App aims to make us all kinder

There are apps to help you lose weight by recording what you eat and track your daily exercise patterns.

Now David Mesinter has developed an app to help South Africans become kinder.

And he believes President Jacob Zuma should use it.

The app, ARK, is made up from the words: "random act of kindness''.

It helps users set daily, weekly or monthly kindness goals. It suggests how to be kind to family, friends, colleagues or those in need.

The app is available from the iStore and Google Play and has had nearly 2,000 downloads.

"Our government needs to download this app. This is a solution for South Africa," said Mesinter.

Comedian John Vlismas, who features in the app's online advert, describes it as "like Tinder for saints".

But psychologists say people need more than a reminder to help them change their habitual behaviour.

Johannesburg-based psychologist Sophia Combrink said: "As humans we are actually terrible at making changes.

"Even when we are hit with serious life events, such as trauma or illness, we often make changes only for a short period.

"An app provides a particular trigger. It will not override the final choice we make on how we want to act," she said.