Considering a child-friendly smartphone? Here are your top picks for a secure and kid-friendly experience.
Navigating the confusing world of tech for kids can be a real headache. Enter: Deciding when and what phone your kid needs. While most experts think it's best to keep kids as far from screens as possible, that's easier said than done in today's gadget-filled schools. Maybe your kid needs a quick comms device while out and about, or your teen is itching for more phone freedom.
Balancing the need for phone access with safety concerns can feel like walking a tightrope, especially since the market is dominated by Big Tech and social media algorithms. Parental controls aren't a perfect solution, either, as they don't completely shield kids from the risks pose by the internet to their mental health.
But don't worry. There are companies out there making an honest effort to minimize harm, even creating tech specifically for kids and diverse needs. Digital well-being experts are also trying to foster healthy relationships between young people and technology. Major players like Apple are even stepping up with more options for monitoring kids' device use. For example, in 2023, Apple introduced Assistive Access mode, a simplified iPhone setting designed for users with cognitive disabilities but also a great fit for younger users.
According to the experts, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are plenty of choices to find what works best for your family. Here are just a few options:
Bark Phone
The hot ticket among TikTok's parenting community, the Bark phone is a Samsung model pre-packed with the company's built-in monitoring tool. Using AI technology, the app scans texts, images, emails, web browsing, and apps for potentially sensitive or harmful content. Kids can't delete messages or tamper with parental controls. Parents can approve contacts, monitor screen time and content browsing, and even set remote alarms or Location check-ins.
Gabb
Designed as a screen alternative for young kids, the Gabb phone runs on the latest Android OS and offers guardrails on social media and web browsing built around the company's pre-selected app list. Parents can monitor communications and contacts using a set of simplified parental controls. Gabb offers other child-safe tech, including smart watches and apps like Gabb Music, Gabb Messenger, and Gabb Guard, a spam call blocking software.
Pinwheel
Pinwheel isn't a specific phone model, but rather a suite of parental control options available on several phone manufacturer models, like Samsung, Google Pixel, and Motorola. Parents create an account on Pinwheel's Caregiver Portal, which gives them access to a suite of parental control options built into the parent management system. During set hours, such as school time, Pinwheel phones can be limited to talk and text only. Parents can also tailor communication preferences and review app ratings.
Troomi
The Troomi phone is a kid-safe version of a Samsung Galaxy A16, equipped with AI monitoring technology that scans for explicit content, bullying, and inappropriate interactions. Kids can't download social media apps or potentially harmful games. Parents can monitor texts, get alerts about their child's activity, filter out harmful language and content, approve contacts, and block entire categories of content. The Troomi Parent Academy also offers digital wellness programs for parents and kids.
Aqua Phone
The Aqua Phone, a modified Google Pixel, offers a unique approach to keeping kids safe. Instead of limiting access to apps, it provides parents with an "instant replay" feature that lets them view their child's entire screen and activity throughout the day, even on social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat. The Aqua Phone uses Google Family Link parental controls or can work alongside third-party monitoring apps, and it also features a nude image prevention system.
- The Bark phone, a popular choice among TikTok's parenting community, is a Samsung model with a built-in monitoring tool using AI technology.
- This tool scans texts, images, emails, web browsing, and apps for potentially sensitive or harmful content.
- The Bark phone ensures that kids can't delete messages or tamper with parental controls.
- Parents can approve contacts, monitor screen time, and content browsing, and even set remote alarms or Location check-ins on the Bark phone.
- Gabb, designed as a screen alternative for young kids, runs on the latest Android OS and offers guardrails on social media and web browsing.
- The Gabb phone's simplified parental controls allow parents to monitor communications and contacts.
- Gabb offers other child-safe tech, including smart watches and apps like Gabb Music, Gabb Messenger, and Gabb Guard.
- Pinwheel isn't a specific phone model, but rather a suite of parental control options available on several phone manufacturer models like Samsung, Google Pixel, and Motorola.
- Troomi offers a kid-safe version of a Samsung Galaxy A16, equipped with AI monitoring technology that scans for explicit content, bullying, and inappropriate interactions.
- Parents can monitor texts, get alerts about their child's activity, filter out harmful language and content, approve contacts, and block entire categories of content on Troomi.
- The Aqua Phone, a modified Google Pixel, provides an "instant replay" feature that lets parents view their child's entire screen and activity throughout the day, even on social media apps.
- The Aqua Phone uses Google Family Link parental controls or can work alongside third-party monitoring apps and also features a nude image prevention system.
