PHONE & FILTER RECOMMENDATIONS
Dear ScreenStrong Families,
Choosing the Right Phone for Your Child
At our seminars, parents often ask if there’s a phone we recommend for kids. While we firmly believe your child can function just fine without a phone, we understand many parents still want an alternative to a smartphone.
Based on child development research, the best option is clear: a phone with no internet access. At all.
Over the years, we’ve researched many options and continue to recommend a basic phone through the end of high school. A simple call-and-text-only phone allows kids to stay connected without exposing them to the risks of social media, gaming, and endless internet access.
We also recommend Canopy as the most effective filter for all devices in your home—phones, tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, and more.
Remember, the goal is to give your child a phone they will use less, not more.
Many new “kid phones” advertise themselves as growing with your child by offering apps and limited internet. But at ScreenStrong, that’s not the goal. Your child doesn’t need to build phone habits or rely on apps to remind them to brush their teeth, walk the dog, or stay entertained. Those habits should be developed by using their brains—not by outsourcing them to a device.
That’s why we recommend keeping a phone as a tool, not a toy (or a weapon).
Look for a basic flip phone marketed as “voice and text only.” Most carriers offer one or two models. Make sure it has:
No internet connection or data plan
No app store
No media sharing or group texting
These phones avoid the biggest risks—unlimited internet, social media access, and media sharing—all of which research shows can fuel addictive habits and harm emotional health.
ScreenStrong Tip: Always confirm with your carrier that the phone is activated without a data plan and is set up for call and text only.
What about a filter? Our first choice is a filter that stops images and videos BEFORE your child sees them. Many parental control companies send you reports of what your child has seen. That isn’t good enough for us. Our goal is to eliminate the unwanted content at the start. That is why we love Canopy. It uses AI to block the images BEFORE your child sees them if you have Canopy on your devices. That is a win!
What about stripping down an old smartphone? We know it is hard to resist, but we do not recommend trying to strip down an old smartphone, especially an iPhone. Apple products, universally, are the most difficult to lock down, install parental controls, or filter. Parents think this works, but it usually only works for a short time. Our experience working in this space for nearly ten years reinforces this recommendation.
This option will work for a very short time. The temptation is too great; your child will find workarounds. You can google them, too. It is best not to have the option. Most screen problems we encounter with parents are with families who have tried this. Trust us.
A solution that goes past 18. Read the fine print of the company you are researching. Many of the popular companies are only available for kids under 18. Since the need for guardrails does not stop at 18, we recommend a filtering service that will last past 18. Canopy is one of the best solutions we have found. It blocks unwanted images before they arrive on your device and it does not collect your data, so it is perfect for teens and adults alike.
This is why we love Canopy.
Good news! We have your back!
Use our promo code STRONG to get a discount on your Canopy service. Every purchase using our promo code will support our education programs and empower all parents to develop a healthy digital lifestyle for their children.
If you have any questions about our endorsement of these products, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
