Is everyone Bricking their phones without you? The anti-FOMO (and anti-doomscroll) wellness craze

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.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...