Can FoodNeverComes help people quit delivery apps they can’t stop?

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FoodNeverComes Offers a Psychological Outlet for Habitual Delivery App Users

The South Korean app FoodNeverComes simulates the experience of ordering food delivery without any actual transaction or delivery, aiming to help users break habitual or boredom-driven ordering patterns. By mimicking the anticipation phase of the ordering process, the app taps into the psychological release associated with dopamine, potentially satisfying the urge to order without incurring costs or consuming food. The developer, Malhee, created the app as a joke, observing a common tendency to open delivery apps out of habit rather than genuine hunger.
Mimicking the Ordering Thrill Without Consequence

FoodNeverComes replicates the full user experience of a typical food delivery platform. Users can browse menus, customize orders, input delivery details, select payment methods, and even track a virtual courier on a map. However, the core functionality is that no food is ever prepared, no payment is processed, and no delivery takes place, providing the simulation of ordering without the associated financial or physical outcomes.
Psychological Basis in Dopamine Release

The app's design is grounded in the understanding of dopamine's role in reward anticipation. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, is released during the expectation of a reward. FoodNeverComes leverages this by providing the simulated act of ordering, which can trigger this anticipation and potentially satisfy the craving or habit without a real purchase. This taps into the psychological thrill of shopping or acquiring something, even in a virtual context.
A Tool for Habit Breaking or Frustration?

The app's effectiveness in helping users break away from actual delivery apps is debated. Some users suggest it could serve as a "stepping stone," similar to non-alcoholic beer for those recovering from alcohol addiction, by satisfying the urge without the commitment. Conversely, others express that the absence of a real outcome could lead to frustration or even exacerbate cravings, making it an ineffective or counterproductive tool for habit modification.

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Can FoodNeverComes help people quit delivery apps they can’t stop?

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