Latest news with #ChrisKaspar
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
New kids-only iPhone launches that's perfect for worried parents – it has NO social media & all internet apps blocked
A SPECIAL iPhone designed to stop kids from downloading social media apps and accessing an internet browser has been launched in the UK. Sage Mobile has modified the popular Apple device to tightly restrict the apps and services a child can access for the parents' peace of mind. Advertisement 1 Only vetted apps can be downloaded on the iPhone using Sage Mobile software Credit: Techless Only pre-vetted apps deemed safe for children can be used on the handset. And "sketchy workarounds" such as VPNs and backdoors are blocked too, the company claims. By default, the service has no social media, internet browser, or app store access. The Sage software is part of a subscription bundle, which provides buyers with an Advertisement Read more about iPhone "We didn't want to build a 'parental control' phone,' explained Chris Kaspar, CEO of Techless, the company behind Sage Mobile. "We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance. "With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time." But it doesn't come cheap, starting from £119 a month. Advertisement Most read in Phones & Gadgets Tested And not everyone is convinced it's a good idea. Professor Sonia Livingstone, a Social Psychologist at LSE says the price tag is "beyond the means of most parents, so if it does bring benefits, they can only be at the cost of increased social inequalities". Sun's tech editor shows NEW 4mm thin folding Samsung – & teases 'flip iPhone' too "More importantly, it is hard to see how this phone will solve the problem," she told "Research shows that young people gain many benefits from both social media and web browsing, though of course efforts to prevent the risks are important. Advertisement "Research shows that only a minority of young people have problematic internet use, and that many are learning the skills to become resilient and able to manage their own phone use in the future, which is also important." Techless first launched a version for the US market called Wisephone. The company claims it has sold out four times consecutively, "demonstrating the rising global demand for screen-safe smartphone solutions". It comes just days before new online safety law comes into effect forcing websites to make sweeping changes so adult and inappropriate content isn't easily accessible to children. Advertisement A number of iPhone tricks to try today Here are some of the best... Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
New kids-only iPhone launches that's perfect for worried parents – it has NO social media & all internet apps blocked
But not everyone is convinced it'll work - especially due to the cost GOOD CALL New kids-only iPhone launches that's perfect for worried parents – it has NO social media & all internet apps blocked Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SPECIAL iPhone designed to stop kids from downloading social media apps and accessing an internet browser has been launched in the UK. Sage Mobile has modified the popular Apple device to tightly restrict the apps and services a child can access for the parents' peace of mind. 1 Only vetted apps can be downloaded on the iPhone using Sage Mobile software Credit: Techless Only pre-vetted apps deemed safe for children can be used on the handset. And "sketchy workarounds" such as VPNs and backdoors are blocked too, the company claims. By default, the service has no social media, internet browser, or app store access. The Sage software is part of a subscription bundle, which provides buyers with an iPhone 16e or iPhone 16 Pro with the added protections. "We didn't want to build a 'parental control' phone,' explained Chris Kaspar, CEO of Techless, the company behind Sage Mobile. "We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance. "With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time." But it doesn't come cheap, starting from £119 a month. And not everyone is convinced it's a good idea. Professor Sonia Livingstone, a Social Psychologist at LSE says the price tag is "beyond the means of most parents, so if it does bring benefits, they can only be at the cost of increased social inequalities". Sun's tech editor shows NEW 4mm thin folding Samsung – & teases 'flip iPhone' too "More importantly, it is hard to see how this phone will solve the problem," she told ITV News. "Research shows that young people gain many benefits from both social media and web browsing, though of course efforts to prevent the risks are important. "Research shows that only a minority of young people have problematic internet use, and that many are learning the skills to become resilient and able to manage their own phone use in the future, which is also important." Techless first launched a version for the US market called Wisephone. The company claims it has sold out four times consecutively, "demonstrating the rising global demand for screen-safe smartphone solutions". It comes just days before new online safety law comes into effect forcing websites to make sweeping changes so adult and inappropriate content isn't easily accessible to children. A number of porn sites such as PornHub, as well as social platforms like Reddit, have started adding new stricter age checks.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
New kids-only iPhone launches that's perfect for worried parents – it has NO social media & all internet apps blocked
A SPECIAL iPhone designed to stop kids from downloading social media apps and accessing an internet browser has been launched in the UK. Sage Mobile has modified the popular Apple device to tightly restrict the apps and services a child can access for the parents' peace of mind. 1 Only pre-vetted apps deemed safe for children can be used on the handset. And "sketchy workarounds" such as VPNs and backdoors are blocked too, the company claims. By default, the service has no social media, internet browser, or app store access. The Sage software is part of a subscription bundle, which provides buyers with an iPhone 16e or iPhone 16 Pro with the added protections. "We didn't want to build a 'parental control' phone,' explained Chris Kaspar, CEO of Techless, the company behind Sage Mobile. "We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance. "With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time." But it doesn't come cheap, starting from £119 a month. And not everyone is convinced it's a good idea. Professor Sonia Livingstone, a Social Psychologist at LSE says the price tag is "beyond the means of most parents, so if it does bring benefits, they can only be at the cost of increased social inequalities". "More importantly, it is hard to see how this phone will solve the problem," she told ITV News. "Research shows that young people gain many benefits from both social media and web browsing, though of course efforts to prevent the risks are important. "Research shows that only a minority of young people have problematic internet use, and that many are learning the skills to become resilient and able to manage their own phone use in the future, which is also important." Techless first launched a version for the US market called Wisephone. The company claims it has sold out four times consecutively, "demonstrating the rising global demand for screen-safe smartphone solutions". It comes just days before new online safety law comes into effect forcing websites to make sweeping changes so adult and inappropriate content isn't easily accessible to children. A number of porn sites such as PornHub, as well as social platforms like Reddit, have started adding new stricter age checks. iPhone tricks to try today Here are some of the best... Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
TikTok-less iPhone promises 'to reconnect children with life' - for £99 a month
No internet, no social media, no scrolling. No, this isn't a Nokia 3410 – even that had Snake and a web browser – but a new phone that claims to be the 'world's only healthy iPhone for kids'. Sage Mobile is a modified iPhone 16 being offered in the UK on a £99 a month contract by the American tech company Techless. The basic handset, launched today, comes installed with software that limits the iPhone's use to texts, calls and taking photos and videos. The stripped-back App Store, meanwhile, only offers a few apps, such as for navigating public transport, banking or checking weather forecasts. 'Harmful websites and adult content are filtered automatically,' the Sage website adds. Chris Kaspar, CEO and founder of Techless, told Metro that the idea for the 'health-first' handset came from personal experience. 'I'm a foster parent, and a few years ago, I welcomed two children into my care who weren't allowed to have smartphones because of past issues,' he said. 'One night, I realised how unfair it was that there wasn't a safe option, something that gave kids a connection without exposing them to the risks that so many smartphones are designed to create.' It's almost common knowledge these days that too much time spent on smartphones and social media can increase anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, especially among young people. Almost every child owns a phone by the time they're 12, according to an official report. But youngsters are online long before that – by eight years old, children were plugged in for an average of two hours and 45 minutes a day, according to the media regulator Ofcom. Some schools have banned smartphones during school hours, with teachers arguing that children being too glued to glowing screens can be detrimental to their education. Campaigners are increasingly calling on parents and guardians to give their children 'dumbphones', also known as feature phones. Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, told Metro: 'The truth is, the standard smartphone is simply not designed with children's wellbeing in mind. 'It's designed to capture their attention, mine their data, and keep them scrolling.' Parents tell the campaign group 'all the time' that as much as they want to give their children a phone to contact them, they worry they'll be 'sucked into TikTok', which can contribute to low confidence and self-esteem. Greenwell doubts that dumbphones, like the Sage Mobile, could act as 'gateways' to further phone usage down the line. 'Smartphones are part of life, they're everywhere and they're not going anywhere,' she said. 'We're not anti-tech, it's just about making sure that our kids, whose brains are still being built, are ready for everything that the internet and social media apps bring before we hand over a full-fat smartphone – we'd suggest that's not before 14, and no social media before 16.' But Greenwell worries that the Sage phone's price point is out of reach for low-income families, who often spend more time on their phones. 'While it's encouraging to see innovation in this space, safer phones shouldn't be a luxury item,' she said. 'This price point risks sending the message that safety is only for those who can afford it.' Kaspar said Techless, which partnered with Apple and Vodafone for Sage, intends to offer cheaper contracts in the future. The £99 price tag is down to it being on a contract, which can be cancelled at any time, and the removal of the app store and web browser. 'At the end of the day, we're not selling phones, we're selling trust. Our launch pricing is what is required for us to provide trustworthy, world-class service,' Kaspar said. 'Our sincere purpose is to serve as many UK families as possible and we recognise that our launch pricing isn't right for everyone… yet.' Academics have never quite agreed about the negative effects of social media and smartphones on children. In 2020, researchers combed through about 40 studies that have examined the link between the two among teenagers. They found that as much as excess phone use can worsen the mental health of vulnerable youngsters or keep children away from outside activities like exercise, many young people would suffer the issues they do with or without a phone. A study in the US last month found that children's troubled mental health around phone usage had less to do with the amount of hours a day they're staring at a screen, but their attitudes towards it. Children at higher risk for suicidal behaviours were those who told researchers their use of technology had become 'addictive', struggling to put their mobiles down, even if they used them infrequently. Addiction, the study stressed, can be the root cause, not just time. More Trending Ioana Axinte, an educational consultant and the founder of Play Moments, said that ensuring children and adolescents have meaningful real-world experiences is vital. 'Do I think Sage Mobile is a bad thing? No, it's a conversation starter for a conversation we simply have to start having,' she told Metro. 'But it must be paired with education, empathy, and engagement. A phone can't raise a child, relationships do.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: All the dangers of 'slushies' after under-sevens warned not to drink them MORE: Pass the parcel? My child is invited to parties with hummers and helicopters MORE: 'This is one of my best purchases as a mum'
ITV News
5 days ago
- ITV News
New social media-free iPhone goes on sale
Are you concerned about your child's screen time, or the content they're coming across while using their smartphones? If so, you're not the only one. A recent survey by Internet Matters found that 63% of parents believe time online negatively impacts their children's health, including their sleep, while 67% continue to report harmful experiences online. For parents grappling over how to limit the damage of social media and smartphones, American company Techless says it has a solution – although it doesn't come cheap. Sage Mobile, a new brand launched in the UK yesterday, promises peace of mind to parents with two iPhone models (iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 Pro) preloaded with Sage software, starting at £99.95 per month with an upfront set-up fee of £119. Sage says its devices remove the "most common digital distractions and risks", no social media, internet browser or app store access on its default system, as well as explicit image detection and factory reset prevention. It comes preloaded with a handful of apps, including Spotify, Uber and Google Maps, and essential tools such as messaging, camera, and calendar features. Sage Mobile's pitch is that it provides a simple setup with "no loopholes for workarounds", adding that it has been granted "system-level functionality by Apple" for its devices, meaning its system "can't be turned off, deleted, or bypassed like a normal app". "We didn't want to build a 'parental control' phone," said Chris Kaspar, CEO and founder of Techless. "We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance. With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time." Sage's US counterpart, Wisephone, has sold out four times consecutively, suggesting there clearly is a demand, but with such a hefty price tag, these so-called "healthy iPhones" will be out of reach for many parents. "Clearly, the price tag is beyond the means of most parents, so if it does bring benefits, they can only be at the cost of increased social inequalities," Professor of Social Psychology at LSE Sonia Livingstone told ITV News. "More importantly, it is hard to see how this phone will solve the problem. Research shows that young people gain many benefits from both social media and web browsing, though of course efforts to prevent the risks are important. "Research shows that only a minority of young people have problematic internet use, and that many are learning the skills to become resilient and able to manage their own phone use in the future, which is also important. "This new phone comes at an odd time, given that this is the month in which Ofcom safety regulation comes into force, and parents are promised by the regulator that phones and internet use will be safer in a matter of months. We already see companies introducing improved safety services." While Prof Livingstone, who has advised the UK government, the EU, UNICEF and other organisations on children's internet safety, says she can see why parents would see Sage's phones as an "easy solution". "But, research also shows that what really matters is the communication and understanding between child and parent, and such a restriction may lead some to seek a work around, which will be even harder for parents to manage," she added. How to make your child's phones safer and reduce their screen time iPhone: Apple's Screen Time feature, which allows you to see how much time you're spending on your devices and set limits on apps, also lets parents set content and privacy restrictions on their children's phones and tablets. When setting up the feature on your child's device, you can set age-related restrictions for content, purchases, downloads and privacy settings, Apple says on its website. Parents using Apple's Family Sharing feature and have registered their children's devices to their family sharing group are able to set these restrictions remotely – although be warned, there are some workarounds for screen time limits more savvy young people might use. Android: Google's Family Link feature can be used on Android devices in a similar way, and lets parents set spending restrictions, and parental approval for downloads. It also lets you monitor app and device usage, set a "school time" schedule where certain apps are blocked, and a "downtime schedule" to stop your children scrolling during bedtime. You can also block explicit websites on Google Chrome, but same as before, some children and teens may find workarounds. Third-party apps: Parents looking for an extra level of security could use third-party parental control apps, including Mobicip, Norton Family, ParentShield and Qustodio, for a lower price than Sage's subscription deal. There are some ways children and teenagers can get around these, including by using VPNs (virtual private networks), but some apps on the market let parents monitor VPN activity and restrict usage. "Parent apps should not be used as an 'install it and forget it' method for safeguarding children and young people online," says the Safer Schools Partnership. "If you do choose to use monitoring software, it should be in conjunction with a range of other measures. "
