A dumb phone is a phone that is not a smartphone. The term dumb phones includes mobile phones created before the invention of the smartphone as well as modern smartphone alternatives. Although slightly different in meaning, “dumb phone” is often used interchangeably with the name "feature phone."

You install the software, set your limits on screen time and content, and feel hopeful that your child is protected from digital distractions and online risks, but you have the uneasy feeling your restrictions are not holding up.

Why do kids need Phones? The answer, for most parents, is simple: You need reliable basic communication to keep your child safe, not a miniature computer. Either that, or maybe your kid doesn't need a phone yet.

Every feature on the Zalpha Phone is designed to support a child's development without introducing a new vector for harm. When designing our phones, we repeatedly asked ourselves the question is access to music better for a child’s development than no music access at all?

The first step is defining the phone’s purpose. Before deciding on specific device, consider what essential needs are driving you to purchase a phone for your kid.

Parents are choosing feature phones because these devices have all the functionality their kids need with nothing to bypass. This means no social media, no internet browser, and no app store

When your child gets their first phone, how do you prevent it from taking over their lives? If your child has a smartphone, you'll likely want to set up parental controls, whic h can be a complicated process , and then hope your child doesn't find ways around the restrictions. If they have a dumb phone like the Zalpha Phone , their phone is ready to use right away without a difficult setup or 1,000 different options. Regardless of the phone you choose , it is crucial to estab

A new report released in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities based on a survey from the Global Mind Project examined the association between age of first smartphone and current mind health of young adults. The survey measured the mind health of over 100,000 young adults age 18-24 and also asked survey participants at what age they first had a smartphone. From the authors : "The most prominent finding is that for those who acquired their smartphone below the age

What is a dumb phone? It’s a phone that’s not a smartphone. So, like a flip phone? Sometimes, but not necessarily…

While the customizability of parental control apps is nice in theory, the endless optionality can make set up somewhat complicated

The good, bad, and strange of life without a smartphone

New name, same dumb phones for kids When I started Privo Mobile a few years ago, my initial inspiration for founding the company was concern about digital privacy. Our mission was to create privacy-focused mobile solutions for adults. We chose a name (Privo Mobile) which matched our mission. Early on, I started to hear from parents who didn't necessarily care about privacy, but wanted something similar to what we were building for their kids, so that their kids could have bas

I remember the first time I heard about Facebook; my older brother told me about it. At the time, Facebook was still only for college...

One of the most common questions we get is, “Why isn’t your phone or website more colorful?” Bright colors are often used to grab the attention of kids. After all, isn’t that what kids need? Bright colors, fun designs, and eye-catching visuals? But phones are already plenty good at grabbing kids’ attention . Many of us have seen the way young kids’ eyes light up when they look at an adult’s phone even if they just look at the light. Children get so engrossed in the screen th

Supposedly, there’s a secret back room with vegetables, although no one seems to know where it is. What’s the best analogy for social media. Is it like cigarettes? Slot machines? Big Brother? I’m not particularly a fan of any of these similes. Current social media is much more like a cafeteria. But not just any old cafeteria. Imagine a cafeteria where the moment you sit down the junk food you can’t resist instantly appears in front of you. Not your favorite dessert, but rathe