The question of whether children should be allowed smartphones has become increasingly pertinent over the last few years, with calls to ban phones in school and social media for children under 16 gathering pace. So it's perhaps unsurprising that we're seeing the first smartphone designed for – and by – kids.
AT&T has launched the AT&T amiGo Jr. phone, a "simple smartphone solution to help keep parents connected and kids protected". With advanced security controls for parents, it promises to offer more control than a standard smartphone.
Built in collaboration with Samsung, the phone lets parents manage screentime, apps and settings right from their own iOS or Android phone, with features like location sharing, Safe Zones, and Schedules to limit distractions during school hours.
“Putting customers at the centre of our business means anticipating what comes next – not just responding to what already exists. As smartphones become a daily necessity, parents have made it clear they need better tools to help their children navigate the digital world safely,” said Erin Scarborough, SVP, Revenue Management & Commercialization, AT&T. “We listened. We worked with kids and parents to design the AT&T amiGO Jr. Phone to give parents peace of mind and kid friendly options for today's digital world."
With three rear cameras and an Exynos 1330 chip, the amiGO Jr. Phone is certainly no slouch. But whether you'll approve of the idea of a child-friendly smartphone depends on your take on screen time in general. Better security controls for parents sounds admirable, but might no phone be better than a 'kids' phone'?
As for the design, I'm not seeing much evidence of AT&T's claim that it was designed with kids. With its utilitarian, navy design and standard 6.7-inch display this thing looks like... any other Android smartphone. Where's the colour? Where's the fun? They could have at least made it smaller for those little hands.
The amiGO Jr. Phone is available to order now, starting at $209.99.
