MOMENT OF ZEN

Meditation App Surges as Election-Induced Stress Plagues Nation

The app Calm shot up more than 100 spots on the App Store after airing an election night ad.

The meditation app Calm sought to defray some nerves on election night with a clever ad aimed at anxious voters. Amid the breakneck pace of election coverage on CNN and ABC Tuesday, Calm ran a silent ad to offer viewers a moment of peace. “We bought this ad space to give you 30 seconds of silence,” the ad reads. “Yep, just silence. You’re welcome.” After the ad aired, the app shot up more than 100 spots on the App Store, TMZ reported. A Calm representative told TMZ they knew “offering moments of tranquility was essential during election season.” The app offers guided meditations and a “Sleep Stories” series, which are aimed at helping adult listeners sleep. Calm also sponsored CNN coverage during election night in 2020, which also paid off for the company: then, it rose 20 spots in the App Store, according to TechCrunch.