Mumsnet and UK tech brand SafetyMode have teamed up to launch a new AI-powered child safety app to protect kids without feeling overbearing or restrictive
Research has shown that more than 75% of parents believe keeping their child safe online is an impossible challenge, with many youngsters spending countless hours glued to their devices each day. In response to mounting worries, online parenting community Mumsnet has joined forces with UK tech company SafetyMode to co-develop innovative child safety software designed to offer parents enhanced peace of mind.
The partnership follows research which discovered that more than 90% of Mumsnet users consider smartphones insufficiently safe for children, while 86% express concern about the effect devices are having on their child’s mental wellbeing and concentration levels. The software was developed following calls from parents for safer default settings and more robust parental oversight.
Available for free download on Android handsets, the AI-driven technology monitors, filters and blocks damaging content, including nudity, bullying and explicit language. It operates across all applications installed on a smartphone, including popular platforms favoured by children such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Roblox and YouTube.
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It also provides parental oversight features, including location monitoring and the capability to restrict particular apps and websites. Nevertheless, what sets it apart from competing products that block entire applications or rely on keyword filtering is that SafetyMode has the capacity to understand context.
The software is advanced enough to distinguish between casual chat and a worrying conversation, sending real-time alerts to parents only when something truly requires their attention. Crucially, the app’s AI processing occurs directly on the device itself, meaning no images, messages or data ever leave the child’s phone.
Download SafetyMode child safety software for free
SafetyMode parental software is available to download free on Android smartphones, while parents can also buy the specially designed OtherPhone pre-loaded with a host of child safety featuers.
SafetyMode is designed for Android smartphones such as Samsung and Google and can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store. Parents also have the option to upgrade to SafetyMode Plus for £5.99 per month to access additional features, like the ability to manage permissions and filters remotely via a web dashboard, reports Birmingham Live.
For those without an Android device, the software remains available through SafetyMode’s own handset, the OtherPhone. Developed in collaboration with Mumsnet and Nothing Technology, this phone comes pre-installed with SafetyMode software, providing all the safety features mentioned above.
Parents can also activate a minimalist ‘boring by design’ home screen to deter addictive scrolling habits, with the SafetyMode Plus upgrade also available here. Once a child is older and ready to branch out, SafetyMode can be removed from the OtherPhone, transforming it into a standard smartphone.
Parents can buy the OtherPhone pre-loaded with SafetyMode for £279, which includes three months’ complimentary access to SafetyMode Plus. It’s important to note, though, that a SIM card might need to be purchased separately if children want to make calls and send texts without requiring an internet connection.
Giffgaff is one provider offering various monthly rolling SIM deals with no contract needed, beginning from £10 on its 40GB package. Kid-friendly gadgets are available from numerous brands, including Amazon, which stocks a child-appropriate version of its hugely popular Fire tablet.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet boasts an extensive range of parental controls for £159.99, and also includes a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, providing unlimited access to ad-free, age-suitable content. Concerning the OtherPhone, Mumsnet’s Becky K and her 10 year old son tested the device thoroughly over a weekend.
She characterised it as a ‘solid’ first smartphone that offers reassurance, without seeming heavy-handed or limiting. “The OtherPhone is a solid, well-built first smartphone that feels surprisingly premium for £279,” she said. “The design is sleek, it runs smoothly, and the camera is impressively sharp for the price.
“Most importantly for parents, the parental controls and optional SafetyMode Plus features make it genuinely easier to use.” Nevertheless, Becky also pointed out that setting up the OtherPhone can prove quite tricky for those accustomed to Apple iPhones.
She observed: “Because my older child and I both use iPhones, and the OtherPhone runs on Android, I found the process a little less straightforward than Apple’s Family Sharing system.”
Despite this hurdle, she went on: “I would absolutely recommend the OtherPhone to other parents looking for a first phone for their child. It’s well-priced, thoughtfully designed and gives peace of mind to parents without feeling overbearing or restrictive for kids. A big plus is the flexibility – you can use the phone on its own, or choose to add SafetyMode Plus if you want additional monitoring and controls.”