To wonder if anybody has had success cutting scrolling with a brick device?

I have one and I hardly ever use it. Somehow just knowing I have it is enough! It lives on the fridge. In theory I could easily hop up to unbrick my phone any time I like, but it provides enough of a barrier to the impulsive behaviour of randomly scrolling that you end up not doing it.

I bought one of these just before Xmas in the Black Friday deal. I bought 3 - one for me and 2 as gifts. I have found it’s cut my screen time. I’m still terrible tbh BUT I set it to
auto brick at a certain time at night so I don’t keep myself up scrolling and it’s downstairs so I don’t want to get up to unbrick it. It has helped me. I’m glad I got it but also technically only paid like £30 for it.

I have a Brick thingy. It works for me as a support to block a lot of apps after 10pm (until I unbrick at some point the next day -often late afternoon)and I have much better screen habits because of it.

for the money it works for me when other Top Tips just didn’t work for me.

I’m happy to spend my money on support for making my habits better.

i think my sleep is probably a bit better. It hasn’t completely solved it but at least I know it’s not a screen at bedtime thing.

I have a device like this - it's not a Brick but a similar gadget that works the same way called Lockd. It works reasonably well. I have the device on the side of the microwave in the kitchen and I have to make a conscious effort that it's time to unlock my phone when I want to piss away an hour or two of my life. I have certainly found it helpful.

I like this idea. Although I do faff around a lot on here & would probably miss it 🙄

I thought I was going to read about cutting maybe, an elaborate cornice for a DIY project!

I just deleted the Apps off my phone. If I need them I have them on my laptop. It’s been amazing. I suddenly have soooo much Free Time to do things that matter in real life

I’ve got the brick app/device and it really works. I need my phone for work-related apps (banking, accounts etc) so have it set up with the bric to switch off everything but those. I still constantly pic my phone up but can’t scroll so put it down again; I never get up to tap it to turn it back on (until the end of the day).

Is there a brick phone with whatsapp???

personally id just use the apps needed,

This is very timely as I’ve been thinking about going back to a brick phone but so much is “needed” on a smart phone now … my authentication for the bank at work; what’s app groups; music; podcasts … so I wasn’t sure how to manage it. Will investigate the brick.

I absolutely love mine. The fact you need to tap a physical device to unblock it is the game-changer, because everything else I've tried just lets you disable the apps on your phone itself. But if you keep the brick at some distance from you, then it puts a real barrier in place to unblocking when you don't actually need to.

I've blocked everything except WhatsApp, maps, Spotify, email and various banking/ life admin apps. I keep the brick device in the boot of my boyfriend's car - I could access it if I really needed to, but it would require effort. It's let me create a dumbphone but without buying a new device, and keeping apps that are useful but not addictive. At first I thought I'd restrict app usage to an hour a day or something, but blocking everything has given me so much peace of mind, I'm not sure I'll ever go back to having a smartphone with addictive apps. And of course, you can just leave the brick at home / in the car when you go out too.

(And no, I don't work for them).

Try going away for a break or holiday to somewhere where there is no phone signal. Have to find other things to do - reading, playing board or card games, drawing, writing, going out for the day, going for walks etc. Then switch to the brick phone.

@ToughC00kie did you get one and is it working?

They currently have a 25% discount and I'm very tempted, I really need to address my doom scrolling and if I could regain the 3+ hours a day I waste it would absolutely be worth it!

I'm reluctant because I have managed to 'cheat' every single app/ hack I've tried so far.

I have successfully come of scrolling social media this is the only platform I go on !!
Firstly I set my iPhone so I couldn't access apps between certain times and once I got used to that I I changed my phone to a snazzy little thing and I disabled my accounts on everything I don't miss it at all I thought it was going to be hard but actually I am so busy doing stuff I don't even miss it it's so strange !! But it's sooooo GOOD

I just looked at the website and can't find any details about having to pay to bypass the lock. It implies you just call customer services to do it. So hopefully your sister was mistaken. Because if that's the case I think it's seriously dodgy

On iPhone you can put it in accessibility mode and decide which apps you want to allow when you set it up. You can unlock it with a pin so still easily bypassed but it’s something.

Wow, you pay them £50 to unlock your phone? Basically they are profiteering from people addicted to their phones. This feels very ethically dubious.

Are you concerned you are addicted @ToughC00kie ?

I hate when companies take a common term for their brand. A brick phone was a big cold heavy phone - a dumb phone now. I downgraded to a dumb phone for daytimes and I use willpower for the smartphone antics.

I met someone who installed something called Balance on to their phone which restricts what you can do with your ‘smartphone’ and even what websites you can use. That’s a great system that allows internet access and map access etc and WhatsApp but without the distractions.

i don’t need that - I just don’t allow myself to be contactable 24/7 on social media. I check into what’s app first thing and then in the evening but that’s it and you know what? People survive!

I’ve been so tempted by this but can’t justify the spend right now. I find it too easy to bypass the apps that stop you going onto apps or screen limits. I was going to put the brick in my car so it’d be available at home but a hassle to go out and tap. I figure it might make you think a little more if getting into the apps required a (sometimes cold/rainy!) trip outside with car keys.

I also saved this reel recently which has sone helpful tips: www.facebook.com/share/r/1AVfx9RPyE/?mibextid=UalRPS

I use one.

Mostly for when I’m at work. I find my phone to be genuinely addictive. Tried using a Nokia brick phone, but obviously there were no travel, wallet apps etc, so the brick works for me. I found it slightly faffy to set up, and there is a scheduling thing so I have it set to turn on at 8:15 so I can do my LinkedIn games on the train in the way into work.

i still doomscroll at home, so I don’t think it’s the be all and end all but I like it!

For Android, the Minimalist phone app is really good for reducing screen time, as is the Niagara Launcher.

I'm not sure about the iPhone as I don't have one.

My sister has one. She loves it, she sets it up & leaves it on the fridge, says it really helps her to discipline herself.
She says at home having it on the fridge does help as when she’s in bed she won’t be bothered to get up to tap it.
It’s a con really because you can override it but you only get a few overrides, after that point the brick doesn’t work & you have to pay again to ‘restart’ it (can’t remember what sister said exactly). So £50ish but actually you can stop it anyway & then have to pay again. Genius marketing!