Transforming Old iPhones into Kid-Friendly Starter Devices

Ever wished you could turn an old iPhone into a safe learning tool for your kids? Meet Screenable, an app designed by a family for families. This smart tool can transform any Apple device into a digital playground tailored to your child's age. Imagine turning your iPhone into a classic flip phone with Screenable's “Basic Mode”. Kids can only access phone, FaceTime, and messages. Parents can restrict who they chat with using Apple’s parental controls. As kids grow, parents can let them explore more apps. The app's “Trainer Mode” is perfect for kids stepping into independence. Parents get notified about the apps their kids use. There's also an “Overtime” feature to help kids manage daily screen time. Coming soon is the “Social Trainer Mode”, which introduces kids to social media apps one at a time. Parents can set time limits and customize in-app controls for platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

Screenable encourages parents to research unknown apps before allowing their kids to use them. Plus, it provides conversation guides for chats about online safety. The creators, brothers Tom and Stevie Clifton, along with their wives, designed this app when thinking about their own kids' tech journey. They wanted a gradual, healthy approach to tech use. “We’re pro-tech, ” Tom says. “Other apps lock everything down. Ours is a gradual program. ” The app is free for the “Basic Mode”, with other modes costing $7 monthly. Screenable believes in repurposing old smartphones. In the future, they envision families using the app to disconnect together. Parents are already asking to use it to cut their own phone usage.

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