Ready to ditch the digital drag? It seems like 'bricking' your phone – using a gadget to block apps – is becoming the new 'Dry January' for Gen Z. This isn't just a trend; it's a reflection of a deeper desire to reclaim focus and find balance in our increasingly connected lives.
I recently stumbled upon Brick, a $59 gadget that physically restricts smartphone apps. I didn't expect it to change my life, but it did. Now, I'm an evangelist for it.
When friends complain about their screen time, I enthusiastically share my experience with this little gray magnet. I tap my phone every night, blocking distracting apps until morning. I've found myself more focused and less stressed than I've been in years.
Initially, the reaction was polite skepticism. But lately, I've noticed a shift. Friends are bringing up Brick without prompting, curious to learn more.
This is becoming the new form of abstinence – or "appstinence." Cutting back on screen time has become the new flex.
As the new year begins, more people are treating their phones like previous generations treated alcohol. Reports show a surge in digital-detox resolutions, and "dumb phones" are predicted to become a status symbol.
Brick isn't alone. Competitors like Opal, Padlock, and Freedom are also gaining traction. But Brick has become one of the most recognizable tools in this growing ecosystem. Some users now even joke about being "bricked," much like people once joked about being "offline."
Finding the Sweet Spot of Screen Time
Like the Gen Zers driving the anti-social media movement, Brick's cofounders, TJ Driver and Zach Nasgowitz, experienced the challenges of smartphone addiction firsthand. Their struggles with social media inspired them to create Brick.
"We felt the problem so strongly," Driver, 26, said. "We were like, 'It's inevitable that people are going to start realizing that they also feel it as strongly as we feel it."
The device, launched in 2023, aims for a balance between flexibility and discipline. It's stricter than app blockers but less drastic than switching to a dumb phone.
For those who need two-factor authentication for work or rely on apps like Uber, gadgets like Brick or apps like Opal or Freedom offer more flexible solutions than a complete switch.
Brick is designed to curb habits. You have to physically tap the Brick to unlock your phone, a more active gesture than simply tapping a button.
And if you leave the house before un-tapping your phone, you can use an "Emergency Unbrick." But you only get five, and then you have to ask for more.
A Catalyst for Positive Change
Beyond reducing phone time, the new year's resolutions were pretty standard: exercise more, save money, spend time with loved ones, and be happier.
Reducing screen time often acts as a keystone habit. Limiting phone use made it easier to pursue other goals – working out or being more present with friends – simply because I wasn't losing hours to scrolling.
This resonates with those who grew up with smartphones. For Gen Z and younger millennials, phones are not just tools but obstacles to focus, ambition, and connection.
Nasgowitz said Brick's biggest consumer base is people aged 20 to 35.
More broadly, they're "people who are clearly interested in improving themselves," he said. "Maybe they do other things, like go to the gym. It's just part of their stack of wellness."
Like Dry January, bricking your phone only works if you commit to it. But for a generation that already drinks less and scrolls more, it's becoming the more meaningful thing to give up.
But here's where it gets controversial... Do you think this trend is a healthy response to our tech-saturated world, or a temporary fad? Are you considering a digital detox, and if so, what methods appeal to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
