I tried Brick, the $59 gadget that blocks phone apps. It's the only thing that has helped cut down my screen time.

Brick is a $59 gadget designed to help cut down on phone screen time.

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

• I've been using Brick, a $59 gadget designed to help cut down on phone screen time.
• It acts like a physical key. You can only unblock chosen apps by tapping your phone on the Brick device.
• I started using Brick in January 2025, and it's helped break my TikTok habit.

I'm unfortunately among the millions of people who have become hooked on TikTok, losing...