She had done the work. She wanted to be rewarded, even if she knew (I hope she knows) that the shallow validation of a gadget strapped to her wrist is ultimately meaningless. The only value placed on this is one she has assigned herself – but that, of course, is the point. What my daughter felt – that complex alchemy of striving and validation – is the exact feeling that a raft of new apps is hoping to replicate. From Noom to Reframe, these apps incorporate psychological tactics to change behaviour. Pick something you want to change about yourself – drinking less, exercising more, meditating, cutting down on social media use – and there is an app for it.