In today’s digital landscape, there’s an app for nearly everything—fitness tracking, banking, socializing, learning, and even sleeping. But then there’s a peculiar corner of the app world: apps that defy logic and serve seemingly no practical purpose. These apps exist solely to entertain, confuse, or challenge what we think technology should do.
Below, we dive into 10 of the strangest, most hilariously absurd apps ever created. Whether they’re completely useless or oddly brilliant, one thing is certain: they’ll leave you asking “Why does this exist?”
1. Send Me to Heaven (S.M.T.H.)
Let’s begin with one of the most infamous: Send Me to Heaven. Created by Petr Svarovsky, this app urges users to throw their phones into the air as high as they can. The phone’s accelerometer calculates how high it was thrown and uploads the result to a global leaderboard.
Though funny and competitive, it’s easy to see the problem—your phone is not built for flight. Apple banned the app from the App Store, citing damage concerns, but it’s still available for Android.
“Send Me to Heaven represents a perfect blend of danger and digital absurdity,” says Charles Brown of TechCritic Daily (2018).
2. Nothing
The title says it all. Open this app, and… nothing happens. No UI, no features, no music—just a blank screen. It was created as a parody of overly complex apps and has ironically been downloaded by thousands.
Its continued popularity shows that sometimes, people just want simplicity—or a good joke. On Android, it even has a loyal user base leaving glowing reviews.
3. Poop Map
Yes, there is an app to track your bathroom breaks. Poop Map allows users to mark where and when they’ve had a bowel movement on a digital map. It also allows for friend connections, making this one of the most bizarre “social” apps out there.
It started as a joke but quickly turned into a community where users bond over their digestive habits. You can even “follow” friends and receive notifications of their latest, uh, achievements.
The Appeal of Pointless Apps
Why do people use these types of apps? The answer is often less about function and more about fun. These platforms exist outside the productivity-focused world and offer levity in a tech-heavy life.
Some of the most common reasons users download these apps include:
- Curiosity – People just want to see what all the fuss is about.
- Novelty – These apps stand out in a crowded marketplace.
- Entertainment – Humor is a powerful motivator.
- Shareability – These apps are perfect for screenshots and social media posts.
4. Wakie
Wakie is an alarm clock app with a twist: instead of a buzzer or ringtone, you get a phone call from a total stranger. The app randomly connects you to someone in the world who has agreed to wake others up through friendly conversation.
Though risky in theory, the app quickly became popular among extroverts and night owls looking for connection. Some users even repurposed it for casual language practice.
“Wakie blends the intimate act of waking up with the anonymity of the internet, offering a weird but effective experience,” notes Jessica Kim in Wired (2020).
5. RunPee
If you’ve ever needed to use the bathroom during a movie but feared missing something important, RunPee is your new best friend. It tells you exactly when it’s “safe” to leave the theater—timed to less critical moments in the plot—and summarizes what you missed while you were away.
It also tells you if there are any post-credit scenes, making it surprisingly helpful for fans of Marvel movies.
Smaller Table: 5 Noteworthy Weird Apps
Here’s a quick look at five of the most insane apps covered so far:
| App Name | What It Does | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| S.M.T.H. | Tracks height when you throw your phone | Android |
| Poop Map | Plots your bowel movements on a map | iOS/Android |
| Nothing | Does absolutely nothing | Android |
| Wakie | Wake-up calls from strangers | iOS/Android |
| RunPee | Bathroom timing tool for moviegoers | iOS/Android |
6. iBeer
This app simulates a glass of beer on your screen. As you tilt your phone, it appears to be filled with golden liquid that swishes around. It’s a visual gag meant to amuse friends, and believe it or not, it became one of the top-selling iPhone apps in the early 2010s.
iBeer is a perfect example of how simplicity and absurdity can lead to viral success. It even launched a series of similar apps, including virtual wine and milk.
7. Demotivational Pics
If you’re tired of Instagram inspiration and Pinterest positivity, Demotivational Pics is your antidote. The app is a curated feed of sarcastic, pessimistic, and often hilarious demotivational posters.
It parodies corporate culture and self-help platitudes, offering users a good laugh with every scroll. It may not lift your spirits, but it will remind you not to take life too seriously.
8. Binky
What if you could use social media without the stress of judgment or feedback? That’s Binky, a fake social media platform where you can like, comment, and scroll endlessly—but none of it’s real. Your comments go nowhere, and your likes mean nothing.
Oddly satisfying, the app mimics the dopamine hit of social media while avoiding toxicity. It’s part satire, part solution for those addicted to scrolling but fed up with drama.
9. Hold On
Hold On is an app with one purpose: keep your finger on the screen as long as you can. No prizes, no real rewards—just a digital endurance challenge. It’s the kind of app you’d download as a dare or party game, but some users have gotten shockingly competitive.
Its simplicity is part of its strange charm, as people often push themselves just to beat their own scores.
10. Spirit Story Box
For the paranormal-curious, Spirit Story Box claims to detect and translate ghostly communications using your phone’s sensors. While obviously not scientifically backed, the app uses random word generators combined with accelerometers and microphones to simulate eerie readings.
It’s half horror story, half joke—but undeniably entertaining for late-night exploration or ghost tours.
The Psychology of Weird Apps
So why are people drawn to these apps despite their impracticality? According to digital culture researchers, it’s all about experimentation. Apps like these satisfy users’ need to:
- Break the routine
- Challenge social norms
- Participate in digital humor
- Engage in low-risk exploration
In a world increasingly governed by productivity and structure, digital nonsense is refreshing.
+ 5 Apps to Analyze PC and Mobile Games
Final Thoughts: Is Absurdity a Feature?
While these apps won’t help you lose weight or file taxes, they serve another crucial purpose—entertainment through absurdity. They challenge what we expect from software and remind us that tech doesn’t always have to be serious.
Sometimes, the best app is one that simply makes you laugh.
“Wakie blends the intimate act of waking up with the anonymity of the internet.”
— Jessica Kim, Wired Magazine, 2020
References
BROWN, Charles. This App Could Break Your Phone, But You’ll Love It Anyway. TechCritic Daily, 2018. Available at: https://techcriticdaily.com/send-me-to-heaven-review. Accessed: 24 May 2025.
KIM, Jessica. The Wake-Up Call You Didn’t Know You Needed. Wired Magazine, 2020. Available at: https://wired.com/article/wakie-app-social-connection. Accessed: 24 May 2025.
