Companies Offer Kid-Focused Smartphones with Restricted Features and Parental Controls

Addressing Parental Concerns

A growing number of companies are creating smartphones designed for children in response to parental concerns about unrestricted access to standard smartphone features. These devices aim to provide communication capabilities while mitigating potential risks associated with the internet and social media.

Core Features of Kid-Friendly Phones

Kid-friendly phones typically include touchscreens, cameras, and communication functions like calling and texting. The key difference lies in their heavily modified software, which removes or restricts access to web browsers, social media platforms, app stores, and other potential distractions. Some devices also offer a minimalist approach, focusing solely on basic calling and texting.

Parental Management and Control

Parents manage these devices through companion applications. These apps allow them to approve contacts, track device location, set screen time limits, and select which applications are available. Some systems also provide alerts for cyberbullying, explicit content, or potential online predators.

Key Players in the Market: Bark Phone

The Bark Phone, built on Samsung Galaxy hardware and powered by Bark's monitoring software, restricts calls and texts to approved contacts. It continuously scans communications and supported apps for concerning content, alerting parents. A notable feature is the ability for parents to gradually unlock web browsing and other features as a child matures. It includes GPS tracking and screen-time management. The standard model costs $240, plus a required wireless plan starting at $29/month.

Key Players in the Market: Gabb

Gabb focuses on eliminating online risks by excluding social media, web browsers, and app stores from its phones. Devices offer calling, texting, and a curated selection of preloaded apps like a camera, calendar, and calculator. Gabb also provides a music streaming library. Parents can view location and manage device settings, with optional services like 'Gabb Guard' for spam call blocking.