WeWard Adds Feature That Locks Apps Until Users Meet Daily Step Goals

WeWard launched a feature called Walking Mode that locks selected apps until users reach a customizable daily step goal. Business Insider reported the Paris-based company developed and released the feature in two months. Tyler Chandler, WeWard's head of growth, built the feature using Claude AI.

The idea originated from a non-technical employee who proposed tying screen time access to physical activity rather than financial rewards, according to cofounder and CEO Yves Benchimol. Chandler said the project aimed to show that one person using AI-assisted coding could complete a complex feature end to end. He drew from his own habit of delaying Apple's default screen time limits.

WeWard grants users in-app currency called Wards for walking that can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or donations. The app also features leaderboards for competition among users. The company has more than 30 million users across 29 countries, including 4 million in the United States.

Its top U.S. cities are New York, Chicago, and Miami. Business Insider reported the platform increases average walking time by nearly 25 percent. Venus Williams, an angel investor in WeWard, supports features that promote outdoor activity but focuses on marketing rather than product development, Benchimol said.

The average user is around 35 years old, and 60 percent are women.