The impact of excessive screen time isn’t just mental, it’s physical. A sedentary lifestyle is becoming the norm and it’s taking a toll on our bodies.

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• Kids today are weaker than previous generations. Studies show that grip strength, cardiovascular endurance, and overall physical fitness have declined due to a lack of movement. [13,14]

• Posture problems and screen-related injuries are rising. “Tech neck,” spinal misalignment, and eye strain are becoming common among children and teens. [15]

• Sitting is the new smoking. Extended screen use has been linked to increased risks of obesity, heart disease, and early mortality. [16]

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Simply put, the human body wasn’t designed for a life spent hunched over a screen. The longer we stay glued to devices, the harder it becomes to engage in physical activity, and this makes outdoor sports feel more like a challenge than an opportunity.

Nature is a proven antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression. The problem? Fewer people are experiencing it. Instead, they’re stuck indoors, staring at screens, and suffering the mental health consequences.

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• Depression rates among teens have risen by 60% in the last decade, mirroring the rise in screen usage. [1]

• 1 in 3 young adults now struggle with an anxiety disorder, a 30% increase from the early 2000s. [2]

• Suicide rates among the youth ages 10-24 have increased by nearly 60% since 2007. [3]

• Research shows that spending just two hours a week in nature can significantly improve mental health, but most kids aren’t even coming close to that.[4]

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Instead of climbing trees, kids are climbing the ranks in video games. Instead of exploring forests, they’re scrolling through someone else’s adventures online. The outdoor industry has an opportunity not just to provide access but to reconnect people with the mental health benefits of nature. The message has to be clear: the outdoors isn’t just for fitness; it’s for mental well-being, too.

We are living in the most indoor generation in human history. Screens dominate our time and pulling us further from the outdoors and replacing real-life experiences with digital ones. The average American spends over 7 hours a day staring at a screen, while kids rack up more than 1,000 hours of screen time per year, yet many won’t even spend half that time outside.

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This isn’t just about distraction. It’s about a fundamental shift in how we experience the world. The thrill of adventure has been replaced by digital dopamine hits. Climbing a mountain? Too much effort. Scrolling through someone else’s summit selfie? Way easier. Outdoor sports aren’t just competing with traditional indoor hobbies anymore, they’re fighting against an entire ecosystem designed to keep people inside.

The numbers paint a clear picture: screens aren’t just a part of life; they’ve become life.

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• Teens spend an average of 8.5 hours a day on screens, while younger kids average 5-7 hours. [5,6]

• By age 18, the average child will have spent 30,000 hours on screens; that’s four times more than they’ll spend in school. [7]

• Less than 20% of kids play outside daily, a drastic decline from previous generations. [8]

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of recreational screen time per day, yet most kids exceed that before noon. [9]

Outdoor play was always a staple during childhood. That is now being replaced by social media scrolling, video games, and binge-watching. This results in a generation that’s more comfortable inside, more disconnected from movement, and less likely to develop a lifelong love for outdoor sports.

Ask a kid what they do for fun, and chances are, it won’t involve running, climbing, or biking; it’ll involve a screen. The way we define entertainment has shifted, and outdoor sports are losing ground.

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• Video game engagement is at an all-time high, with over 90% of kids playing regularly. Many games simulate adventure, risk, and exploration without requiring any real movement. [10]

• Social media has gamified everyday life. The rush of likes, comments, and shares creates instant gratification, something outdoor sports struggle to compete with. [11]

• Streaming services have turned binge-watching into a norm. The average person spends over 1,300 hours a year watching TV and movies, the equivalent of 54 full days of screen time. [12]

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Outdoor sports demand effort. They come with struggles, setbacks, and learning curves. But screens? They offer a shortcut to excitement, a risk-free way to experience adventure. The problem is, no app can replicate the feeling of sinking in powder, summiting a peak, or catching your first wave.