Hi pj920,
We see you're having some issues with getting a black screen with a spinning gear frequently. We'd be happy to help with getting that headed in the right direction.
For this issue, we'd advise starting with the steps here: If your iOS or iPadOS device restarts or displays the Apple logo or a spinning gear unexpectedly
Be sure to also update the device, as there's a newer iOS version available (iOS 14.5): Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
You'll also want to ensure the apps themselves are updated fully. If that doesn't help, you can also try reinstalling the two affected apps that you mentioned.
Lastly, if none of the above helps, and you still get the frequent black screens, reach out here to Apple Support for further investigation: Get Support
Take care.