Cold Turkey – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Cold Turkey

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2023

62%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

A no-mercy phone blocker that locks you out cold turkey—great for breaking doom-scrolling, risky if you need your phone in a pinch.

Cold Turkey

app

Everyone, 2023

62%

WISE Score

4.7

App Store

A no-mercy phone blocker that locks you out cold turkey—great for breaking doom-scrolling, risky if you need your phone in a pinch.

Jump to

Also rated on

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Cold Turkey is the tough-love friend of productivity apps. It doesn't coddle you, it doesn't teach you—it just locks your phone and walks away. For older teens and adults who've tried everything else and need a nuclear option to break doom-scrolling or social media addiction, this can be genuinely effective.

But here's the thing: it's a blunt instrument. The 'it will never, ever come off' language is both the app's strength and its Achilles heel. Yes, it prevents cheating, but it also means if your teen locks themselves out and then has a genuine emergency, they're stuck. That's not hypothetical—it's a real risk.

For younger kids or tweens, this is overkill and potentially harmful. They need guidance and scaffolding, not digital handcuffs. For high schoolers struggling with phone addiction who are mature enough to understand the commitment they're making? It might be exactly what they need. Just make sure they know what they're signing up for before they hit that lock button.

Age Fit

Best for older teens (16+) and adults who recognize they have a genuine phone addiction problem and are ready for a hardcore solution. Younger teens and kids need gentler, more educational approaches to screen time management—not a digital prison.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A productivity app designed to help users reduce screen time and combat phone addiction. The core intent is healthy—promoting digital wellness and intentional device use. However, the app's 'strict' blocking approach (accessibility permissions to prevent power-off, 'never, ever come off' language) could create anxiety or frustration, especially for younger users who might panic when locked out. The tone is motivational but slightly aggressive.

Imaginative

This is a utilitarian productivity tool with minimal creative elements. Users set a timer and lock their phone—there's no exploration, building, or creative expression involved. It's functional rather than imaginative, serving as a digital handcuff rather than inspiring new ways of thinking or doing.

Safe

No ads or inappropriate content, which is good. However, the app uses accessibility permissions to prevent power-off and block recent apps—features that could be concerning if misused or if a user genuinely needs their phone in an emergency. The 'it will never, ever come off' language is intentionally strict, which could create real problems for teens or younger users who lock themselves out during a crisis. The app is transparent about permissions and makes them optional, which helps. Overall safe for its intended use, but the hardcore blocking approach carries inherent risks.

Enriching

Genuinely useful for building self-discipline and breaking phone addiction patterns. Can help users reclaim time for meaningful activities, reduce dopamine-seeking behaviors, and develop healthier digital habits. The skill of intentional technology use is valuable. However, it's a blunt instrument—there's no coaching, reflection prompts, or deeper learning about why we're addicted to our phones. It's a lock, not a teacher.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Actually works—strict blocking with no easy workarounds, unlike most productivity apps that are trivial to bypass
Can help teens and adults break genuine phone addiction cycles and reclaim hours of their day
Simple, focused tool with no ads or monetization tricks—just a timer and a lock
Transparency about accessibility permissions and makes hardcore features optional
Builds real self-discipline by forcing users to commit to phone-free time blocks

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'never, ever come off' approach could backfire in emergencies—teens locked out during a crisis situation is a real concern
Requires accessibility permissions for full blocking power, which some parents may find invasive
Better for older teens and adults with genuine addiction issues than younger kids who need gentler guidance
Could create anxiety or panic in users who aren't mentally prepared for total lockout
Not a teaching tool—it's just a lock, so users won't learn why they're addicted or develop deeper self-awareness

Conversation Starters

"If you could get back three hours a day by not looking at your phone, what would you actually do with that time?"
"What apps or activities do you think you'd miss most if your phone was locked for a few hours?"
"Have you ever felt like your phone controls you instead of the other way around? What does that feel like?"
"Do you think having a strict blocker like this would help you, or would it just make you more anxious?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Cold Turkey? Put this WISE score on your site