Today I submitted the publication request for the app to Google Play. This is an important milestone — the project is now moving from internal testing toward public availability.
Once the review process is complete, the next step will be to add several RTL (right‑to‑left) languages. This will expand accessibility and prepare the app for a broader, more diverse audience.
A small step forward, but a meaningful one.
The closed testing phase of Polar Bear Helps has been completed. Thank you to all testers for your time, patience, and feedback — each insight helped refine the app before release.
A small step, but an important one. Polar Bear Helps is ready to move forward.
The digital world is evolving faster than ever. More and more companies, organizations, and initiatives are beginning to recognize that technology should support people — not overwhelm them.
This feels like the right moment to start noticing, documenting, and sharing these efforts.
That’s why we’re planning to create a directory of organizations that support digital well‑being.
Our goal is to gather examples of companies and projects that:
This won’t be a ranking or a list of “the best”.
Instead, it will be a map of inspiration — a space where anyone can see that there are alternatives to technology designed solely to capture attention, time, and engagement.
PBH was created from the same need: to build tools that work in the rhythm of the human mind, not against it.
This directory will be a natural extension of that philosophy.
We’ll share more details soon.
Polar Bear Helps is now available on Chromebooks that support accessibility services. If your device has Accessibility enabled, you can enjoy the same gentle visual filter as on Android — adjustable, comfortable, and fully local, with no personal or sensitive data collected or shared.”
We’re happy to announce that PBH (Polar Bear Helps) has officially published its Privacy Policy, effective March 28, 2026.
True to PBH’s philosophy — help without invading privacy — the app is designed to work without accounts, registration, or personal data collection.
PBH is safe because:
PBH stores only basic settings locally on your device — such as whether the filter is enabled and the last selected filter strength.
This data is removed automatically when you uninstall the app or clear its data.
Polar Bear Helps has reached an important milestone: the app is now available in 30 languages, making it accessible to users across many regions and cultural backgrounds. This broad localization strengthens the mission of supporting people who are sensitive to visual overstimulation and those who benefit from a calmer digital environment.
Global Language Coverage
The current version of PBH includes translations into the following languages:
This set covers a large portion of the world’s population and includes both major global languages and important regional ones.
The next development phase focuses on adding RTL (right‑to‑left) languages, which require additional interface adjustments. The first languages planned for implementation are:
These additions will significantly expand accessibility and open PBH to new regions.
If you’d like to see PBH translated into more languages, you can leave your suggestions in the comments. Community feedback helps shape the next steps and ensures the app grows in the direction users need most.
Which language do you think should be added next?
Polar Bear Helps is based on encouragement rather than pressure, which is why starting with a high filter strength is not recommended. A filter that is too strong may cause discomfort, because your eyes and brain need time to adjust to a new way of interacting with your phone.
The filter reduces the intensity of visual stimuli that may have been a source of quick rewards for a long time. When these stimuli suddenly disappear, the nervous system can react with tension, irritation, or a sense of emptiness. This is a natural part of changing habits, but too abrupt a shift can make the process harder.
Changing habits takes time. A softer start helps your mind adapt more smoothly, and you can increase the filter strength later when you feel ready.
The creator of the project began with a 40% filter. After ten months of using Polar Bear Helps, the filter strength increased to 60%. This shows that the process is gradual and built on encouragement rather than forcing quick results.
Encouragement works in the long term. Self‑punishment or setting overly strict demands can make change more difficult. A gentle, steady approach helps the new habit take root and makes the transition more sustainable.
Polar Bear Helps is built on two scientifically validated foundations, which is why its effectiveness is considered promising. The author believes that smartphones will stop functioning as machines that dispense constant rewards in a subtle and addictive way, and that people will begin to reclaim their lives, attention, and time.
When you start using Polar Bear Helps, you may experience emotions that were previously masked by constant stimulation from your phone. In the first days or weeks, you might notice:
These reactions are natural. Your brain has been accustomed to quick, frequent stimuli, and when they disappear, the nervous system needs time to adjust. If te pojawiające się emocje staną się trudne, rozmowa z kimś zaufanym lub specjalistą może być bardzo pomocna.
For a long time, your smartphone may have served as a source of immediate relief, distraction, or reward. When this mechanism is interrupted, the brain reacts just as it does to any change in habit: with temporary discomfort. This does not mean anything is wrong — it means the process of change has truly begun.
Entering this process consciously makes the transition smoother and more manageable.
What to Prepare in Advance
These difficult emotions will pass. Over time, your mind will adapt to a new rhythm, and the initial sense of emptiness will give way to calm, clarity, and a renewed sense of control. Polar Bear Helps is not a tool that gives you rewards — it is a tool that helps you reclaim yourself.
Screenshot from Buy Me a Coffee
My first supporter on Buy Me a Coffee. This moment means a lot to me — thank you!
