
Looking for Smart Phone Alternatives? Expert Suggests These Options
By Movieguide® Contributor
Looking for alternatives to that iPhone on your kid’s Christmas list? Social media expert Clare Morell is sharing plenty of options.
Morell, fellow and director of the Technology and Human Flourishing Project of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told Fox News that many parents can feel “trapped” when it comes to giving their child a smartphone.
“They know that smartphones aren’t good for kids, but they want their child to be able to stay in touch with them, they want their kids to have friends, to be able to talk or text with their friends, and frankly, they just feel like smartphones are inevitable,” she explained. “But what many parents don’t know is that there are better options and alternatives available.”
Some of those alternatives include the Gabb Phone, the Bark Phone, the Pinwheel Phone and the Light Phone.
Each of these products offers a cellphone that keeps kids connected to parents and friends — without giving them access to social media.
Gabb’s website promises “100% less chance of exposure to mature content,” as its phones offer “ZERO Internet, social media and games.”
The Pinwheel Phone allows parents to tailor their child’s phone offerings, changing restrictions as they get older, while the Light Phone offers “simple, unlocked phones with a few essential tools,” per its website.
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“[These phones] allow kids to talk and text with their parents or friends, and even access certain tools, like a sports team app or GPS for driving, but without any of the addictive social media apps, online gaming, or internet browsers,” Morell explained.
She also recommended partnering up with other like-minded parents and having honest talks with your kids.
“You’ve got to find other parents…and say, ‘Hey, none of us want this for our kids, and let’s choose these alternatives instead,’” Morell said, adding, “Explain to your kids, ‘This app is bad for you. It’s addicting and it’s going to undermine your wellbeing and your mental health.’”
She concluded, “I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is the best choice for kids and their long-term wellbeing.”
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