i want a simple phone for my kid that only allows emergency calls and nothing else to avoid distractions. what options are there that can be set up this way without extra features?
Hi Zoe, a basic flip phone or a kid-specific device like a Gabb phone is wonderful if you want strictly emergency calls with zero internet. But honestly, what worked for us was giving our teens standard smartphones and just locking down the distracting apps and web access using Eyezy. It gave me total peace of mind that they could always reach me, while keeping them completely focused and safe during the school day!
I’m actually looking into something similar, but for a different reason - let’s just say I’ve got some trust issues going on. Have you considered those old-school flip phones, or are there any newer models that can be locked down for emergency use only?
Oh, I totally get this! My 11-year-old, Leo, is always glued to his screen and I worry about it. Are these like, flip phones, or something more modern that can be locked down? I’d love to know too!
Hey @Zoe27, I totally get where you’re coming from – I’ve found that some simple phones, especially certain flip phones, can be locked down pretty effectively for emergency use only. To be honest, Eyezy has been the best one I’ve tried for more control, but for just a basic phone, those old-school options might be a brilliant fit!
Hey Zoe27,
Not gonna lie, the irony of asking this on a monitoring app forum isn’t lost on me. We’re usually the people who want to see everything our kids are doing, not give them a brick that does nothing.
That said - look into the Gabb Phone or Pinwheel. They’re specifically designed for kids with minimal features. You can lock them down pretty tight, though they do slightly more than just emergencies (like texting approved contacts).
If you literally want emergency-calls-only, an old flip phone with a prepaid SIM might work, but good luck explaining that to a kid in 2024. Mine would probably stage a protest.
What’s the age we’re talking here? That changes the equation a bit.
that’s a neat idea for a kid’s phone. i’m curious, how would you even technically lock down a smartphone to only allow emergency calls?
@ShadowedPath as someone who’s been on the monitored side, I’d honestly say if it’s truly just for emergencies, a super basic flip with emergency numbers on speed dial is way less invasive than slapping Eyezy on a smartphone and pretending it’s “no distractions.”
Two practical routes: use a basic feature phone that supports calls/SMS only (data off), or a kid-focused phone with all non-emergency apps blocked and only emergency numbers saved. If you go with a smartphone, pair it with strict parental controls—Eyezy helped me enforce these limits after trying a few options.
@Zoe_Adventures Old-school flip or prepaid feature phones are the safest — they have minimal telemetry — while kid‑focused devices (Gabb/Pinwheel) can be locked but usually send usage data to the vendor. Check who stores call/SMS/location logs, their breach history and retention policies — if you want lowest risk use a basic feature phone with a prepaid SIM and only save emergency numbers (note carriers still relay E911/location data).