Show HN: I built an app to stop me doomscrolling by touching grass

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Seasonal and Environmental Constraints

  • Many commenters point out that in snowy climates (Canada, Finland, northern US/Europe) grass is inaccessible for months.
  • Suggestions: “touch snow,” “touch a tree,” “touch sand,” “touch rocks/cactus/dirt,” or generic “outdoor” substitutes (sunlight, saying hi to someone, walking 500 steps).
  • Some see being locked out all winter as a feature, not a bug. Others note urban settings with no clean grass to touch.
  • The creator indicates customization (choosing what to touch) is planned.

Whimsy, Culture, and Monetization

  • Strong appreciation for the app’s weird, playful concept; several lament the decline of fun, whimsical apps compared with early smartphone days.
  • A thread explores how everything now tends to be evaluated in terms of “moats,” monetization, and subscriptions, crowding out hobbyist creativity.
  • Some argue whimsical work historically comes from “broke art kids” and later gets commodified.

Addiction, Effectiveness, and Alternatives

  • Some think adding friction and breaking the fast feedback loop of doomscrolling is genuinely helpful.
  • Others argue making access harder can heighten the eventual dopamine reward and thus reinforce addiction.
  • Alternative “unlock” ideas: pushups, breathing exercises, quizzes, todo reminders, social approval gates, or calorie-burning goals.
  • A few prefer building self-restraint without technological crutches.

Technical Implementation and Platform Limits

  • The app uses iOS Screen Time APIs, SwiftUI, and Google Vision; this makes iOS relatively easy and Android significantly harder (no equivalent system API).
  • Questions arise about why not use cross‑platform tech; answers note the dependence on native capabilities.
  • Some complain about the iOS 17 requirement; others say supporting current–1 is normal.

Privacy and Location Use

  • Location is reportedly used only to determine local sunset times and possibly ensure some movement; data isn’t stored or transmitted.
  • One commenter notes time zones alone are insufficient because they span large north–south distances.

Related Tools, Irony, and Cheating

  • People share other anti‑doomscrolling tactics: uBlock filters, logging out, bad mobile UIs as friction, shortcuts, and similar apps/extensions.
  • Several highlight the irony of using an app to stop using apps.
  • Cheating ideas (fake grass, printed photos, indoor turf) lead to jokes about “astroturfed” reviews; others note you’d only be cheating yourself.

Overall Reception

  • Reception is overwhelmingly positive: funny, charming, and potentially useful.
  • Many request Android and “touch snow” modes; some foresee a broader genre of “go outside first” apps.