Safe ways for children to use smartphones and tablets

The sea of inappropriate content available on the internet makes it incredibly difficult for parents to ensure that their children are staying safe while they are using smartphones and tablets, but moderated options exist that can help solve the problem, according to The New York Times. While age-specific filters and apps have existed for a while, the recent backlash over the YouTube Kids service illuminated the more significant issue with dependence on automated methods of curating children’s content.

Over time, the algorithm had begun suggesting videos that included conspiracy theories, violence, and even sexual themes that were often created by users to look appealing to minors. Since those issues, YouTube Kids has moved to a system that allows parents to limit their children to a selection of ‘trusted channels’ that have been vetted and verified by actual humans to ensure that there is no inappropriate content. This team of moderators will allow for more personal accountability within the company as well as a safer overall network.

Other options, such as Amazon’s FreeTime subscription service, allow a tablet to lock itself into a kid-safe environment with curated TV shows, apps, books, games, and more of which children will have unlimited access, according to Make Use Of. They have even integrated the app into their Alexa AI and Echo devices so that kids can interact with their voices without having to worry about accidental purchases or explicit songs playing. Parents can manage the total amount of time that FreeTime is used during the day and can even set limits on when Alexa is available to talk so that their little ones can sleep without distraction.