WeWard adds app-locking feature to force daily step goals

The France-based platform, which counts tennis icon Venus Williams among its investors, allows users to customize their daily goals. If a user sets a target of 3,000 steps, their access to distracting apps like Instagram or TikTok remains blocked until that threshold is met. This update shifts the app's focus from its traditional reward currency, known as Wards, toward active screen time management.

Co-founder Yves Benchimol stated that the company aims to design products that foster healthy real-world behaviors rather than maximizing screen time. The platform currently claims 30 million users globally, including 4 million in the U.S., and reports that its services have increased average walking time by nearly 25%. Unlike competitors that monetize by selling user data, WeWard generates revenue through premium subscriptions, affiliate marketing, and advertising.