In a time when parental controls have gotten more and more important for youths to navigate the huge, typically unfiltered content material on-line, Gabb, a kid-safe tech firm, lately launched a premium music subscription, Gabb Music Plus, giving youngsters a protected place to discover music. However past music streaming, Gabb is positioning itself as a protected area for youths to step by step transition into the world of expertise and discover content material in immediately’s digital age.
How Gabb is constructing a protected tech ecosystem for youths
Gabb, based in 2018, has been making internet-free telephones for youths ages 5 and 13. The corporate says it has taken a management function in offering analysis and schooling and growing options that empower dad and mom with the instruments to maintain their youngsters protected. It creates units and apps that contemplate the age issue and the ‘coolness’ facet of the devices it creates.
“Whereas nonetheless defending (youngsters) from gaming addictions, risks of predators, bullies, publicity to express language or inappropriate language and pictures,” Brandon Jeppson, Gabb’s director of selling, informed me in an e mail.
Relating to smartphones, the model’s newest Gabb telephone and Gabb Telephone 3 Professional haven’t any web connectivity, however they do present the important apps wanted for every stage of improvement from grade faculty by means of highschool. As an example, Gabb’s teen-friendly telephone is suitable with third-party apps like Kahoot, Duolingo, Gabb Maps, and so on., which oldsters can allow in the event that they really feel their teenagers are prepared.
These telephones additionally come outfitted with kid-safe messaging by means of Gabb Messenger, which always displays texts and notifies dad and mom if their youngsters are uncovered to inappropriate content material, opening up mandatory conversations in households. Dad and mom may also request that the corporate add sure apps that they really feel are mandatory in class or in public settings.
“In contrast to different tech options, Gabb has youngsters as our first thought, not as an afterthought,” Jeppson added.
After delving into music, Gabb highlights how dad and mom needed a platform that levels protected music choices with no express content material that their youngsters might by accident encounter, so the corporate created a Gabb Music Plus subscription.
“Gabb Music does not simply bleep out lyrics; as an alternative, each express music and innuendo has been filtered out totally utilizing industry-leading instruments and proprietary expertise,” stated Gabb CEO Nate Randle.
The result’s a curated music library that the entire household can hearken to. Children can seek for songs and artists, create their very own playlists, and obtain them on the go, very like on different music streaming apps like Spotify or YouTube Music.
Gabb’s watches supply advantages just like these of its telephones. The newest Gabb Watch 3 permits calling and texting pre-approved contacts, guaranteeing youngsters keep related with their households. These wearables even have an inbuilt GPS monitoring system and an SOS button that gives an added layer of safety when youngsters are away from residence.
The necessity for protected havens
For those who handed a toddler a smartphone immediately, you’d be shocked how they’d in all probability unlock your telephone and begin launching apps that curiosity them—which could lead on them right into a path of display addictions after they’re imagined to be studying life expertise.
Dad and mom are always debating the correct age to provide their youngsters a telephone as a result of elevated psychological dangers. A world examine of practically 28,000 younger adults confirmed a powerful correlation between the age youngsters obtain their first smartphone and their psychological well being. It states, “the later the age at which these younger adults first obtained a telephone or pill that they might carry with them in childhood, the higher their psychological well-being.”
In immediately’s vastly related world, with entry to smartphones and the web, teenagers are certain to encounter inappropriate content material and be topic to bullying, which, in flip, impacts their self-worth and talent to narrate to others in a constructive method. Whereas most social media apps have age restrictions, bypassing these partitions and getting by means of is equally straightforward.
One other examine highlights how 8 to 10-year-olds spend nearly eight hours a day with varied media, and older youngsters and youngsters spend round 11 hours with media, leaving them inclined to undesirable content material and even social media predators.
That is the place firms like Gabb are available in, offering important instruments for parental management and age-appropriate performance. Gabb says it tries to create an setting for youths to securely swap to different units when they’re adults whereas striving to stay related in immediately’s AI-powered world.Â
That stated, Gabb is not the one firm making kids-safe tech. Not too long ago, Google introduced the brand new Fitbit Ace LTE, a kids-only smartwatch that goals to advertise a extra wholesome and energetic way of life. The wearable isn’t all about step-tracking— it additionally comes with “video games” and different methods to get youngsters into the behavior of staying energetic. The Ace LTE additionally provides calling, messaging, and site sharing.
“We consider the brand new look of different opponents is a validation of the rising curiosity in our mission to empower dad and mom and youngsters to attach safely in a digital world,” Jeppson added.
Regardless of different entrants into the market, Gabb feels that it has had a considerable head begin on the competitors and has established a loyal, rising buyer base.Â
“We additionally proceed to see a powerful response from dad and mom to Tech in Steps (aligning merchandise with developmental levels) and the kid-first strategy to serving to youngsters and teenagers safely connect with household and associates.”