By 2025, it was becoming clear that perhaps we’d all gotten a little too swept up in the internet. And that’s understandable. While the foundations of the internet were laid back in 1969, the World Wide Web truly took off in the ’90s, leading to the golden age of the early 2010s—when Twitter was for live-tweeting award shows and Instagram feeds were filled with heavily filtered sunsets and photos of dinner.
Now, after nearly twenty years of living under The Algorithm’s thumb, terms like “doom-scrolling” and “slop” have become permanent parts of our vocabulary. For many, the desire to “get off the internet,” as Le Tigre famously sang in 2001 (if only we’d listened!), started to feel more urgent than ever.
Setting a 30-minute time limit for Instagram on my phone didn’t help—it was too easy to tap “Ignore Time Limit” and keep scrolling, telling myself I was in the middle of something important (I never was). Like someone in a late-night infomercial realizing their mistake, I thought: There has to be a better way!
I’m not sure where I first heard about Brick, but I believed in it instantly. I clicked the link from whatever article I was reading and bought one right away. The Brick is a small, square device that lets you block specific apps or websites on your phone. The catch? Unlike those easy-to-dismiss phone notifications, you have to be physically next to the Brick to regain access. I blocked myself from Instagram, and also from TheRealReal—two sites where I could easily lose hours scrolling (I’d already quit Twitter years ago and didn’t re-download TikTok after last December’s brief “TikTok ban” drama).
The change was immediate. I kept the Brick on my bedside table and started spending weekends free of social media. When friends sent me Stories or posts, I’d just say, “I can’t see it—I’m Bricked!” That usually led to screenshots or an “Oh, it wasn’t that important anyway.” (Sometimes it just made people laugh, since “being bricked” means something entirely different… which, of course, only made me want to say it more.)
I used to think working in media meant I had to be “chronically online,” but it turns out “just online” is enough. I’d check Instagram on my desktop before bed—like the old days, before iPhones—and some weekends I’d go three whole days without logging on.
But the clearest sign of my new algorithmic freedom? How many books I’ve read. For the past decade or more, I’ve set a goal of reading 24 books a year—a solid two books per month. But I never quite managed it. (In my slight defense, it’s hard to get much reading done during fashion month.) This year, I hit my goal by September 2.
So yes, this was the year you really should have bought a Brick and embraced a more analog-ish life. But don’t worry—it’s not too late to start in 2026. The internet only seems to grow more of a hellscape by the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs The Strong Case for Using the Brick AppBlocker
Basics Getting Started
What is Brick
Brick is a mobile app designed to help you block distracting apps and websites on your phone allowing you to focus on whats important
How does it actually work
You select the apps or websites you find distracting and set a timer Brick will block access to them for that duration helping you stay focused
Is Brick free to use
Brick typically offers a free version with basic features For advanced features like unlimited blocks or detailed analytics there is usually a paid premium version
Do I need to be techsavvy to use it
Not at all Brick is designed to be simple You just download it pick your distractions set a timer and go
Benefits Why Use It
Whats the main benefit of using an appblocker like Brick
The main benefit is reclaiming your focus and time By physically preventing you from accessing digital distractions it helps break the habit of mindless scrolling and boosts productivity
Can it really help with phone addiction
Yes By creating a friction barrier between you and your triggers it acts as a circuit breaker for compulsive habits giving you back control over your attention
Ive tried just using willpower before How is this different
Willpower is a finite resource that gets depleted Brick acts as a precommitment tool making the decision to focus once when you set the block rather than forcing you to resist temptation hundreds of times
Are there benefits beyond just work
Absolutely It can help you be more present during meals family time or hobbies improve your sleep by blocking screens before bed and reduce overall anxiety linked to constant connectivity
Common Concerns Problems
What if I need to use a blocked app for an emergency or urgent work
Most good appblockers including Brick have a break glass emergency override function However they often make it intentionally slightly inconvenient to prevent casual cheating
Will it drain my phones battery
Appblockers generally have a minimal impact on battery life similar to other utility apps running in the background