Brick is a compact, NFC-enabled device designed to make phone use more intentional. Instead of relying only on app-based limits, it adds a physical step: users must tap their phone to the device to unlock selected apps.
The idea is simple but effective. By creating a small moment of friction, Brick helps people pause before opening social media or other distracting apps. The product was developed by co-founder Zach Nasgowitz and co-founder TJ Driver, who said the goal was to build a tool that supports healthier digital habits without removing core smartphone functions.
Users can set custom modes in the Brick app, including a Sleep mode that blocks most apps at night while keeping messaging and audio tools available. The system also includes limited emergency access for situations when essential apps are needed.
Brick is attracting attention because it offers a middle ground between full smartphone freedom and the stricter idea of a "dumb phone." It lets people keep practical features such as calls, texts, maps, and authentication tools, while reducing the pull of endless scrolling. For many users, that balance is what makes the concept appealing.
As more people look for healthier ways to manage attention and screen habits, Brick points to a future where technology is designed not just to connect us, but to help us use time more consciously.
