Touch Grass, Literally: This App Won’t Unlock Your Phone Until You Do
Alright, chronic doomscrollers and “tech neck” sufferers, it’s high time you put your phone down and go touch some grass – literally. If you’re struggling to put that phone down, this new app might be what you need to break free from your vampire cave and bask in some sunlight.
The app, aptly named touch grass, was created by independent developer Rhys Kentish to give phone addicts some power over their screen time. Speaking to TechCrunch, Rhys said that he himself struggled with excessive screen time, and that he “wanted to break the habit of reaching for my phone in the morning and doomscrolling for an hour or two before starting my day.”
The core function of the touch grass app is simple: it locks distracting apps for a set period of time. You can either wait until the timer is up, or – if you want to unlock it earlier – go outside and take a picture of yourself literally touching grass.
And it HAS to be grass. According to TechCrunch, your ordinary house plant or sidewalk bush doesn’t count. The app distinguishes this via computer vision AI and will call you out on your sneaky little attempt while it’s at it.
There is a way to bail your locked apps out of their digital prison without touching grass or waiting for the timer to end: and that is to pay, with your hard-earned money, to release the apps from their chains. Though it won’t cost too much – users can choose to pay anywhere between $0.99 to $9.99 – but money, however little, is still money. Just go out and touch some grass, will ya?
If you do decide to pay, just know that half the cost will go towards the registered charity Rewilding Britain, so your proceeds will do some good for the ecosystem.
How long the apps spend in digital prison depends on the block you choose. A ‘Quick Break’ lasts anywhere between 15 to 60 minutes; a ‘Medium Break’ locks them for 30 to 120 minutes; while ‘Rest of Day’ blocks the app until midnight. There’s also a ‘Smart Break’ that takes into account the user’s location and blocks the app based on time of day.
The touch grass app is free to download, but the free version only lets you lock two apps. A premium subscription is available for $5.99 (~RM25.50) a month, or $49.99 (~RM212.78) annually, allowing users to lock more apps. You’re essentially paying more to expand your digital penitentiary – for your own good, of course.
i built an app to stop me doomscrolling by touching grass pic.twitter.com/ZWRLY0uGQe
— Rhys Kentish – building touch grass 🌱 (@RhysKentish) February 24, 2025
Excessive screen time is a pandemic that doesn’t discriminate by age. Studies have shown that prolonged screen time leads to thinning of the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for cognitive functions such as memory, learning, and problem-solving. Moreover, spending too much time on social media can leave scrollers prone to the buildup of stress and anxiety.
The touch grass app will only really work if users are willing to take the next step towards a screen time detox. It’s not the antidote, but rather a crutch that users can utilize until they can willingly walk away from a life glued to their phones.
The touch grass app is free to download on the Apple App Store. An Android version is in the works, with a waitlist now open for Android users to get first dibs when it is eventually released.
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