Can tech really get you off your phone and into real life?
NewApp Aims to Help Mainer and Others Leave Their Phones Behind
A new mobile app, NewTree Social, has been designed with one simple goal: to make people leave their phones at home, find an event nearby, and get out into the world. The idea was born in Washington, D.C., by 29‑year‑old Maddy O’Connor, a graphic designer who found that moving to the city left her without a natural network of friends. “I realized that whether you’re a run club enthusiast or someone who wants to try a new class, you need a reason to go out before you meet anyone,” O’Connor told a tech journalist.
How it works
NewTree is built like a social network rather than a plain event listing. The home screen shows a feed of local community, fitness and wellness events – right now only in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater – that users can RSVP to and receive reminders for. Hosts can upload photos and videos, and the app places more weight on reviews; better‑rated events rise higher in the feed. O’Connor says she personally approves hosts during the pilot phase to keep the platform safe.
The app’s data policy is straightforward. NewTree collects a user’s name, email address, date of birth and either a stored profile location or the device’s current GPS. When someone signs up for a free event, the host receives that attendee’s name, email and location so they can plan and communicate. All data sits in a Supabase database that the company claims is protected by access‑control measures.
Safety and age restrictions
Apple lists NewTree with a 13+ content rating, but the service itself only allows accounts for people 18 and older. O’Connor said the rating reflects the App Store’s content‑based system rather than the app’s minimum age requirement. The platform does not conduct background checks or identity verification, and it relies on user reports, blocks and host removal to keep the experience safe.
The market behind the idea
O’Connor cites data from Eventbrite’s 2026 Social Study, which found that 79 % of respondents aged 18‑35 planned to attend more events in 2026. Among Gen Z, nearly half said they were limiting screen time, and three‑quarters said in‑person experiences were more important than digital ones. Eventbrite also reported that “phone‑free” events grew 567 % globally between 2024 and 2025, with attendance up 121 %. The company’s numbers are derived from events that use the phrase “phone‑free” in their title or description.
These trends suggest that a growing segment of the population is looking for ways to reduce screen time while staying connected. NewTree attempts to meet that need by turning the phone into a tool for discovery rather than distraction.
Early stage, no revenue yet
NewTree is still a pre‑traction, pre‑revenue app. O’Connor plans to launch in the Tampa Bay area first to prove the model before expanding to the rest of Florida and eventually nationwide. She said the biggest challenge will be getting users to actually show up for events after booking them on the app. “It’s easy to scroll through another feed of things you might do someday,” she explained. “The real test is whether people can turn that scrolling into stepping out.”
Business model and future plans
The app remains free for users. O’Connor says she intends to offer optional premium tools for businesses and event hosts, but those features are still under discussion. No revenue has yet been generated from either the platform or the hosts.
Will it work?
The concept is not new. Meetup, Eventbrite and Facebook already help people discover local events. NewTree’s unique angle is its emphasis on community and social connection, with a feed that rewards higher‑rated events. It also adds a layer of host vetting during the early pilot. Whether that differentiates it enough to convince people to download yet another app is unclear.
For now, NewTree offers an interesting experiment in using technology to facilitate offline interactions. If it succeeds, it could help many people—Maine residents included—take a break from screens and actually step outside. The next question, however, remains: will users keep their phones in their pockets after booking an event?