World Kindness Day: How Apps Inspire People to Be Kinder in Everyday Life

In today’s busy and digital world, people often feel lonely and disconnected. Many are missing simple human feelings like kindness and compassion. Experts say that this growing lack of kindness is one of the main reasons for the loneliness that so many people face today.

But technology is now being used to solve this problem. On this World Kindness Day, many people are turning to mobile apps that help promote small acts of kindness, teach emotional balance, and build genuine human connection. These apps remind users that even a small good deed can make a big difference.

Kindness means being friendly, caring, and helpful toward others and even yourself. Scientists say that when we do kind things — like helping a friend or saying thank you — our brain releases chemicals that make us feel happy and calm. These acts can also help our brains form stronger connections, which improve emotional health.

App developer Abhinav Kumar explains that kindness-focused apps make it easier to remember and share kind acts. He says, “An app can remind you to check on a friend, send a thank-you message, or help someone nearby. These small reminders can start a chain reaction that spreads positivity far beyond one person.”

One of the most popular apps for promoting kindness is Black Lotus, which combines mindfulness and compassion. The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Vikram Shastry, says that their app has logged over four million acts of kindness so far. It encourages users to start their day with meditation and perform simple acts such as writing a loving message or helping someone in need.

Shastry explains that the purpose of the app is not to keep people glued to their phones, but to help them reconnect with themselves and others. Users of the app often say that it helps them apply kindness in real life.

For example, a user named Himanshu Kumar shared that he gave up his middle berth on a train to a woman who couldn’t climb to the top berth. “Deep inside, I felt light and happy,” he said. Another user, Riya Bisht, shared that reminders from the app encouraged her to call her old friends again. “That small push helped me rebuild friendships I had forgotten,” she said.

Scientists explain that kindness also has physical health benefits. When people receive or give acts of kindness — such as kind words, smiles, or hugs — the brain releases calming chemicals. These chemicals help the body relax and reduce stress by activating what is known as the “rest and digest” system.

A study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2024 found that small acts of kindness can reduce feelings of loneliness, social isolation, and anxiety. Another study in the International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology, and Pharma Research (2020) showed that people who practiced daily kindness felt less stressed and happier overall.

The Journal of Social Psychology (2019) also found that performing kind acts improves happiness and emotional well-being. Psychologists say that kindness releases special “feel-good” chemicals in the body — oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.

According to psychologist Dr. Arpita Kohli from PSRI Hospital, “Oxytocin helps lower blood pressure and reduce stress. Serotonin improves mood and gives a sense of satisfaction, while endorphins work as natural painkillers and energy boosters.” She adds that kindness activates the brain’s reward system, giving people a “helper’s high” — a warm feeling that increases confidence and inner strength.

Dr. Kohli also mentions that being kind regularly can lower stress hormones like cortisol, improve heart health, and even make the immune system stronger. In short, kindness benefits not only our minds but also our bodies.

As the world celebrates World Kindness Day, it is clear that technology can be used to make people feel closer again. Apps that remind users to perform simple acts of kindness — such as sending a kind message, helping a stranger, or spending time with family — show that kindness can spread through small, daily actions.

Even in a fast-moving world filled with screens and notifications, kindness still has the power to connect people. With the help of these apps, millions are learning that doing good for others also means doing good for themselves.