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Gadget 'reduces social media use and screen time' amid Keir Starmer U16 ban

As Keir Starmer announces a ban on social media for under-16s, we tested out a gadget that could help doom-scrolling adults

[We have tried out a device that helps users reduce their screen time]

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We have tried out a device that helps users cut their screen time, including time spent on social media(Image: Bethan Shufflebotham)

Yesterday, Keir Starmer announced his intention to ban social media for under-16s, in a move to protect children online. The ban will include platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X.

The PM pledged to take on the tech giants and call time on a system thats failing kids and is expected to take effect from Spring 2027.

One such device is The Brick (54), a gadget that blocks chosen apps from a user's phone. To use, choose which apps or websites to block in The Brick app and then create custom modes for different moments like Work, Family Time, or Study.

Place your phone in Brick and tap to activate. When you need your phone, take it out and use it 'with purpose'.

The Brick is battery-free, requires no charging, and works with both Android and iPhone devices. However, Android devices require version 12.0 or later, and iPhone devices require iOS 17.0 or later for the app to work.

The Brick

[Content Image]

54

Brick

Buy here

Product Description

The Brick app is a digital wellness and productivity tool designed to help you break phone addiction and stop doomscrolling.

Consumer journalist Bethan Shufflebotham reviewed The Brick for Birmingham Live two days ago. Bethan vowed to reduce her scrolling time as a New Year's resolution, but with endless notifications, social media feeds and group chats, she was finding it difficult to kick the habit.

Detailing her experience of The Brick, Bethan said: "On my first day of bricking my phone of Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, I found myself instinctively reaching for my phone more often than I'd realised. The first time I checked the clock, only seven minutes had passed. The next time, it was eleven. It felt impossibly slow at first, but instead of my usual pre-work scroll, I completed a pilates workout, which is something I often fail to make time to do. At work, I was more productive, whizzing through my to-do list without getting lost on never-ending feeds."

By day three, she was seeing results: "Soon enough, reaching for my phone constantly felt far less automatic. I was no longer picking it up out of boredom, nor carrying it everywhere around the house, be it to the loo or to the kettle."

She continued: "By the final day of testing, even my family and fianc had noticed that my mobile wasnt glued to my hand, which led to them all downloading the app as we settled down to watch a film for the evening." Bethan's experience wasn't entirely positive, as she also noted downsides, including that it's not ideal if you frequently need access to blocked apps throughout the day.

[When you want to end a Brick session, simply tap the device with your phone]

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When you want to end a Brick session, tap the device with your phone(Image: Bethan Shufflebotham)

Bethan also pointed out that it wouldn't be suitable for someone who needs to use their phone for work. On her experience using The Brick, she concluded: "I decided to see whether Brick could help me break some of my less-than-healthy phone habits, and within five days, Id almost halved my screen time to three hours and 25 minutes. Now, my whole family is hooked on the nifty little device. Soon enough, reaching for my phone constantly felt far less automatic.

"I was no longer picking it up out of boredom, nor carrying it everywhere around the house, be it to the loo or to the kettle. By the final day of testing, even my family and fianc had noticed that my mobile wasnt glued to my hand, which led to them all downloading the app as we settled down to watch a film for the evening."

There are alternatives available, including the Locked Tag (now 32, was 43), which does not have an option to bypass a pre-set screen time limit. It is also battery-free with no subscription and works with multiple devices.

Meanwhile, Amazon has a Padlock App-Blocking Device for 39.98. Padlock blocks apps digitally, so you can choose which apps are useful or distracting.

Similarly, prospective buyers of The Brick can find reviews and ratings of the device on the brand's website. One person said: "Im a father, and Brick has helped me not play games as much on my phone as before and use social media as much."

Another user was also pleased, saying: "This device has changed my life. I have had such a hard time with screen time. I used to have brain fog every day. I never got anything done that I wanted to do. I am literally living again. My brain has genuinely changed. My depression has almost completely disappeared. I ran a 10k. I started reading books. I feel like Brick helped me take control back. I am not associated with this company at all. My sister just got it for me as a gift. If you are thinking about buying it, get it."

[The Brick helped Bethan dramatically cut her screen time]

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The Brick helped Bethan cut her screen time(Image: Bethan Shufflebotham)

A third consumer reported a better experience, saying: "One of the best things Ive ever bought. Ive recommended about a million to other people and my clients. Complete game changer over just using an app - and Ive had zero glitches. Cant recommend enough."

On the social media ban, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Parents want to keep their kids safe and happy, but the online world has made that harder than ever. Ive heard first hand from families crying out for change and we will do right by them.

"Thats why were going further than any country in the world by banning social media for under-16s and putting wider protections in place to give kids their childhood back. This is a line in the sand. Tech giants had their chance and failed, but were stepping in to protect children, back parents and set a new normal for future generations."

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Today we take a bold and significant step, towards creating a safer, healthier life online, for our children and future generations. Tech companies have had countless opportunities to keep children safe, yet they have failed to act.

"That is why we are a taking power away from the tech giants and putting it back in parents hands. My driving force has always been to give every child, from every background, the best possible start in life. That is what these regulations will deliver."

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