David Whelan ’26 put together a screen-time app, Dial, that is now live in the Apple app store. He combined elements of what he learned in different Bucknell economics classes to create a new way of demotivating excessive screen time usage, beyond the capabilities of built-in screen time settings and existing apps from other developers. The Bucknellian sat down with Whelan to get an inside scoop on his process and what users can expect from Dial.
1. What is your app (name and purpose)? Give us the spiel!
Dial (listed as “Dial – Screen Time Control” on the App Store) is a zero-subscription screen time app that actually works. You set a strict session to block distracting apps. Want to unlock early? That’ll be $0.39. It’s simple behavioral economics: make your bad habits immediately painful instead of relying on willpower, which usually fails.
2. Why did you create the app? What inspired you?
I hate being addicted to my phone. I hate that!! I hate that. I also hate wasting money and pointless subscriptions. So I built Dial, combining everything I learned in Behavioral Economics with Professor Landsman and incentives with Professor Ellis. Other apps charge $20/month whether you use them or not. Dial is free and actually provides real accountability through loss aversion.
3. What sets your app apart from others on the market? Is there a particular feature you’re super excited about?
What makes Dial different? No subscription, no ads, no signup. Download it and you’re blocking apps in 20 seconds. Compare that to Opal, Brainrot, One Sec where you need to create accounts then pay $20/month. Dial also visualizes and breaks down your screen time into “productive vs distracting” with a simple visual graph, so you can actually see where your time goes.
4. Did you work with anyone else to create this app (brainstorming, coding, design, etc)? If so, who? If not, was there anyone who supported you/hyped you up in another way?
I worked solo on this app. The only help I had was from Anthropic’s AI model, Claude.
5. Where and when will the app be available?
The app is available on the Apple App Store right now, search for ‘Dial – Screen Time Control’ (just searching ‘Dial’ won’t find it). Please give me 5 stars!
6. How could your app benefit Bucknell students specifically? Did you create any aspect of it with your college experience in mind?
If you walk around campus and actually pay attention, you’ll notice how many people have their heads buried in their phones, whether in Bertrand, at the KLARC, in the Bison. I’m confident that excessive screen time will be one of our generation’s biggest regrets. Dial is trying to minimize that regret. It helps you be more present. Time is your most precious resource; Dial just reminds you of that.
7. Anything else you’d like to add!
Just try it for a week. See what happens when scrolling costs money. The $0.39 fee isn’t about the money, your time is worth way more than that. It’s about making you pause and remember what you’re trading away. Every time you’re about to break a dialed in session, you have to ask yourself: is this scroll worth it? Usually, the answer is no. If you have feedback, shoot me an email [email protected].
