You may need already heard concerning the backlash following the brand new On-line Security Act (2025) being rolled out by the UK authorities, however to get you up to the mark, it primarily includes an enormous blanket of censorship on-line and requires web sites, search engines like google, and social media platforms to guard youngsters by eradicating any unlawful content material.
Whereas this sounds very affordable in principle (and I am all for preserving youngsters protected), critics aren’t glad that completely authorized content material is getting caught within the crossfire, and any sort of mature content material is being age-gated, which means customers might want to provide ID to acquire entry.
Issues over infringing on free speech have additionally been raised by X’s proprietor, Elon Musk, however no matter the place you stand on the matter, one factor nonetheless stays up within the air – is it actually protected for youngsters to have smartphones in 2025?
Chances are you’ll like
I believe the Bark Telephone could possibly be the one actual answer (in addition to not letting your child have a smartphone in any respect, clearly), because it affords an all-in-one parental management answer with AI-managed hazard alerts, content material monitoring, display time monitoring, and even location updates, all housed inside a glossy funds Samsung cellphone (the A16).
It isn’t simply the web to concern, both, and a Bark cellphone, not like among the finest digital camera telephones on the market, can alert mother and father to any potential dangers of bullying or self-harm detected through social media monitoring, and might forestall youngsters from being groomed through messaging apps.
I believe that is glorious, and permits mother and father the chance to get hands-on in parenting their children relating to tech, as a substitute of relying on the web to safeguard their youngsters for them (which may be near-impossible as issues slip by means of content material filters).
(Picture credit score: Bark)
The Samsung A16 was launched solely final 12 months, and the Bark Telephone Professional mannequin is a Samsung A36. Each are stable handsets with appropriate efficiency, particularly for youths, providing sturdy high quality with none of the dear flagship design qualities.
Each day design information, critiques, how-tos and extra, as picked by the editors.
A current examine discovered that three in 4 UK mother and father are involved about what their youngsters are seeing on their telephones, but, there’s already a petition calling for the repeal of the UK On-line Security Act. It is not possible to maintain everybody glad.
By utilizing Bark merchandise – there is a cellphone, watch, app, and web filter bundle – Mother and father can take issues into their very own arms and relaxation simple figuring out their youngster is protected against the web.
In the present day’s finest offers on new Samsung smartphones
36 months
Limitless minutes
Limitlesstexts
1GBinformation
36 months
Limitless minutes
Limitlesstexts
150GBinformation
36 months
Limitless minutes
Limitlesstexts
5GBinformation
36 months
Limitless minutes
Limitlesstexts
1GBinformation