A delightfully wholesome speed bump for your phone addiction.

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We’re excited to introduce one of our craziest (and most loved) features yet: Pet a Dog to Unblock Social Media. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like.

Here’s the problem: phones are way too easy to use. You tap, you scroll, you forget why you even picked it up. That’s not just bad for your productivity…it’s bad for your nervous system, your relationships, and your sense of presence.

At Roots, we’re always looking for new ways to interrupt that autopilot moment—to help you pause and choose think twice before scrolling. And what’s better than petting your dog?

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Here’s how it works:

• You set a block (for Instagram, TikTok, whatever).
• When you try to open the app, your camera activates.
• We detect your dog, then your hand petting them.
• Only then is the app unblocked.

Sometimes, you’ll decide to scroll anyways. And that’s totally ok. But other times, this will snap you out of it and you'll choose real life over scrolling mindlessly.

It’s simple. It’s joyful. It works.

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Why we built it

We wanted to add a moment of grounding before you slip into a doomscrolling's. For dog owners, that grounding moment can be as simple and rewarding as connecting with your pet.

This is the first in a series of "Speed Bumps"—friction points designed to give you just enough pause to make a better choice. Pet a Dog is playful by design, but the outcome is powerful: you’ll check your phone less, and connect more with the world around you.

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What if I don’t have a dog?

This is just the beginning. We’re working on other wholesome blockers—some silly, some serious. Think of them as a menu of mini-interruptions that gently nudge you toward a more intentional life.

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Ready to scroll less and connect more?

Try the Pet a Dog feature now in the latest Roots app update.

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