If you think technology is making parenting harder than it used to be, you’re not alone.
A Pew study found, “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.”
As more parents voice concerns, big tech companies are starting to respond. It’s certainly not a bad thing that more adult devices now allow for additional safety features and parental controls. But anyone who has tried to use these parental controls will tell you that they are far from foolproof.
For starters, most existing parental control apps, software, and devices amount to damage control — rather than preventing harm in the first place.
Other common complaints among parents are that parental controls are often complicated to set up and monitor, or that kids can easily sidestep them even when they are enabled.
So what is the solution? How can parents keep kids safe from the harms of the internet, while also giving them all the benefits and advantages that new technology offers?
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, only to alert parents once problems occur, 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. If a device was made for adults who expect unfettered online freedom, then that device still has all the functionality baked into the hardware. So, as parents, we have to go through the hassle of enabling or disabling the unwanted apps or features. Plus, when kids know their device is capable of more, they’re more likely to constantly harass us for more — more apps, more screen time, more online 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 continually monitor the child’s use after that. If you’re like me, you probably feel like there’s always more to do as a parent than time to do it. So another task is not good news.
But enough of all the downsides. Because there is good news — there are some legitimate examples of technology making parenting today easier today, not harder. Gabb isn’t the only company tackling tech problems with the goal of kids’ safety. But we were the first and, in my biased opinion, still the best.
So let’s look at how Gabb is solving the parental control problems outlined above.
Gabb Devices: Tech in Steps
Our whole mission is helping parents and kids with these problems. We’re constantly asking, how do we protect kids from being exposed to online dangers in the first place? How do we empower proactive parenting rather than reactive?
Our answer: design phones and software specifically for kids’ safety, rather than tacking safety features on to phones that were clearly built for adults.
We’re all deeply impacted by the technology we use, but especially adolescents because they’re still undergoing significant cognitive development into their late teens. That’s why we’ve adopted a “tech in steps” philosophy that makes it easier for parents to give their children a tailored introduction to the digital world.
There’s more to it than devices, but that’s the simplest place to start. Gabb offers three different safe devices — Gabb Watch and two safe phones: Gabb Phone and Gabb Phone Pro — each designed for specific phases of digital maturity.
Gabb Watch: The Safe Phone Kids Wear
Gabb Watch was created as the ideal first step for kids who are mature enough to begin exploring beyond the house, but not yet ready for much more than safe communication.
Gabb watches don’t allow social media, addictive games, or access to any unsafe apps. But they do come with GPS tracking, customizable “safe zones,” an SOS button, easy text/call to a parent-managed contact list, and the durability you’d hope for in a device created for kids.
Gabb Phone: The Perfect First Phone for Kids
Gabb Phone was our first product and came as the direct result of parents being frustrated that no safe phone options for kids existed.
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. But it provides the functionality kids need as a second step and looks and feels like leading smartphones so your kid will be excited to have it.
Gabb Phone comes with the following features.
Gabb Phone Pro: The Safe Phone Built for Teens
Gabb Phone Pro is Gabb’s way to help parents bridge the gap between a locked down safe phone and a full-fledged adult phone. It allows you to give your teen increasing amounts of digital freedom as they’re ready for — but on your terms.
It doesn’t allow the download of internet browsers or social media and other unsafe apps. But through Gabb’s custom library of reviewed, parent-enabled apps, you can give your child the tools they need to keep up at school, with extracurriculars, and in an increasingly digital world.
Parental Control Software: Gabb Apps
In addition to pioneering kid-safe devices, Gabb is also leading the way on creating apps and software designed specifically with kids’ safety as the top priority. The goal here is the same as with devices: give parents an uncomplicated way to keep their kids’ safe online.
Gabb Messenger: Kid-safe Messaging, Easy Parental Controls
Gabb Messenger was designed to be the safest messaging app for kids and teens. It allows your child to text, send photos, and group chat but without the risks posed by those features in other messaging apps.
One unique aspect of Gabb Messenger, compared to other parental-controlled options, is that only questionable content displays in the parent app (free to download on your own phone). That means your child gets enough messaging privacy to develop crucial digital communication skills and you get the peace of mind you need.
Gabb Music: Clean Music Streaming for Kids and Teens
Gabb Music lets kids and teens get all the benefits of music, without all the downsides of inappropriate content. They can listen their way with a clean music library curated from millions of songs from every genre and era.
Gabb Cloud: Digital Backup
Gabb Cloud was designed for digital privacy and keeps your kid’s data safely and securely stored in the cloud. Through automatic data backup you can keep favorite memories and preferred settings preserved without any concerns about anything personal being leaked online.
Gabb Guard: Spam Blocker
Gabb Guard provides spam blocking that stops over 90% of suspected spam calls from reaching your child’s Gabb phone in the first place.
Does the idea of parental controls stress you out? Why or why not?
Let us know in the comments!
Author Jake Cutler
Jake is Gabb Now's managing editor. He and his wife have three wild little boys. Prior to Gabb, Jake was a band manager and adjunct faculty in the English department at BYU and BYU-Hawaii. His own writing has been published by Esquire, Forbes, Elsewhere, Iron Horse Literary Review, and others.
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