Managing screen time with a twist: New app turns screen time into a reward system - is this the new pocket money?
TimeTilly
- TimeTilly, a new family screen-time management app built by Australian parents Melanie and Tom, has launched on the Apple App Store.
- The app allows parents to set daily screen-time limits, manage timers, create schedules, and manage children individually or as a group.
- Rather than simply restricting screen time, TimeTilly treats it as a flexible family currency, enabling parents to reward positive behaviour with extra minutes or deduct time when boundaries are broken.
- The app's approach is grounded in behavioural science, drawing on token economy principles that have been widely used in educational and clinical settings to encourage appropriate behaviour.
- Unlike automated parental control tools, TimeTilly is deliberately designed to keep parents in full control of all screen-time decisions, supporting rather than replacing their judgement.
New Australian mobile app helps families set limits, track usage, reward good choices, and make screen-time decisions with a human touch.
SYDNEY, Australia, 19 August 2026 – TimeTilly, a new family screen-time management app, has officially launched on the Apple App Store, giving parents a simple, practical way to manage children’s screen time while using it as a meaningful incentive for positive behaviour.
Created by Australian parents Melanie and Tom, TimeTilly is designed for families seeking a more constructive alternative to blunt “screen ban” buttons, aiming to reduce family conflict. The app allows parents to set daily screen-time limits, start and pause timers when children use devices, add or deduct time in custom increments, manage children individually or as a group, and create schedules such as different weekday and weekend allowances.
TimeTilly introduces a unique behavioural approach, moving beyond simple time restrictions. It empowers parents to leverage screen time as a flexible family currency, fostering positive reinforcement and reducing conflict. Children can earn additional minutes for helpful behaviour, lose minutes when boundaries are tested, or have screen time suspended through a clear ‘3-strike rule’. Parents can also make adjustments after the fact, preserving flexibility when real family life gets messy.
“Managing screen time is not just about counting minutes,” said TimeTilly’s founders, Melanie and Tom. “For many children, screen time is one of the most valued rewards in the house. We built TimeTilly to help parents use that value in a calmer, more consistent way – without handing decisions over to an algorithm.”
The app arrives at a time when families are looking for more balanced approaches to children’s digital lives. The World Health Organization has emphasised the importance of limiting sedentary screen-based activity for young children as part of a broader 24-hour balance of movement, sleep, and play. The American Academy of Pediatrics latest guidance encourages families to focus not simply on fixed limits, but on healthy, balanced media habits.
TimeTilly’s reward-based design also reflects established behavioural science. Experts have widely used token economy systems in educational, clinical, and family contexts to encourage appropriate behaviour. TimeTilly applies that familiar principle to a modern household reality: for many children, screen time is already one of the most powerful motivators available.
Crucially, TimeTilly does not attempt to automate parenting. The founders deliberately designed the app so parents remain in control of when, why, and how screen time is added, reduced, suspended, or restored.
“Every family is different, and every child is different,” said Melanie and Tom. “TimeTilly is there to support the parent, not replace them.”
TimeTilly is now available on the Apple App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/id6751932581) and an Android version is planned for later this year.
Find out more at timetilly.com.
About us:
TimeTilly was founded by Tom and Melanie, parents of two school-aged children in Sydney. Tom, a Creative Director and digital designer with more than 20 years’ experience, led the concept, UX and UI design of the app. Melanie brings a background in speech pathology and nursing, as well as hands-on experience managing screen time as the family’s main carer. Together, they created TimeTilly to help parents turn screen time from a daily battle into a clearer, fairer and more positive family routine.
Contact details:
Media contact: [email protected]
Mobile (Tom, Founder): +61 451 026 500
Website: timetilly.com
Social Media Links
Instagram @timetilly.app
Facebook @TimeTilly
YouTube @TimeTilly
