Best Phone for Parental Control (Truly)

According to a recent Pew study, “two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technology (like social media or smartphones) as a reason.”¹

With more parents voicing these concerns, big tech companies are starting to respond with additional safety features and parental controls. 

Unfortunately, most existing parental control apps, software, and devices rely on triage rather than actively preventing harmful content in the first place.

So what is the solution? Is there a way to keep kids safe from the harms of the internet, while also staying conveniently connected to them with a mobile device?

The solution for real parental control is here, but might not be what you expect.

Challenges with parental controls on phones

Most parental control software and apps alert parents after their child has been exposed to digital dangers. And after-the-fact is too late.

Granted, any effort to protect kids is valuable. However, if a “kid-safe” device still gives access to predators, bullies, pornography, etc. and THEN alerts parents, can it really be considered safe?

At that point, it’s not parental control, it’s damage control.

Parents should also consider that traditional parental controls are really just parental permissions. The functions are there, the parent just has to go through the hassle of enabling or disabling the unwanted apps or features. And with possible access, kids constantly harass their parents for more time or access.

Another issue for parents is the weight of actually having to set up the parental controls in the first place. Not to mention having to set them up correctly, and not to mention needing to continually monitor the child’s use after that.

Gabb devices: The ultimate parental control

At Gabb, we’re dedicated to helping parents and kids with these problems: how do we protect kids from being exposed to online dangers in the first place? How do we be proactive parents rather than reactive?

Our answer: Design phones and software specifically for kids’ safety, rather than tacking safety features onto phones that were clearly built for adults.

Since Gabb doesn’t have internet access, Gabb devices are safe right out of the box. No hassle to set up complicated parental control settings, while still having complete control as a parent. 

If you’re looking to ease your child into technology with a device designed for digital damage prevention, not damage control, check out Gabb’s safe devices. Each provides safe connection without the hassle and uncertainty of toggling large lists of vague settings that require constant monitoring.

Gabb Watch: The safe phone kids wear

The ideal first step for kids mature enough to begin exploring beyond the house, but not yet ready for more than safe connection. Gabb Watches don’t allow social media, addictive games, or access to any unsafe apps. 

But they do come with the following features:

• GPS tracking and customizable “safe zones”
• SOS button to immediately contact a pre-programmed contact
• Up to 25 parent-managed contacts for safe, exclusive communication (no spam calls or junk mail).
• Voice-messaging, templated texting, emojis.
• Gabb Go, which gives them a fun step counter and gamified to-do list
• Long-lasting battery life
• Sweat-resistant

If this sounds like a good option for your child, you can learn more about Gabb Watch here.

Gabb Phone: The original safe phone for kids

Gabb Phone is our first product and came as the direct result of nonexistent safe phone options for kids. It was designed to give kids a safe smartphone with everything they need, but nothing they don’t—it does not allow access to the internet, social media, and unsafe apps. 

Gabb Phone comes with the following features:

• GPS tracking and customizable geo-fenced “safe zones”
• Nationwide unlimited talk and text
• Optional group and image/video messaging
• Front 5MP and 8MP Cameras
• Bluetooth connection for music
• Secure fingerprint scan
• 14 essential kid-safe apps, including Gabb Music
• Long-lasting battery life

Learn more about Gabb Phone here.

Gabb Phone Plus: The premium safe phone for kids

Gabb Phone Plus is a great answer to the “tech envy” driving much of the pressure many parents feel from their kids. Designed in partnership with Samsung—one of the world’s premiere smartphone manufacturers—it gives kids the look and feel of the best phones on the market. But without the dangers (and the crazy price tag).

Like all Gabb devices, it doesn’t allow access to the internet, social media, and unsafe apps but does come with everything else a kid or young teen will need. This includes access to Gabb Music or Gabb Music Plus (coming soon), which is a first-of-its-kind music streaming app that lets kids discover hits and new releases from all genres but without any risk of inappropriate content.

Gabb Phone Plus also comes with the ability for parents to add additional, fully-vetted, safe apps to their child’s phone from both Gabb and 3rd-party developers.

On top of all that, Gabb Phone comes with the following features:

• GPS tracking and customizable geo-fenced “safe zones”
• Nationwide unlimited talk and text
• Group and image/video messaging
• Front 5MP and 8MP Cameras
• Crisp resolution on a 5.83 inch edge-to-edge Infinity Display
• Long-lasting battery life

Learn more about Gabb Phone Plus here.

If you want the most parental control without all the added pressure of figuring it out, the Gabb Phone Plus and Gabb Phone are your best option for a parental control phone. Does the idea of parental controls stress you out? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

Sources:

¹ Parenting Children in the Age of Screens | Pew Research Center