The generation born between 1997 and 2012 is considered the most digital generation in the world. They are commonly referred to as ‘Gen Z.’ From early childhood, they were introduced to smart phones, the internet and social media. Unlike the previous generations they rarely experienced playground games or face-to-face interactions with friends. As a result, their connection with nature was gradually severed.
It is in this context that the phrase “Touch Grass” emerged.
It literally means “connect with nature, feel the green.” In other words, it is a call to step out of the screen-centered lifestyle. It is an appeal directed especially at the younger generation, who spend most of their lives online.
Today, this generation lives in a screen world. Friendships, love, shopping, and sales-all happen in the digital space. Direct connections with nature and with other people are becoming nearly impossible. In fact, many Gen Z individuals feel they don’t even need such a world, because clothes, food, and almost everything else are available online. Doors to the outside are shut and they confine themselves inside with mobile devices. The challenge of this era is to bring them back outside.
In a way, parents themselves are partly responsible. Many consider their children safer indoors with a phone than outside exploring the world. The COVID pandemic and lockdowns also played a major role in deepening this dependence on the digital world.
The Impacts of Digital Dependence
When children don’t go outdoors, they face several physical health problems-mainly Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, fatigue caused by excessive screen use, lack of sleep, and eye strain. Mental health issues also arise, such as depression and stress. They lose confidence to interact with the outside world and develop tendencies of loneliness and isolation. In the long run, even their personal and professional relationships are affected.
The lack of contact with nature also stifles creativity. Studies show that imagination and creative power decline among those trapped in screens. This is why the call to “Touch Grass” has become so vital. It is essentially an invitation to change one’s lifestyle: step into nature, feel the greenery, experience the silence of forests and the sound of the sea. These experiences reduce stress, boost confidence and awaken imagination.
Reclaiming Social Spaces
Parks and public spaces should become places where friendships are nurtured. In the past, relationships and social awareness grew around street corners, libraries, schools and playgrounds. The decline of such spaces and the distancing from nature have led children into a barren world.
To restore what they have lost, society must work together. The younger generation needs to take a break from screens and reconnect with nature. Let them meet people face-to-face, truly experience others, revive their imagination, and let their creativity soar. For that, we must step into nature-taking our children along with us.
