Roots: Empowering Users to Reclaim Balance in a Digital World
In a move that echoes the U.S. Surgeon General’s call for warning labels on social media sites, a innovative startup, Roots, is launching a suite of tools designed to help individuals combat app addiction and cultivate a healthier relationship with their devices.
Roots, an iOS app, distinguishes itself from traditional screen-time tracking apps by measuring not only the quantity of time spent on devices but also the quality of that time, leveraging its proprietary “digital dopamine” tracker. This feature empowers users to quantify the impact of their app usage and make informed decisions about their digital habits.
Co-founded by entrepreneur Clint Jarvis, Roots was born out of Jarvis’ personal struggles with burnout and his quest for balance in the startup world. Initially, he sought to create a nature-based mindfulness app but later shifted his focus to address the more pressing issue of unhealthy device interactions.
Roots offers a range of features to help users break the cycle of addictive scrolling, including:
- Digital dopamine tracking
- App limits and blockin
- Downtime scheduling
- Monk Mode (a feature that allows users to set non-overrideable limits)
- Balance score (a personalized metric to track progress)
- Customizable reminders to stop scrolling
- Rewards for staying under screen time limits
The app operates on a freemium model, with premium features available through in-app subscriptions.
In beta testing, Roots has shown promising results, with users reducing their screen time by an average of 2 hours per day. The startup has secured $550,000 in pre-seed funding from Wildwood Ventures and Atlanta-area angel investors.
Roots’ mission is clear: to help individuals find balance in a digital world. By providing users with the tools to track, limit, and manage their app usage, Roots is empowering people to take control of their relationships with their devices.
