The Roots of Touch Grass Labs

In May 2022, I had an idea—equal parts joke and gut punch. But it was not until November 2024 that I actually acted upon that idea. 

Like a lot of people, I was stuck in the endless loop: starting the day by doomscrolling, continuing the day glued to screens for work, and ending the day half-watching Netflix while half-scrolling through my phone to chase one last hit of dopamine. At some point, I realized I was living entirely online—wired, anxious, and chronically “meh.”

I wasn’t alone. The internet has rewired how we live, for better and worse. While technology keeps us connected, entertained, and informed, it also has a dark side: content that preys on our insecurities, our tribal instincts, and our impulsive cravings. Ragebait headlines. Hustle culture peddlers. And plotless dopamine loops. We’ve all been there.

Then one day, the phrase “Go Touch Grass” hit differently. Originally used online as a snarky way to tell someone they need to get outside and stop being chronically online, it started to feel like more than just a joke. It felt like a calling to build something. So I literally built something. It is a small wooden tray, just big enough to sit on your desk, with a patch of fake grass nestled inside. I called it the Touch Grass Classic.

It's a tangible symbol for those of us who know we need to unplug but struggle to actually do it. Something you could glance at during a meeting, while gaming, or mid-scroll and remember: there’s a world beyond the screen. It started as a personal reminder. Then it became something bigger. The mission of Touch Grass Labs is to offer a whimsical but sincere reminder to step away from the digital world and reconnect with reality.

But this isn't just a novelty product. It’s a pushback against a system optimized to hijack our attention and sell it to the highest bidder. It’s a counterweight to a digital culture where outrage is profitable and algorithms feed us whatever keeps us scrolling. Touch Grass Labs stands for something simple: that we can still choose presence. That we can still laugh, look around, and remember what it’s like to be grounded—literally and metaphorically.

To further our mission, we’re proud to support mental health organizations working to address the growing toll of anxiety, depression, and attention related issues that is caused and worsened by Big Tech. I don’t pretend this product will save the world. But maybe it can start a conversation. Maybe it can make someone laugh and go outside. And maybe it can be the thing you give to that friend, coworker, or sibling who could use the nudge.

Touch Grass Labs is more than a tray of fake grass. It’s a real-world signal. A reminder that real life still exists. So if you're feeling stuck in the scroll, if you’ve ever needed a sign to log off and live a little, here it is.

Go touch some grass. We dare you.

Stay Rooted. Touch Grass. 

Written by: 

Kyle C

President, Touch Grass Labs, LLC

Last Updated July 22, 2025