Roost Reaches 650,000 Downloads as Slow-Texting Apps Turn Waiting Into a Feature
Updated
Updated · Digital Trends · Aug 24
Roost Reaches 650,000 Downloads as Slow-Texting Apps Turn Waiting Into a Feature
3 articles · Updated · Digital Trends · Aug 24
Summary
Roost hit 650,000 downloads this month, while Carrier Pidge surged from a few hundred users after its April launch to more than 75,000.
Those apps deliberately delay messages by minutes, hours or longer—Carrier Pidge tracks a pigeon flying up to 110 mph, and Roost offers more than 1,000 animals, including snails.
The draw is friction rather than novelty: delayed replies reduce the pressure of constant notifications and may ease the mental strain of repeatedly checking phones.
A 2023 survey found 80% of Gen Z adults worried their generation relied too heavily on technology, echoing arguments that people are ill-suited to a friction-free information stream.
The growth suggests some users now see slowness as a digital wellness tool, not a bug, as creators expand apps built around making communication less immediate.