By
Align
September 16, 2025
Doomscrolling feels easy. You pick up your phone, open an app, and suddenly an hour is gone. But what if that same time could make you smarter, more curious, and more intentional? Over the past year, I’ve been swapping endless feeds for apps that actually teach me something. Instead of passive scrolling, I use my phone as a space to learn, explore, and build new skills.
In this post, I’ll share five educational apps I personally use as replacements for doomscrolling. Each one offers a different way to grow, whether it’s learning a new language, diving into complex topics, or reflecting on ideas.
Duolingo — Learn a language
Duolingo has become the app I open when I catch myself reaching for social media. Instead of scrolling aimlessly, I spend a few minutes learning something new. It’s not about cramming in big lessons. It’s about making use of those small windows of time that would otherwise slip away.
What I like most is how easy it feels. The lessons are short, playful, and don’t demand much energy, but still add up when done consistently. Some days I only do one quick lesson, other days I dive in a bit more. Either way, it feels better than ending up on Instagram or TikTok again.
For me, using Duolingo turned into a daily ritual. It’s motivating to see the streak grow and realize that those few minutes really do add up. What used to be mindless scrolling now feels like a small step toward something meaningful.
Medium — Read articles
Medium has slowly replaced the moments where I would normally scroll through X or Threads. Instead of being pulled into endless feeds, I open Medium and get something that actually makes me think. The platform is full of personal essays, reflections, and stories from people around the world. It feels more like sitting down for a thoughtful conversation than browsing content.
What I really enjoy is the range. Some days I dive into deep articles on productivity or psychology, other days it’s just a short story that shifts my perspective for a moment. It feels like my time online has more weight when I read something that stays with me.
For me personally, Medium is often the app I open while drinking my morning coffee or at night before bed. It has replaced my habit of checking news feeds that usually just left me restless. Now I end the day with words that inspire me instead of headlines that drain me.
Brilliant — Learn by doing
Brilliant has become one of my favorite apps when I want to turn idle scrolling time into something meaningful. Instead of passively reading, you actually solve problems step by step. The app covers math, science, computer science, and even logic in a way that feels approachable, even if you’re not an expert.
What I like most is how interactive it is. You don’t just read about a concept, you engage with it, test it, and see how it works in real time. That small shift makes learning feel less abstract and more like a challenge you want to keep going with.
Personally, I often use Brilliant during breaks. Even 10–15 minutes feels productive and gives me the same quick-hit satisfaction that scrolling normally does, but with the added benefit of learning something I’ll actually remember.
Coursera — Learn and earn certificates
Coursera feels like the opposite of scrolling aimlessly. It gives structure. You can dive deep into subjects and build real skills step by step, guided by top universities and companies. There’s a clear path, and every lesson feels like progress.
What makes it even better is that you can earn official certificates for many courses. Knowing that what I’m learning can also be recognized in the real world gives the process extra weight and motivation.
I like how flexible it is. The app allows me to invest in myself and my knowledge from home, diving deep to truly learn new skills. I enjoy being able to explore complex topics at my own pace while building practical expertise that I can apply immediately.
For me, Coursera is a reminder that my time online can create something lasting, not just another scroll I’ll forget.
Imprint — Big ideas in bite-sized visuals
Imprint is one of those apps that makes learning feel light but still meaningful. It takes big ideas, from psychology to history to personal growth, and breaks them down into short, visual lessons. Each one feels more like an interactive story than a lecture, which makes it easy to stay engaged.
What stands out to me is how visual everything is. Instead of endless text, you get clean graphics, simple animations, and key insights that stick. It’s almost like reading a beautifully designed summary of the world’s most interesting topics.
I often open Imprint when I have a few spare minutes and want to fill them with something inspiring instead of swiping through social media. For me, it’s a reminder that learning doesn’t always need to be heavy or time-consuming, it can be quick, visual, and refreshing.
