step 01
Pick the apps that pull you in.
Choose the apps and websites where you want Scout to pause you before autopilot starts.
A tiny pause before the scroll
Scroll on purpose.
Not on autopilot.
Ever open an app to check one thing and resurface 40 minutes later? ScrollScout is a small pixel owl that shows up first — so you can name why you're there, set a short window, or walk away before the feed takes over.
No shame
Intentional scrolling allowed
Private by design
before the app opens
Scout asks what you came to do, before the feed gets a vote.
when time runs out
Scout taps you on the shoulder, so you can stop or choose more on purpose.
How it works
Not another blocker.
An intention layer.
The goal isn't to quit your phone. It's to catch the half-second before a quick check becomes a scroll you didn't choose.
step 02
Check in before entering.
When you tap a paused app, Scout asks what you came to do and how long you need.
step 03
Enter on purpose, or walk away.
Start a short, intentional visit — or take the walk-away win before the feed takes over.
The shift
The enemy is autopilot,
not your phone.
Scrolling isn't always bad. A conscious ten-minute scroll can be a win. Scout just helps you notice the difference.
Before Scout
1 Open app
2 Forget why
3 Scroll
4 Regret
With Scout
1 Open app
2 Pause
3 Choose
4 Walk away, or enter
The moment
Meet Scout.
No shame, no streaks, no guilt. Just a friendly pixel owl who shows up at the door and asks one small question.
Scout
on duty
you opened instagram. what's the plan?
checking one message from Sam
nice. how about 5 minutes?
yeah, that works
go for it. i'll tap you when time's up — no judgment either way.
Why it works
Tiny pauses work
because habits run fast.
ScrollScout is built around one behavioral idea: interrupt the automatic loop early, then make the next move conscious.
why it exists
“I built Scout because I'd open my phone for one thing and lose twenty minutes. The pause is the whole point.”
Friction beats willpower
A two-second pause before an app opens is enough to interrupt the reflex — and short enough that it never feels like a wall.
A plan beats a vibe
Naming what you came to do, before you're in the feed, makes it far easier to actually leave when you're done.
Awareness, not restriction
Scout never blocks or shames. It only asks whether this scroll is the one you chose.
The promise
Small helper.
Quiet by design.
private
Your app choices stay on your device.
ScrollScout uses Apple's Screen Time controls. You choose where the pause appears; nothing about your apps leaves your phone.
no pressure
Intentional leisure is allowed.
You don't need to be productive every minute. You just need to know what you chose.
small helper
A pixel owl with one job.
Scout stands at the door, asks why you're entering, then steps aside and lets you decide.
before the page loads
Scout meets you at the tab — before the feed gets a vote.
check in before you browse
intention> watch one video, then close the tab▌
time limit
5
10
20
+
Coming soon · for Chrome
Same Scout.
For the web.
Most scrolling doesn't happen on a phone — it happens in a browser tab. So Scout is coming to Chrome. Open a site that tends to pull you in, and the same little owl shows up first: name why you're there, pick a short window, or close the tab. Your intention, before the page loads. One beta list covers both — join below and you're first in line when the Chrome companion lands.
Pauses before the page loads.
The check-in appears before the site can grab your attention — the same moment Scout catches you on your phone.
Works on the sites you choose.
Add the URLs where you want Scout to wait at the door. Change the list anytime; it stays yours.
Still private by design.
Scout never reads your tabs, sells your data, or demands an account. The pause is all it does.
Questions
Good ones, first.
Does Scout block my apps? +
No. It adds a tiny pause before they open — a check-in where you name why you're there and pick a short window. Then you enter on purpose, or walk away. Both count.
Is this an addiction app? +
Not at all. It's an intention layer. Scrolling on purpose is completely fine here. Scout just helps you tell the difference between a chosen scroll and a reflex one.
Is it private? +
Yes. ScrollScout uses Apple's Screen Time framework, and your choices about which apps to pause stay on your device. There's no account, no tracking, and nothing about your apps is uploaded.
Which apps does it work with? +
Any apps and websites you choose, picked through Apple's own app picker — TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, Reddit, and more, plus sites. You decide your pause list, and you can change it anytime.
What device do I need? +
An iPhone. ScrollScout relies on Apple Screen Time, which is iOS-only. It runs entirely on-device.
Will it work on my laptop too? +
Soon. We're building a Chrome companion that brings the same Scout pause to the web — so the sites that pull you in get the same check-in as your apps. Join the list above and we'll tell you the moment it's ready.
When can I try it? +
ScrollScout is in beta. Join the list below and we'll let you in as spots open up — no spam, just early access.
ScrollScout beta
Catch the moment
before the scroll.
Join the list and you'll get an early invite the moment Scout's ready to test — plus a say in how it works while it's still taking shape.