Have You Stopped Using Your Meditation App?

"Over 300 million people have downloaded meditation apps, yet only 5 percent stick with them beyond the first month. This isn't simply a failure of willpower-many meditation apps offer guided sessions that quickly feel repetitive, provide little personalization, minimal real-time support, and rarely give feedback on your progress. With so many barriers, it's no wonder so many users instead scroll through TikTok or Instagram."

"As a scientist who has studied mindfulness meditation training for over two decades in my Health and Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, I see low meditation app engagement as a major missed opportunity. My colleague Dr. Simon Goldberg and I recently published a scientific review in American Psychologist that dives into this puzzle-why meditation apps attract millions of users but lose them so quickly, and what actually works to keep people engaged."

"In an increasingly anxious world-marked by rapid news cycles, economic uncertainties, and endless digital distractions-finding moments of calm presence is more valuable than ever. Our research consistently demonstrates that even small doses of app-based mindfulness practice can significantly reduce stress biology, enhance well-being, and help people stay positive under pressure. And as we show in the review, even brief daily app sessions-5 to 10 minutes-can modestly reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. But meditation-like physical exercise-is a workout."

Over 300 million people have downloaded meditation apps, yet only 5 percent continue past the first month. Many apps rely on repetitive guided sessions with limited personalization, minimal real-time support, and little progress feedback, which undermines sustained engagement and pushes users toward social media. Even five to ten minutes of daily meditation practice can modestly reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, lower stress biology, boost well-being, and increase resilience under pressure. Meditation requires focused mental effort and can feel uncomfortable, but consistent practice produces meaningful benefits and improved app design could raise long-term adherence.

Read at Psychology Today