Tired of doom-scrolling? New app forces you to step outside and 'Touch Grass' — literally

Are you tired of doom-scrolling but don't know how to stop? Well, with so many social media platforms, our world has just become about likes and comments. The more we scroll, the more we get hooked, losing track of time. But what if breaking free from this invisible trap was easier than you thought? Don't believe us? Meet Rhys Kentish, who goes by @rhyskentish on X. He came up with a brilliant idea to help people with doom-scrolling. He developed an incredible app called "Touch Grass" that would force you to go outside. 

"I was sick and tired of my reflex in the morning being to reach for my phone and scroll for upwards of an hour. It didn’t feel good, and I wasn’t getting anything out of it," Kentish, a London-based software designer, told Fast Company. After four months of tireless work, he finally developed an app that requires users to touch the grass before they can open their social media accounts. But wait—before you assume that a quick touch of grass can grant you unlimited screen time, there's a quirky catch! Once you complete the task, you must follow a strict time frame for your social media scrolling. "Touch Grass" is set to launch on the App Store on March 14, 2025, for iPhone users only. However, the talented developer, Kentish, has not ruled out an Android version for the future.

Meanwhile, reacting to the post, @abhivendra commented, "That's a brilliant initiative, Rhys. In a world where digital distractions abound, creating tools that encourage real-world engagement is vital. Let's harness that energy towards driving innovation in education." @veygax suggested, "Make a strict mode that removes the skips and stops allowing you to choose how long you want the apps unblocked for, and then it's peak."

@realpeterteal wrote, "Oh my god! This is brilliant. What do I do if I live in a desert environment /or where it’s winter? Please add modes." @realsteelbrain pointed out, "Touching grass is harder than people realize. In the UAE, you have to go on a pretty decent drive to find grass." @mind__runner asked, "Man, I live in Antarctica, and we don't have any grass here. Please make a winter mode like 'touch snow.' Thanks! And maybe 'touch sand' for someone who is from the desert."

@unlimitedprobe praised the app and revealed, "A much-needed app for me. But what happens after touching grass, back to doomscrolling? Didn't know this was even a thing. I'm now looking at the many available apps. Doomscrolling is an ever-increasing issue that needs resolving." On the other hand, @type5hii wrote, "I think doom scrolling has done more good than bad for me. I'd say fix your 'For You Page' to follow people that will be of good [value] to you and stop watching gags and short videos that will kill your attention span." @jajevola said, "Oh my god, I just looked at the app in the App Store and saw your in-app purchases… I love that you have to spend money on skips to discourage you from using them!" @gnaticchioni1 said, "I can’t touch grass because my neighbor's dog keeps shitting in it and not cleaning it up."

A 2022 study found that there are more than 4.62 billion active social media users in the world, with an individual spending an average of 6 hours and 58 min per day on the internet and 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media platforms.

You can follow Rhys Kentish (@rhyskentish) on X for more updates on the app.