Redacted screen shot of the Coloring Book Swear Words app.
This week I’m reviewing Coloring Book Swear Words. Research suggests that repeating swear words can increase an individual’s tolerance for both emotional and physical pain (Philipp and Lombardo, 2017; Stephens et al., 2009; Stephens & Umland, 2011; Robertson et al., 2017). For this purpose, the “f word” was demonstrated to be more effective than neutral words or made up swear words (Stephens & Robertson, 2020). To be clear, I am not recommending this app for children or if you find these words offensive.
Intended Use: The app is intended for entertainment and relieving stress.
Target Audience: The app is listed as appropriate for ages 17 and up due to the use of graphic language.
Usability: The interface is primarily visual (apart from the actual swear word which is the central feature of each image). Users can select from palettes of pre-selected colors to fill in areas of the image.
Cost: The app is free to download and includes 15 images to color in with three color palettes. There is an option for in-app purchase of the other images and 12 color palettes for $0.99.
Technical Requirements: Available for iOS.
Pro’s: The app features swear words which may be a way for users to relieve tension.
Con’s:
Because the app features swear words it is not appropriate to use around children or in areas where the user does not have privacy.
Some of the areas to color in are not well-defined which leads to bleeding of colors into areas where the user may not want them to go.
The images are highly detailed which requires zooming in to fill them in on a smaller screen. When I tested it on an iPhone there were some areas that were simply too small and had to be left blank.
You cannot blend colors, create your own colors, or free draw within the app.
Is it worth it? The app is somewhat entertaining but I think that users might be better served by drawing, sketching, or coloring with physical art materials. There are several coloring books on the market which feature similar designs.