For those who have found themselves mindlessly scrolling through feeds for extended periods, the tongue-in-cheek advice to “touch grass” is a familiar suggestion to log off and head outdoors. However, one developer has taken this concept to a new level by introducing an innovative solution.

Rhys Kentish recently launched an iOS app called Touch Grass, which takes a unique approach to reducing screen time by locking distracting apps until the user literally walks outside and takes a photo of grass.

The idea for Touch Grass was born out of Kentish’s own struggles with screen time. “I realized I’d spend seven years of my life staring at my phone if I didn’t make a change,” Kentish shared with TechCrunch. “I needed something with more friction than existing solutions to get me out of the house and break the habit of mindless scrolling in the morning.”

The app is designed to be strict – it uses computer vision AI to distinguish between actual outdoor grass and houseplants or other greenery. When testing the app, a photo of a Monstera plant was rejected, prompting a search for the nearest green space, which turned out to be a bush. However, the app remained insistent that actual grass was required, leading to a brief moment of panic in an urban environment with limited green spaces.

Kentish emphasizes that this level of friction is intentional. “People initially saw the app as a humorous concept, but some have found it genuinely helpful in reducing their screen time,” he noted.

To address potential safety concerns, the app takes into account the user’s location and the time of day. It can be set to prevent unlocks during nighttime hours when it might not be safe to venture outside. Users can also customize their settings to navigate blocks when going outside is not feasible.

The app operates on a freemium model, allowing users to lock two apps for free, with the option to pay what they want to unlock them. Notably, half of the payment will be donated to rewilding efforts in the U.K. Users who wish to lock more than two apps can subscribe for $5.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

Kentish initially explored the concept of paid unlocks about a year and a half ago with an app that transferred money from his checking account to his savings each time he opened TikTok. However, the idea of touching grass provides a more palatable and humorous approach to reducing screen time.

Since its launch, Touch Grass has been downloaded approximately 50,000 times. As an independent developer, Kentish is currently managing the app solo but remains open to investor interest, which could facilitate the development of an Android version and broader marketing efforts.