Cyber- safe phone for kids to roll out soon

AN AUSTRALIAN firm is launching what it says is the first cyber- safe mobile phone for kids, targeting parents worried about their children’s online habits.

ASX- listed cyber safety company Family Zone says the Android phone – which it aims to have in stores in time for Christmas – has built- in controls that allow parents to restrict usage.

Parents control the settings on the $ 199 FZ One phone from their own devices, monitoring websites and imposing time restrictions on games and apps. But the child still had a degree of autonomy, Family Zone boss Tim Levy said.

“You might be comfortable giving your child access to Snapchat from ages 13 or 14, and if you’re using a child- designed phone bought from Harvey Norman you probably can’t do that,” Mr Levy said.

“With our device you can give your child access to Snapchat, but you can limit when they use it, for instance during school time.”

The company has a school community platform, giving participating schools control over how the phones are used throughout the day.

“It changes the argument about banning mobile phones: that isn’t the objective here,” Mr Levy said. “Most kids are happy to not be exposed to things that are inappropriate, they just want to play the things they want, and talk to their friends.”

The company declined to say which retailers would stock the phone.