Frequently asked
What is SPONTANEUS?
SPONTANEUS is a mood-responsive app for urban professionals who keep losing time to their phone. You tell it where your head is — drained, restless, open, whatever — and it gives you one believable next step you can actually do. Built for real life, in any city. Not a screen-time blocker, not a productivity tool. More like a friend who notices you've been scrolling too long and suggests something better.
How do I stop doomscrolling?
Most apps try to stop doomscrolling by blocking your phone or guilting you about screen time. That usually misses the point. The problem often isn't discipline — it's inertia. SPONTANEUS takes a different angle: instead of stopping the scroll, it gives you something more interesting to do. Match your mood, get one specific suggestion, tap once, go.
What can I do when I feel stuck or bored?
That depends on where your head's at. If you're drained, it might point you toward somewhere calm with warm light and no pressure. If you're restless, it might suggest movement, noise, or somewhere unfamiliar. If you're open to connection, it might suggest a place where conversations happen naturally. SPONTANEUS matches suggestions to your mood, your time, the weather, and the city around you.
Which cities does SPONTANEUS work in?
Any urban city. The mood engine and self-led activities work wherever you are. We're building deeper local content city by city — Düsseldorf is where we started, with Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London, New York and others expanding over time. The core experience works anywhere from day one.
How is SPONTANEUS different from Calm or Headspace?
Calm and Headspace help you slow down internally. SPONTANEUS helps you reconnect with the world around you. Different moment, different need. SPONTANEUS is for the point where you want a real thing to do, not another thing to consume.
How is SPONTANEUS different from screen-time blockers like Opal or One Sec?
Screen blockers create friction by pausing or blocking apps. SPONTANEUS doesn't block anything. It interrupts passive scrolling with one believable real-world alternative that fits your mood right now. Positive redirect, not punishment.
How does SPONTANEUS use my mood?
You pick one of four mood directions: Brain off, Let's move, See some people, or Surprise me. The app combines that with the time you have, the weather, and where you are, then gives you one specific thing to do. No quizzes, no journaling, no streaks.
Is SPONTANEUS free?
Yes. The core SPONTANEUS experience is completely free — no subscription, no account required. Open it in a browser, pick your mood, and get a suggestion in under 30 seconds. Bilingual in English and German. A native Android app ships late 2026, iOS early 2027.
Do I need to create an account to use SPONTANEUS?
No account, no sign-up, no password. SPONTANEUS opens directly in your browser with no installation or onboarding. The first match takes about 30 seconds. Pick your mood and go.
What makes SPONTANEUS different from other mood apps?
Most apps in this space want more of your attention — more journaling, more streaks, more check-ins. SPONTANEUS wants less. It gives you one specific real-world suggestion matched to how you feel right now, then gets out of the way. No routines, no goals, no notifications asking you to come back.
Is SPONTANEUS backed by science?
Yes. SPONTANEUS is built on three peer-reviewed sources: Wilhelm Wundt's 1896 tridimensional theory of feeling, Jacob Moreno's 1946 psychodrama research showing spontaneity reduces symptoms, and Jessica Andrews-Hanna's 2023 neuroscience research at the University of Arizona linking rigid thinking to worse mental health and spontaneous thought to greater resilience.
What is doomscrolling and how does SPONTANEUS help?
Doomscrolling is the habit of passively scrolling through numbing or negative content even when it makes you feel worse. The loop is driven by inertia, not choice. SPONTANEUS breaks it with a better alternative: one specific real-world activity matched to your mood, city, time of day, and weather. Positive redirect, not punishment.
Which mood types does SPONTANEUS support?
SPONTANEUS supports four mood directions: Brain off (overwhelmed → quiet), Let's move (restless → spent), See some people (alone too long → connected), and Surprise me (decision fatigue → hand the wheel to someone else).
Does SPONTANEUS work outside Düsseldorf?
Yes. The mood engine and self-led activities work in any city. Düsseldorf is where SPONTANEUS started and has the deepest local content. Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London, and New York are expanding next. The core experience works anywhere from day one.
Can companies use SPONTANEUS as a team benefit?
Yes. SPONTANEUS offers custom rollouts, dedicated deployments, and white-label options for teams. No accounts to manage, no training, no IT rollout — it opens in a browser. Contact joan@spontaneus.co for team pricing.
Who created SPONTANEUS?
SPONTANEUS was founded by Joan Juwel Quartey-Papafio, a Düsseldorf-based entrepreneur and behavioural psychology enthusiast. The app is built on Wilhelm Wundt's tridimensional theory of feeling, Jacob Moreno's spontaneity research, and Jessica Andrews-Hanna's 2023 neuroscience findings. SPONTANEUS UG is registered in Düsseldorf, Germany and validated by IHK Düsseldorf.
Is SPONTANEUS available as a native app?
The current version is a progressive web app (PWA) available free at spontaneus.lovable.app — no download required, works instantly in any browser. A native Android app is shipping late 2026 and iOS early 2027.
How does SPONTANEUS help with decision fatigue?
Decision fatigue happens when too many choices drain your mental energy. SPONTANEUS removes the choice entirely — you pick one mood direction and get one specific suggestion. No menu of options, no scrolling through lists. One thing. Right now.
