The free SafetyMode app can be downloaded on any Android device and uses AI to help monitor, filter and block harmful content across all apps including Snapchat, Roblox and YouTube
With technology getting more and more advanced, it’s no wonder studies show that over 75% of parents feel that protecting their child online seems like an unachievable – or challenging – goal. Especially when kids nowadays are constantly on their phones.
However, parenting platform Mumsnet has come up with a relieving solution in partnership with British company SafetyMode to develop child protection software for this very worry. It comes after research conducted by the company reports that more than 90% of Mumsnet parents think smartphones aren’t adequately safe for their kids, while 86% worry about the impact on their child’s psychological wellbeing and concentration.
SafetyMode was created in response to calls for safer standard settings and enhanced parental control. The software can be downloaded onto any Android handset and employs artificial intelligence to supervise, screen and prevent harmful material including nudity, bullying and inappropriate language.
It functions across all apps installed on a mobile phone, including those commonly used by young people. This includes WhatsApp, Snapchat, Roblox and YouTube.
The system also provides parental monitoring features, including location tracking and the capability to restrict specific apps and websites. One significant distinction when compared to competing products that block whole applications or depend on keyword screening is that SafetyMode can interpret context.
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SafetyMode parental software is available to download free on Android smartphones, while parents can also buy the specially designed OtherPhone pre-loaded with a host of child safety featuers.
This allows the system to distinguish between ordinary chats and worrying exchanges, sending real-time notifications to parents when something warrants their attention. Additionally, the software’s AI processing occurs entirely on the device itself, ensuring that no photographs, messages or information ever leaves the child’s mobile.
One drawback, it seems, is that SafetyMode is compatible with Android devices only including Samsung and Google handsets and is available as a free download from the Google Play Store. Parents can also opt for SafetyMode Plus at £5.99 monthly to access additional features such as remote management of permissions and filters via a web dashboard, reports the Express.
Although for those without an Android device, the software remains accessible through SafetyMode’s dedicated smartphone, the OtherPhone. Developed in partnership with Mumsnet and Nothing Technology, this handset arrives pre-loaded with SafetyMode software to deliver all the safety features outlined above.
Parents can also activate a minimalist ‘boring by design’ home screen to discourage compulsive scrolling behaviour, with the SafetyMode Plus upgrade available as an option. When a child matures and is ready for greater independence, SafetyMode can be removed from the OtherPhone to convert it into a conventional smartphone.
The OtherPhone with pre-installed SafetyMode costs £279, which includes three months’ complimentary access to SafetyMode Plus. However, parents may need to buy a SIM card separately if their children want to make calls and send texts without relying on an internet connection.
Giffgaff is among the networks offering a range of monthly rolling SIM-only deals without contracts, with prices beginning at £10 for its 40GB package. Numerous manufacturers produce similar child-appropriate devices, with Amazon stocking a child-friendly version of its popular Fire tablet.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet comes equipped with extensive parental supervision features for £69.99 (reduced from £149.99), and includes a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ providing unlimited access to advertisement-free, age-suitable material. As for the OtherPhone, Mumsnet’s Becky K and her 10-year-old son tested the handset throughout a weekend.
She hailed it as a ‘solid’ first smartphone that provides peace of mind ‘without feeling overbearing or restrictive’. She said: “The OtherPhone is a solid, well-built first smartphone that feels surprisingly premium for £279.
“The design is sleek, it runs smoothly, and the camera is impressively sharp for the price. Most importantly for parents, the parental controls and optional SafetyMode Plus features make it genuinely easier to use.”
Nevertheless, Becky noted that configuring the OtherPhone can prove challenging for those more familiar with Apple iPhones. She explained:: “Because my older child and I both use iPhones, and the OtherPhone runs on Android, I found the process a little less straightforward than Apple’s Family Sharing system.
Despite this, she continued: “I would absolutely recommend the OtherPhone to other parents looking for a first phone for their child. It’s well-priced, thoughtfully designed and gives peace of mind to parents without feeling overbearing or restrictive for kids.
“A big plus is the flexibility – you can use the phone on its own, or choose to add SafetyMode Plus if you want additional monitoring and controls.”
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