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Roots — Track your digital dopamine, break your phone addiction
Roots is not just another screen time app. We're the first to quantify the digital dopamine you get from using your phone, and we help you build a better relationship with your phone from the ground up.
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@shadmannazim Awesome to hear that you like the app focus, and appreciate the positive feedback! We hope you can check it out and let us know what you think!
Hey @clinjar, your app is tagged as "coming soon" on the App store, with an expected release on Dec 31st 2024. Do I missed something ?
@leonardsellem thanks for the note! We are "coming soon" in some EU countries at the moment, but we are planning to launch soon (hopefully well before Dec!). Thanks for your interest, and we're excited for you to try it out when we go live in France!
Sounds great, but unfortunately not yet available in the European app store (I'm in the Netherlands). Can only "pre-order" it in the app store. It says it'll be available December 1st. Might want to check on that @clinjar :)
@emarky Thanks for your note Wilco! One of our main focuses right now is to launch in Europe as well, we picked a date later this year for this but actually anticipate availability very soon as we get it out!
The best way to stay tuned meanwhile is to pre-order and you will get a notification when it's showtime! 😊
I've been one of those guys. Spending hours on socials thinking I am networking while the work I have to get done keeps on sitting, or my life partner is just doom-scrolling instead of making a closer connection. Tried all competitors, iOS screen time, and honestly - all were bulshit. Roots changed my perception on how to connect with the world, that's not in our screens and helped me cure my addiction to constantly check what's going on, as honestly - if it was important somebody would call me. Couldn't recommend Roots more!
@denisjeliazkov Thanks so much for your support and appreciation Denislav! Your story is so relatable to so many of us! We are certainly on a big mission here to find better balance in life with less scrolling and more presence in life. Super exciting, thanks again! 🙏
I've had to power off my phone a number of times because it was just too distracting as I work. Looks like Roots is a good alternative - gonna install now!
@thisissukh_ Sometimes the power off technique is the best! We're excited to provide a good alternative that helps you build a better overall relationship in an approachable way. Let us know what you think if you give Roots a try!
Hi, I wanted to try it, but seemed like your app has a regional lock. Not available in other stores like Singapore?
@stas_mikhaylov1 Hi Stas! We are "coming soon" in some countries at the moment, but we are planning to launch in Singapore soon (hopefully well before Dec!). We're excited for you to try it out once it comes!
Hey. Congratulations on the launch! This is truly meaningful for me. I have to use laptops everyday for work, which cause a great pressure to my eyes. When I come back home, I feel boring and prefer to scroll social medias without any intention. I would be happy if there's an app that could help me away from phone.
And my question is, does this app have some interesting ideas provided for users ? Then can can do something instead of playing the phone.
@abby_zhao Thanks a lot Abby, we are super excited to hear that! One of our key angles to building better balance with our phones is to not only cut down on screen time but to spend more time on the things you love doing. So once you set up Roots, you can define all the things you love doing, (Reading, Going outside, Spending time with family etc.) and once you get blocked from your apps, we will gently nudge you to do any of these things instead of continuing scrolling!
I love this idea! Can't wait to try this and finally detach from my phone. The summer is such a great time to launch it so we can all reconnect with nature and enjoy the sun ☀️
@edoardorainoldi Thanks so much Edoardo! Super excited for you to check it out! That sounds like a perfect summer challenge to stay off our devices and enjoy the sun to the fullest! Hope you have an amazing one! ☀️
Hi all makers and creatives! I’m Pontus, Co-Founder & Head of Design at Roots and I'm thrilled to introduce what we are building to you all! I thought I'd share a bit about our design vision and principles as you get familiar with Roots for the first time 🌳
I could start by saying that simplicity is one of our core principles, which it is, but I want to highlight an even more important focus: Supportive. It's tough to get off our phones, it truly is, and I've struggled with this for many years as well. It often starts with a bit of scrolling and ends up consuming all of you. That's why we aim to deliver an experience that feels supportive in facing this challenge. All the way from our tree illustration, representing your daily balance score, to the way we communicate, provide information, and gently nudge you to put down your phone – all without negativity or disruption.
We strive for a product experience free from unnecessary complexities, ensuring the highest quality of interactions to move you through Roots seamlessly.
Lastly, we infuse playfulness into our design with thoughtful details like animations and transitions. Currently, our app has a light and fresh look, but we’re excited to bring you a lovely dark mode soon. Until then, our website offers a dark, cinematic vibe, perfect for showcasing vivid visuals and depth. Check it out at http://getroots.app and explore the details we’ve crafted so far – I think you’ll like it!
We're just getting started, so if you have any thoughts or questions, especially on the design side, I'm here for you! I can't wait to continue this journey with you all as we will launch in Europe very soon too!
Thanks a lot for your support! 🚀
/Pontus
@jo_jo26 Very excited that this resonates with you! Totally agree with you and absolutely, we are here to help you get the best sleep you've ever had hopefully haha! A great simple setup is to have a phone downtime at 9-11pm right before bed, blocking out social media etc!
@jo_jo26 That sounds awesome! Totally get what you mean! FOMO, fear of missing out, from social activity once reduced is definitely one of the struggles we try to help with and there are several ways you can setup your limits so that it doesn't overwhelm you in this habit change. We're here if you want any further tips!
@jo_jo26 Compromising is definitely a part of it but maybe even more so to be kind to ourselves and not make a too big of a first step. So starting small instead with a little less screen time per day and then increase week by week. Curious on how it goes!
While I find it easy to dive deep into overanalyzing anything and everything, I really like the simple Balance Score. It rolls everything up into one super simple score and helps me be mindful of what's taking my attention. Is my phone becoming an idol or a tool - for me, the latter. P.S. ❤️ the UI/UX
@sam_lepak I can definitely relate to overanalyzing everything. I got a little too hooked on tracking my sleep a few months ago. Glad to hear you like the simplicity of the Balance Score, and love the UI/UX! Definitely takes some work to make your phone a tool instead of an idol. Thanks for taking the time to share!
@sam_lepak Idol or tool - Love that framing you made there! Thanks a lot for your thoughts and support Sam!
I've been using Opal for 6 months now. When I first saw this product, it looked very similar. But after digging in a bit, it seems you've come up with a better solution and you've addressed my biggest issue with Opal.
Opal allows me to categorize screen time as good or bad, but the reporting treats all screen time the same.
I don't care about my screen time, I care about WASTED time. There is a big difference.
Looking forward to giving Roots a try!
@matty_reed Thanks a lot for this Matty! We are excited to hear this! Would love to hear more of your thoughts after you've tried it out so feel free to reach out with any reflections so that we can improve even more!
@anastasiia_stepko Hi Anastasiia, thanks for your note! Really love your Pomodoro timer by the way, looks amazing!
@clinjar can probably break it down even more for you but from my design side of things, UI is definitely a big part of an experience being excellent as it very quickly becomes complicated and confusing otherwise.
Digital Dopamine monitoring is a key differentiator as all screen time shouldn't be treated equally since they do affect us differently. Daily balance score is powerful to see how balanced your days are in terms of time on or off your phone, and if you stick to your goals. Scroll replacements is also a big one, as with every habit, you often need to replace a bad one with a new one - Like calling your mom and check in with her on the latest in her life instead of watching another Instagram reel.
@anastasiia_stepko Thank you for the note! I think Pontus did a great job with some of the differences but I'll add a few more thoughts!
We think that any great market will have several leaders (think UPS & Fedex, Calm & Headspace, Zoom & Teams, etc). In this case, and many other markets, there is some overlap in the top rated solutions.
We think the brand, approachability, and design are key differentiators, in addition to the unique features Pontus mentioned — digital dopamine tracking, daily balance score, monk mode, and scroll replacements.
A lot of the screen time apps have a similar goal (to get you off your phone!), but it's fun to see all the different ways various teams are approaching the problem.
We believe the market is big enough to support several big players, and would love for you to give Roots a try and see what you think.
Great idea, I love that you're prompted to do something else that's important to you instead of scrolling.
@jenna_ross Thank you Jenna! We have definitely found that the scroll replacements are key. We're so trained to reach for our phones, it's helpful to have an alternative to catch you in the moment of weakness! I've had a lot of luck with keeping a book next to my phone so I can redirect to that when I am blocked out of social media.
I am a premium member, started to use this app daily. Kudos to folks behind this app 🌲
@rssems That's amazing to hear! I'm curious, which is your favorite part of the Roots app so far? Thanks so much Rıza!
@rssems Hi Riza! So glad to hear you are enjoying using Roots. Thanks for being part of the journey!
@rssems That's definitely a great one to set things into perspective!
Quite a set of interesting and thoughtfully designed features to help reduce screentime.
Is it odd that I am bugged by the fact that the app is called Roots, but instead of showing the roots, it shows everything else other than the roots of the tree 🌳 in terms of branding. 😅
Also, what inspired the name "Roots"?
@naomigarcia Hi Naomi! First off, I love your clever Beeyond startup name! Looks bee-utiful 🐝
Thanks a lot for your comment and that's an interesting reflection!
We have a lot of ideas on how to expand our brand representation but we landed on a tree rather than roots for a possibly more appealing look - At least I have never seen any too fancy looking roots 😄
Our name however is originated very much in what it means, to go back to our roots reminding us of the vital connection to the Earth, acknowledging a time before we spent our days staring at screens and the importance of spending time outside. Actually, one of our upcoming ambitions is to lean even more into this aspect of not just spending less time on screens, but more time outside in nature.
The underlying community we all need Is also a big part of this — the roots of trees being interconnected, and allowing them to communicate, and grow together — like our community striving for better balance in life
I hope that you will like Roots, would love to hear your thoughts once you get into it! 🙏
Our biggest (and most exciting) customer insight is that when people engage in activities they love, they are less likely to spend time on their phones.
Hence, we created the user experience of the Roots App to encourage people to seek positive dopamine sources (such as being outdoors, reading a book, exercising, spending time with loved ones, etc.), which naturally helps them reduce their reliance on digital (cheap) dopamine.
Hi, I am Vikram - Co-Founder and User Experience Lead for Roots App.
I am also the co-founder of Quiet Parks International, a non-profit organization a nonprofit focused on saving quiet spaces in nature from noise pollution.
Roots App is an expression of my personal mission: To help people experience both inner and outer quiet.
Scroll less, live more!
The app looks really good! It seems like it will keep me more motivated than Opal. I'm definitely going to try it!
@roman_barzyczak Thanks a lot Roman! Super excited to hear that and looking forward to hearing what you think!
Love this! We definitely all need it. And I love the name too. Back to the Roots :)
@jasmina_stamenovic Thanks so much Jasmina! So excited it resonates with you, and our name! :) Would love your thoughts when you get into it – here for you if you have any questions!
@jasmina_stamenovic Back to the Roots indeed! Awesome to hear you love the name. Thank you for the feedback!
@kehui_guo Thanks a lot Kehui! Much appreciated and so much more to come! We hope that you will enjoy Roots, let us know if you have any thoughts or questions! 🌳
I wonder if there are gamification elements or rewards integrated to encourage healthier phone habits over time.
@sophia_gartner Hi Sophia! Definitely! We have a streak functionality where you build and extend a streak by staying within your app limits. As a reward for your healthier phone habits, you earn "Cheat days" - Days you can take to scroll as much as you want, intentionally – special app icons, and much more added to this coming up!
Roots