Northern California Students Create App Encouraging Their Classmates To Put Down Phones
CHICO (CBS SF) – Hoping to curb smartphone addiction on college campuses, two students at California State University, Chico have developed an app that rewards their classmates when they put their phones away.
Rob Richardson and Mitch Gardner developed Pocket Points, which is available on Apple's App Store. Students gain points based on how much time the phone is not in use and how many other students around them are also using the app. Points can be redeemed for discounts at local businesses.
"There should be no reason you should be on your phone," Richardson told the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Richardson said professors like the app and want to even offer extra credit through the app, but it's an idea that isn't being explored at this time.
Pocket Points is currently available for students at CSU Chico and Penn State. Richardson and Gardner are taking a leave of absence from school to continue developing the app.
