The app that tells
you to close it.

The energy system

Energy represents your emotional and mental capacity for connection. It's not a punishment system — it's a mirror.

How energy depletes

• Sending a message: -2 energy
• Viewing a profile: -1 energy
• Starting a new conversation: -3 energy

How energy regenerates

• +1 energy per 3 minutes idle (app closed or inactive)
• +10 energy when you log a successful meet
• Full restore after 8+ hours offline

What low energy does

• Below 40: feed shows fewer profiles, gentle "maybe step away?" prompt
• Below 20: feed significantly reduced, burnout signal displayed
• At 0: "Take a break" screen. You can dismiss it and continue, but SYNC has said what it needs to say.

Burnout detection

Burnout is detected when SYNC spots patterns that historically correlate with user regret:

• More than 30 profile views in a session with fewer than 3 messages sent
• More than 90 minutes active in a single session
• Opening the app after midnight three or more times in a week
• Energy below 30 for three consecutive days

When burnout is detected, SYNC surfaces a prompt — not a lockout. You're an adult. The prompt just makes the pattern visible.

Detox mode

You can voluntarily enter Detox mode at any time. Choose a duration: 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, or 72 hours. During Detox:

• Your feed is hidden — you see a calm detox screen instead
• Your profile is paused — you won't receive new messages
• Push notifications are silenced
• Your map pin is removed
• You can still access your settings and existing chats you choose to read

When detox ends, everything restores automatically. No guilt. No "welcome back" pressure to reengage.

Late-night mode

After 11pm, if you've already been active for more than 30 minutes that day, SYNC will gently note: "Conversations started after midnight have a 60% lower chance of leading to a meet." That's it. You can dismiss it. It's just true.

Tips for healthy app use

• Set a daily time limit in your phone's screen-time settings — SYNC doesn't enforce one, but you might want to
• Start conversations when your energy is high — the quality will show
• Close the app after sending a message. Don't wait for replies in real-time. It creates anxiety.
• Use conversation quality score to guide which chats to invest in
• Log your meets — even if it doesn't work out. It helps the system understand your patterns.
• If you're in a bad place emotionally, consider detox mode. The app will still be there.

A note on design philosophy

Every dating app claims to care about users. Most are lying — or at least conflicted. The revenue model requires engagement, and engagement requires you to stay in the app. SYNC tries to resolve this honestly: we charge $4.99/month for Pro, not by selling your time to advertisers. A user who closes the app to go on a date is a SYNC success story, not a churn event.

The wellbeing system exists because we believe users who feel respected by an app become long-term paying users who recommend it to their friends. Your wellbeing is good for both of us.