Teaching kids to build positive relationships with the online world is one of the greatest challenges facing parents—and indeed society—today.
School teachers, politicians, and health professionals are growing increasingly vocal about the negative impacts of unregulated phone-use on kids’ wellbeing.
“Kids are not only trying to learn, but they’re simultaneously on their phones, they’re texting friends, they’re replying to messages on social media, they’re scrolling through their feeds. It makes it very difficult, not only to learn, but to build relationships and friendships,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, one of America's leading health officials, told the BBC.
My home state of California recently restricted smartphone use in schools in an effort to address the mental health impacts of social media on children. Elsewhere, parents are taking matters into their own hands, signing pledges to keep their kids phone-free.
But is a total smartphone ban the answer?
The spectre of screen-addicted tweens, unable to look up from their phones for long enough to interact with their peers, is enough to make any parent long for a pre-internet age.
But the reality is that we live in a hyper-connected world, one in which everything—from getting a job to renting an apartment—begins with the tap of a smartphone.
Kids need to learn how to navigate online spaces responsibly, just as they learn to cross the road or manage money, and starting that journey at an early age has its upsides, as well as downsides.
For parents, digital devices can offer peace of mind as a child becomes more independent. Whether it’s knowing your kid can call home if they miss the bus or checking that they’re where they’re supposed to be with GPS.
Digital devices are also great learning tools, and teachers are increasingly integrating them into lessons. Kids that know how to use the latest tech and online resources will have an advantage in the classroom.
Then there’s the simple truth that the online world isn’t going anywhere. Digital proficiency and online etiquette have become essential life skills, and those skills are best learned under the thoughtful guidance of adults who can help set healthy boundaries.
Finding balance
Rather than banning children from technology altogether, what many parents are looking for is balance. A way to keep kids connected while filtering out the dangers of unrestricted screen access.
That’s why demand for innovative kids’ devices has boomed in recent years.
Brands like Xplora, Gabb, TickTalk, Teracube and Pinwheel are leading the way with smartphones and watches designed specifically with children in mind.
Known affectionately by some as “dumbphones”, these devices are actually anything but.
Each brand offers something unique: Xplora and TickTalk focus on smartwatches for young kids, while Pinwheel and Gabb cater to teens with tailored smartphones. Teracube offers kids' phones that are environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, HMD is collaborating directly with parents and experts to create a better phone that gives young people more control over screen time and social media use.
Many of these brands also offer embedded connectivity, with mobile plans that are tailored to kids’ needs. This means parents don’t have to navigate the complexities of adding a new line to their existing mobile plan, and kids get to enjoy their devices straight out of the box.
By putting the needs of both parents and their children at the heart of the user experience, these brands offer the best of both worlds. Devices that kids can use to chat with their friends and learn digital skills, without detracting from their experience of the outside world or being exposed to online risk.
A safer, smarter future
As technology continues to evolve, the way we approach online safety for kids must evolve too.
With features that balance freedom and safety, device manufacturers are helping parents and kids navigate the digital world more confidently.
At Gigs, we’re proud to work with some of the leading brands in this innovative market, enabling them to embed mobile connectivity into phones and watches seamlessly and offer a world-class user experience that appeals to kids and parents alike.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to shield the next generation from technology, but to give parents more choice in how they introduce their kids to the online world.
If we take the right approach, a safer, smarter digital future is within reach.