Rejoice! Netflix Just Invented Socks That Pause Your Show When You Fall Asleep

Netflix proves they understand parents by inventing a sock that will pause a show if you nod off.

You know the scene well. Your ass finally hits the couch after a long day, hunkering down for what you hope will be hours of your new favorite show. However, being an exhausted parent, you fall asleep almost instantly, waking hours later to spoilers because Netflix kept playing one episode after another even though you’d long since tuned out. Fear not, parents. As they did when they started offering countless versions of Spider-Man cartoons for your discerning seven-year-0ld, Netflix has your back. They’ve invented a sock that can sense you’ve nodded off and will pause your show so you don’t have to miss a thing.

Netflix partnered with Pittsburgh-based agency Deeplocal to create a sock that will know when the wearer has fallen asleep and can automatically pause the TV. From Adweek, Netflix explains, “We’ve based our sleep detection system on a popular method called actigraphy. An accelerometer detects when you’ve stopped moving for a prolonged period of time and triggers a signal to your TV that pauses Netflix. When it detects that you’ve dozed off, an LED light in the cuff of the sock flashes red, warning that the pause signal is about to be sent to your TV. Any motion will stop it from firing.”

Netflix goes on to say that the mechanism is highly advanced and can tell the difference between it’s wearer sitting still, totally entranced by the new season of “The Fall” (PLEASE bring it back, Netflix — Jamie Dornan withdrawal is a thing) and actually being asleep. Socks that know when you’re sleeping and automatically do your subconscious bidding. What a time to be alive. Check out this cute video to learn how to make them. Warning: it involves knitting.

There’s also this handy link showing you all the steps to creating your own omniscient footwear. You might have to be pretty damn crafty, but the end result looks very much worth it. Have you ever experienced that sad and sobering moment where you’ve watched Netflix for so many hours it’s actually asking you if you’re still watching? As Adweek helpfully points out, these babies could help you totally avoid that sad brand of “I don’t have a life” shame. And what parent couldn’t use that?

All silliness aside, we’re living in a time where technology can do just about anything for us and as much as it’s made some kid-related tasks harder (hello, parenting in the age of “screen time”) it’s also making lots of it a whole lot easier. Had a rough day with the kids? Not sure how far you’ll get in your “Jessica Jones” marathon before you drift off into your bowl of ice cream? It’s cool. Just slip on your magic socks, pour a glass of pinot and hit “play.” Netflix will save you from missing out if you pass out. Because we needed another reason to love them.