WeWard, a France-based app that rewards users for logging their steps, is launching a feature called "Walking Mode" that locks chosen apps until the user reaches a set step count. Backed by tennis star and angel investor Venus Williams, the app is positioning the tool as a way to encourage physical activity while cutting screen time, tapping into growing demand for ways to curb excessive phone and social media use.

Users can customise which apps are restricted and the step target required to unlock them — for example, blocking TikTok or Instagram until 3,000 steps are walked. This adds to WeWard's existing model, which awards an in-app currency called "Wards" that can be exchanged for cash, gift cards or donations, alongside a gamified leaderboard. The company says it has 30 million users across 29 countries, including 4 million in the US, and claims to have increased users' walking time by almost 25%. Co-founder Yves Benchimol framed the feature as part of a push towards "mindful design," and the firm says it earns money through in-app purchases, affiliate marketing, subscriptions and advertising rather than selling user data.