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What is the story about?
For a generation that mostly grew up online, India’s Gen Z is now choosing something refreshingly old-school: real life. From run clubs and pottery cafés to weekday gigs and solo dining, young urban Indians are increasingly trading screen time for experiences that feel tangible and social.
That’s the central finding of 'Touching Grass 2026: How India Will Go Out', a cultural report released by District by Zomato, which maps how people are reshaping their social lives in the aftermath of years of digital saturation.
The phrase "touch grass" may have started as internet slang for stepping away from screens, but the report suggests it has become a genuine behavioural shift. After a decade of hyper-digital living, it points to a growing "analogue renaissance", driven by fatigue, people feeling overstimulated online yet emotionally underwhelmed.
At the heart of it is a simple idea: validation is moving "off social". Instead of proving a good life through posts and stories, young people are seeking "proof-of-life" through how they feel in their bodies, energy, mood, memory and connection.
Going out, the report argues, has become a new social metric. It now signals that someone is socially functional, curious and emotionally present, almost like a "going-out credit score".
This shows up in several measurable ways. The report notes that 83% of Indian Gen Z prefer trainer-led community fitness classes with high engagement, while 61% of diners value interactive elements such as open kitchens and chef interactions. Meanwhile, 22% of concertgoers now attend solo, treating it as autonomy rather than loneliness.
In other words, friction, once eliminated by digital convenience, is back in fashion. Queuing for dessert, waking up at 5.30 am for a run club, or trekking to a campsite now counts as "sexy" because it demands presence.
Also Read: How productivity is transforming our eating habits
One of the report’s key ideas is "ambient belonging", low-pressure social spaces where people can feel part of something without needing a fixed group or constant interaction. Coffee counters, vinyl cafés, cinemas and communal dining tables now offer a sense of togetherness without the emotional labour of group chats or rigid plans.
Arriving alone, the report notes, is no longer coded as awkward. It is increasingly seen as confidence. People are comfortable drifting between solitude and community in the same evening.
Another major shift is how time itself is being reimagined. Social life is no longer concentrated on Friday nights. Around 40% of dining out now happens on weekdays, with mornings and afternoons emerging as valid social windows alongside nightlife.
A Tuesday morning coffee or a weekday gig can now carry as much social value as a Saturday party. The new status symbol isn't just where you go, but how you arrange your time.
Perhaps the most telling phrase in the report is its description of a "revolt against the rot", a collective pushback against what it calls digital disembodiment. In an era of infinite scroll, reality feels more trustworthy precisely because it cannot be filtered, edited or staged.
The report repeatedly warns against turning lived culture into packaged trends, acknowledging its own blind spots. Still, it insists the shift is real: people are bored of the internet and hungry for experiences that leave physical and emotional memory.
Gen Z, it seems, is not rejecting technology. They are renegotiating its place. Screens are still there, but they are no longer the main stage for identity. As the report advises at the end: close the tab, reserve the table, take the walk, stay longer than planned, talk to strangers, and let it be real.
Also Read: What is ‘Hot take dating’: The 2026 trend redefining romance by prioritising bold conversations
That’s the central finding of 'Touching Grass 2026: How India Will Go Out', a cultural report released by District by Zomato, which maps how people are reshaping their social lives in the aftermath of years of digital saturation.
The phrase "touch grass" may have started as internet slang for stepping away from screens, but the report suggests it has become a genuine behavioural shift. After a decade of hyper-digital living, it points to a growing "analogue renaissance", driven by fatigue, people feeling overstimulated online yet emotionally underwhelmed.
At the heart of it is a simple idea: validation is moving "off social". Instead of proving a good life through posts and stories, young people are seeking "proof-of-life" through how they feel in their bodies, energy, mood, memory and connection.
Going out, the report argues, has become a new social metric. It now signals that someone is socially functional, curious and emotionally present, almost like a "going-out credit score".
This shows up in several measurable ways. The report notes that 83% of Indian Gen Z prefer trainer-led community fitness classes with high engagement, while 61% of diners value interactive elements such as open kitchens and chef interactions. Meanwhile, 22% of concertgoers now attend solo, treating it as autonomy rather than loneliness.
In other words, friction, once eliminated by digital convenience, is back in fashion. Queuing for dessert, waking up at 5.30 am for a run club, or trekking to a campsite now counts as "sexy" because it demands presence.
Also Read: How productivity is transforming our eating habits
One of the report’s key ideas is "ambient belonging", low-pressure social spaces where people can feel part of something without needing a fixed group or constant interaction. Coffee counters, vinyl cafés, cinemas and communal dining tables now offer a sense of togetherness without the emotional labour of group chats or rigid plans.
Arriving alone, the report notes, is no longer coded as awkward. It is increasingly seen as confidence. People are comfortable drifting between solitude and community in the same evening.
Another major shift is how time itself is being reimagined. Social life is no longer concentrated on Friday nights. Around 40% of dining out now happens on weekdays, with mornings and afternoons emerging as valid social windows alongside nightlife.
A Tuesday morning coffee or a weekday gig can now carry as much social value as a Saturday party. The new status symbol isn't just where you go, but how you arrange your time.
Perhaps the most telling phrase in the report is its description of a "revolt against the rot", a collective pushback against what it calls digital disembodiment. In an era of infinite scroll, reality feels more trustworthy precisely because it cannot be filtered, edited or staged.
The report repeatedly warns against turning lived culture into packaged trends, acknowledging its own blind spots. Still, it insists the shift is real: people are bored of the internet and hungry for experiences that leave physical and emotional memory.
Gen Z, it seems, is not rejecting technology. They are renegotiating its place. Screens are still there, but they are no longer the main stage for identity. As the report advises at the end: close the tab, reserve the table, take the walk, stay longer than planned, talk to strangers, and let it be real.
Also Read: What is ‘Hot take dating’: The 2026 trend redefining romance by prioritising bold conversations
