Rating the safest simple phones for children
Smartphone Free Schools Rating is launching a new phone rating for school appropriate phones. We are working with headteachers, health professionals and industry experts to determine an answer to the question...
...What is a 'simple' phone, as opposed to a smartphone?
Many schools are banning smartphones and allowing only ‘brick’ phones, so it is important to be able to easily identify simple phones that pose the least possible risk to children*. For example, whilst a social media ban for under 16s is on the horizon, it is sometimes difficult to tell which phones do and don’t have social media apps embedded.
With new phones coming to market which are a halfway house between smartphones and simple phones – many of which are aimed at adults rather than children – it is becoming more complicated to work out which phones are age appropriate and which are not.
Smartphone Free Schools Rating is working with health professionals, educators and researchers to identify the essential criteria for a ‘simple’ phone. For maximum safety and optimum simplicity, a school appropriate phone should be:
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Free from social media
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Free from a browser
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Free from a camera
The handset should also be easily distinguishable from a classic smartphone, to aid teachers in managing their policies. Other key questions are around gaming and AI, and we will be continuing to develop this rating in greater depth, with the help of experts, and will release more information in the coming months.
Please note that giving a phone the gold rating is not a judgement on the phone’s quality, usability, or performance. It is only assessing whether certain functionalities that pose a greater risk to children are absent.
Collaborators
This product rating is being developed with support and input from the following organisations (with others to be announced):
The BrainSafe Standard
The BrainSafe Standard certifies professionals and businesses in understanding, identifying, and eliminating addictive and compulsive design patterns.
Generation Focus
Generation Focus support head teachers with practical tools, evidence and inspiration to remove smartphones from schools.
Headteachers' Strategic Advisory Board
A number of headteachers and leaders in the field work with us to shape the rating schemes.
Thank you
Special thanks to the following organisations for supporting this initiative:
(No money has been accepted from these organisations)
Design for Change puts people, purpose and progress at the heart of design and digital innovation.
*It’s important to note that any phone can pose a potential risk to children, so parents and schools will want to consider ways in which they can manage and help their children to manage phone-based activities.