Sixth Form students at Guernsey’s Ladies’ College have been using the ‘Brick’ as part of an initiative to support focused learning and healthier digital habits.
The Brick is a small app-blocking device that restricts access to selected apps, including social media. Once activated, access can only be restored by tapping the phone against the device, meaning students need to be physically beside the Brick to unblock their phones.
Students have been using the device to intentionally block social media during the school day. A number of students have also chosen not to unblock their phones before leaving College, continuing to limit their access to social media into the evening.
The initiative has encouraged students to reflect on their phone use and the role social media plays during independent study time, free periods and after school.
Emma Clements, Head of Sixth Form at The Ladies’ College, said: “What has been most encouraging is how readily the students have engaged with the Brick. They have taken ownership of it and used it in a way that works for them.
“We all know how easy it is to pick up a phone without really thinking, particularly during a spare five minutes or when moving between tasks. The Brick gives students a practical way to pause that habit and make a more deliberate choice about how they spend their time.”
Issy Whitford, Sixth Form student, added: “The brick has really helped me with removing all distractions and allowing me to focus on my work alongside showing me how long I can go without reaching for social media!”
