INCENTIVIZING REDUCED SCREEN TIME AMONG YOUTH: A FINANCIAL REWARD-BASED MOBILE APPLICATION INTERVENTION

Abstract

This article introduces a novel approach to reducing excessive screen time among children and adolescents through a mobile application that integrates financial incentives with automated usage tracking. The proposed intervention connects parents' banking systems with children's digital devices. It creates a structured reward mechanism where children earn financial benefits for staying within predetermined screen time limits and potentially incur proportionate losses for exceeding them. Through a 12-month randomized controlled trial with 240 families stratified across three age groups (6-9, 10-12, and 13-17), the investigated result both the primary impact on screen time reduction and secondary benefits in financial literacy and self-regulation development. The intervention's dual-component architecture implements developmentally appropriate interfaces for parents and children, with customizable incentive structures designed to accommodate diverse family values and parenting approaches. Preliminary results project significant screen time reductions of 18-22% sustained beyond the initial intervention period, with differential effectiveness across demographic variables. The approach represents a paradigm shift from purely restrictive methods toward collaborative behavioral economics frameworks that acknowledge the powerful reinforcement mechanisms built into digital platforms while supporting children's progressive development of autonomous self-regulation in increasingly complex digital environments.