My oldest is about to turn ten and is begging for a device to text friends after school, but I am terrified of giving them unrestricted access to the internet. I’ve looked into just locking down a regular smartphone, but the workarounds seem a bit too easy for tech-savvy kids to bypass these days. Has anyone found a reliable starter device that focuses on basic communication while letting parents strictly manage apps, contacts, and screen time remotely?
There are a few simple phones with managed parental controls, but none are foolproof. Be prepared for some occasional workarounds.