If you want to cut your screen time, just get a Brick

For years, I relied on screen-time limits on my iPhone, allowing myself just 30 minutes of social media daily. Yet, I often ignored these notifications and continued to scroll through mindless content. It turns out, what I truly needed was a $59 gadget known as the Brick—a device that has transformed my relationship with my phone and significantly improved my sleep habits. The Brick is a compact, NFC-enabled square that disrupts the typical screen-time app experience by requiring a physical interaction to bypass usage limits. To access my blocked apps, I must physically tap my phone to the Brick, similar to a tap-to-pay transaction. This simple act has dramatically reduced my urge to check Instagram. Zach Nasgowitz, co-founder of Brick, shared that the invention arose from a personal need. "Our phones were getting in the way of living," he explained. After searching for a solution that fit their lives, Nasgowitz and his team decided to create a product to address this issue effectively. Using the Brick has positively impacted my sleep hygiene, a challenge many millennials face, especially those whose jobs are reliant on the internet. I found myself scrolling on my phone late into the night, making it harder to drift off. To combat this, I set a 'Sleep' mode in the Brick app that activates at 10:30 PM, blocking all applications except for essential messaging and audio apps. This way, I can still reach out to others if needed or listen to podcasts as I fall asleep. The real game-changer comes in the morning—my phone remains off-limits until I physically get out of bed and tap it to the Brick. For those preferring to keep their phones entirely out of the bedroom, the Dreamie alarm clock offers a solution for using podcasts without the temptation of scrolling. Despite feeling somewhat embarrassed about depending on a $59 piece of plastic for lifestyle changes, I have found it serves as a crucial tool in preventing a return to old habits. After testing a review unit, I plan to purchase my own. Alternatively, tech-savvy users could create a DIY version using an NFC tag and Apple Shortcuts. "Software-only solutions like Screen Time are often easy to bypass," said TJ Driver, another co-founder of Brick. "What actually works is adding friction to the process." By requiring a physical action to unblock apps, Brick transforms the decision to reconnect with digital distractions into a deliberate choice rather than an automatic reflex. Users are also given a limited number of 'emergency unbricks' for situations where they genuinely need access to specific apps, like Google Maps. However, I prefer to include those essential apps in my sleep mode to avoid using an emergency unbrick unnecessarily. Driver emphasized that rather than solely relying on willpower, it's more effective to design an environment that minimizes temptation. This approach allows individuals to tailor their phone usage to serve their needs without overthinking it. This personalization has resonated with many users. One individual, who yearned for a simpler phone experience but couldn’t part with a key messaging app, found that Brick allowed him to maintain crucial communication while enjoying a more focused phone experience. As more people express interest in reverting to 'dumb phones' due to dissatisfaction with Big Tech, it's clear that traditional flip phones often don't align with modern lifestyles. While some companies are experimenting with modifying flip phones for app usage, the Brick offers a balanced alternative. It enables users to simplify their phone use without making drastic changes. In summary, the movement towards reducing screen time isn't about rejecting technology; it's about reclaiming control and being intentional in our digital interactions.