or manual redemption steps.