Ask a bunch of tech experts their opinion on the most time-consuming apps out there and you’ll be sure to hear quite a few different answers. Time suckers differ depending on what a person considers enticing and engaging. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be plenty of overlap when it comes to apps that affect your productivity. These are the worst time-wasting apps experts say you should never download.
Social Media
Whether your choice of poison is Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, there’s little doubt that social media apps are one of the biggest distractions. “Social media is one of the worst time-wasters, and it can be addictive for people who are hooked on it,” says Daniel Chan, CTO at Marketplace Fairness. “There is so much content on social media, and it can be hard to resist the urge to check it constantly. Tips for avoiding social media addiction include deleting the apps from your phone, setting time limits, and avoiding temptation.”
Words With Friends
When it comes to the myriad games you may have downloaded on your phone, one stands out for some experts as a total time drainer. “Words With Friends is, in my view, the app that wastes the most time out of all the apps available,” says Joe Troyer, CEO & Growth Advisor of ReviewGrower. “Words With Friends is still quite popular although it has been around for some years and that has been replaced by other apps. It’s kind of like Scrabble on drugs, except that because you play it on your mobile device, it eats up more of your valuable time than the traditional board game does.”
Twenty
“I believe that this is a Tetris-style game, in that it initially appears to be far too easy before triggering your fight-or-flight response as the game speeds up,” says Kenny Kline, President & Financial Lead at BarBend. “We'd say it's ideal for your commute, but yelling ‘NO NO NO!’ at the screen risks frightening your fellow passengers.”
Shirodoko
“I feel that, despite being billed as "the next Sudoku," this disturbingly addictive problem is easy to figure out within a few minutes (and a glance at the instruction),” Kline says. “However, letting it go after your lunch break will take far longer.”
If you notice you are losing yourself in certain apps, setting time limits, avoiding temptation, or just simply deleting the app may be the best way to go, Chan says. Without those distractions, you may be shocked to find yourself with more time than you ever expected.
