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Addicted to your phone? Try bricking it

Source: economist.com

TL;DR

Youngsters increasingly use the Brick, a physical device that blocks distracting phone apps via NFC tap.
The $59 grey cube claims to cut screen time by three hours a day on average.
It signals a rise in anti-tech gadgets amid growing digital detox demands among the young.

The story at a glance

The article examines the Brick, a small app-blocking device popular with youngsters seeking to curb phone addiction. Users tap their phone to it to disable chosen apps, making casual overrides hard. It has gone viral as part of wider digital detox efforts, reported now amid rising screen-time concerns.[[1]](https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/15/addicted-to-your-phone-try-bricking-it)

Key points

Internet offers quirky fixes like chaining phones to walls or printing Instagram feeds, but the Brick provides a hardware solution.
To use, select apps to block in the Brick app, then tap phone to the device; unblocking requires physical proximity to it.
Reviewers say “the Brick changed my life” and “I won the war against my phone.”[[1]](https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/15/addicted-to-your-phone-try-bricking-it)
Claims average screen-time reduction of three hours daily; part of “anti-tech tech” trend.
Ties into broader youth pushback against digital overload and excessive smartphone use.

Details and context

The Brick, made by Brick LLC, is a palm-sized magnetic square with NFC that pairs with a free app for iOS and Android. No subscription needed, unlike some rivals. It lets users set modes for work or sleep, track bricked time, and allows limited emergency unbricks.[[2]](https://getbrick.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooFcI1aGK4a3vsJU9THApwvXOpea16z6HMEOg4z0g2tZKlZUFBe)[[3]](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/brick-phone-lock-review)

Past methods like app-only blockers or phone screen-time tools fail because they are easy to bypass. The physical step exploits laziness: leave the Brick at home, and distracting apps stay locked. Created by two Gen Z founders tired of their own scrolling.[[4]](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/brick-app-review-37523373)

Researchers note “digital overload” from addictive designs, fuelling demand for such tools among young people wary of social media's pull.[[5]](https://x.com/TheEconomist/status/2023704009115078884)

Key quotes

“The Brick changed my life.” – Reviewer[[1]](https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/15/addicted-to-your-phone-try-bricking-it)
“I won the war against my phone.” – Reviewer[[1]](https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/02/15/addicted-to-your-phone-try-bricking-it)

Why it matters

New gadgets like the Brick highlight a cultural shift where young people fight tech with tech to reclaim attention from addictive apps. For everyday users, it offers a practical, one-time $59 way to cut hours of scrolling, boosting focus and presence if willpower falters. Watch sales of similar devices and any app-store changes to blocking tools, though long-term effects on habits remain unproven.