They were my university’s “it” couple — and they’d just called it quits, announcing their breakup on social media with a cringe-inducing statement.
When I spotted the post on my way to brunch with some old college friends, I knew I’d found our first topic of conversation. “Did you see it?” I asked, certain the split would be on everyone’s mind.
But none of them had, so I told everyone to pull up Instagram.
“We can’t,” one said, holding up her phone, its screen black except for a message saying the app was blocked. “We’re Bricked.”
And just like that, I was the only 20-something in New York City without the viral screen-time-blocking gadget — or at least it felt that way.
Because, ironically, one of the hottest new trends of our digital age is logging off.
The new FOMO
Brick is a $59 device that pairs with a smartphone app. Users select the apps they want to restrict, then tap their phone against the small puck to block them.
To get those apps back, you have to physically tap your phone against it again.
In theory, Brick stays at home, meaning you can’t unlock your digital temptations while you’re out. And if you’re already in bed or on the couch, you have to get up and walk over to it to get your apps back.
Brick has seen a meteoric rise since launching in fall 2023, as concerns about the effects of too much time on devices have grown. Excessive screen time has been linked to everything from disrupted sleep and eye strain to poorer mental health, productivity and relationships.
These days, it seems like everyone around me is trying to cut back — and having trouble actually doing it.
Smartphones have become so deeply embedded in everyday life that breaking our dependence on them is an “uphill battle,” according to Dr. Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros, a licensed professional counselor, addiction specialist and associate professor at Lewis & Clark College.
“It feels overwhelming and anxiety-provoking for many people to even consider relinquishing their smartphone,” he told The Post. “They genuinely cannot imagine living and navigating life without it.”
Meanwhile, social media algorithms are designed to keep users scrolling, creating feedback loops that can resemble addictive behaviors.
“Without my phone to fill those quiet stretches, I felt awkward and, at times, slightly anxious … I was surprised by just how uncomfortable I was with being bored.
McKenzie Bear
“The impulse to reach for your phone becomes automatic and many people find themselves unable to control it,” said Dr. John Puls, a psychotherapist, master’s certified addiction professional and adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University.
No wonder digital detox tools like Brick, “dumb phones” and the broader analog movement have taken off in 2026. After years of being constantly plugged in, people are discovering that letting go of digital FOMO can actually feel like freedom.
Learning to log off
Unable to resist a bandwagon, I tried Brick myself.
Setting it up on the companion app, I restricted every social media platform I waste hours lurking on, plus a few games I mindlessly play on the subway.
I also set up a schedule to automatically Brick those apps from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., keeping me off social media in the morning and during work. Then I created a “sleep” mode to lock them again after 9 p.m., giving myself a three-hour window for scrolling.
But I quickly learned that blocking an app is a lot easier than breaking a habit.
Typically, I spend a few minutes on my phone in bed before getting up. On my first Bricked morning, I tried to open Threads at least 10 times before sunrise.
The urge followed me throughout the day. In every moment of downtime, I instinctively reached for my phone, only to hit a wall. And because my Brick was stuck to my fridge at home, there was nothing I could do about it.
Without my phone to fill those quiet stretches, I felt awkward and, at times, slightly anxious. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself or where to look. I was surprised by just how uncomfortable I was with being bored.
“When someone first stop using their phone compulsively, there is essentially a withdrawal period,” Puls said.
The cravings can be surprisingly strong. Some people feel restless or like time is dragging, while others experience “phantom” notifications, convinced their phone vibrated when it didn’t. That can last weeks while your “nervous system settles,” said Puls.
Less screen, more life
Over time, those feelings started to fade. Soon, I was starting my mornings by reading the news. Instead of scrolling during my commute, I finished a book.
While waiting for my coffee to brew in the office kitchen, I chatted with coworkers instead of checking Instagram DMs.
And because I was no longer as plugged into my friends’ lives online, I found myself reaching out to the people I actually cared about more often.
Evenings were trickier. I felt antsy with all the extra time I suddenly had, but it helped to keep busy — including by making more elaborate dinners, hitting the gym and even picking up a guitar I hadn’t played in a while.
“A lot of smartphone use is unintentional,” Dorn-Medeiros said. “We do it without thinking. Brick brings intention back into the picture, which can be very helpful.”
The real key to lasting change, he explained, is figuring out what to do instead of scroll.
It’s been more than three weeks since I Bricked my phone, and I feel less distracted and more present in my day-to-day life. My anxiety has eased, too. Instead of constantly wondering what everyone else is up to, I spend more time enjoying whatever it is I’m actually doing.
I even stuck to my schedule on a family vacation — normally prime time for scrolling when the Boomers in my life start talking about the economy.
Lately, I’ve found myself less eager to check social media, even when my apps aren’t blocked. I still pop on here and there, but I’m not getting sucked in and suddenly realizing an hour has disappeared nearly as often.
Sure, I might not know about the breakup of the couple I haven’t seen in years the second it happens. But gossip is one of the oldest human pastimes — and there’s always the grapevine.
