Fight Phone Addiction: Use Your Phone's Own Tools

A growing wellness trend, "bricking," involves using physical devices to block access to distracting applications and websites, a response to concerns about excessive smartphone use. Pew Research Center data from May 26 to June 1, 2026, indicates 53% of U.S. adults believe they spend too much time on their phones, with younger demographics reporting even higher numbers. Many have attempted to cut back, but success rates remain low.

The article suggests that instead of buying new technology, users can leverage existing features on their smartphones. Apple's iOS 27 expands Screen Time functionalities, offering tools like App Limits and Downtime to schedule periods away from distracting apps. Similarly, Android devices provide Digital Wellbeing features, including app timers and Focus mode, to manage usage and notifications.

These built-in solutions allow users to monitor their screen time, set daily limits for specific apps, and customize notification settings. By making distracting apps less accessible, either through scheduled restrictions or by moving them off the home screen, users can create moments of decision before engaging with their phones. The article emphasizes that understanding personal usage patterns, like frequent pickups, is key to breaking automatic scrolling habits.

For those who find built-in tools insufficient, devices like Brick, costing $59, offer a physical barrier. However, the author advises exhausting free, software-based solutions first. The core message emphasizes regaining control over phone usage, ensuring personal decisions drive phone interaction rather than app-initiated prompts, promoting intentional use over reactive checking.