The definition of phones safe for children under 16.
Keep your child safe in the digital world
while supporting social connection.
Choose a Startphone-certified mobile when your child is ready for their first phone.
A startphone is the definition of a safe mobile phone for children under 16. In other words, it’s an ideal phone to start with. Unlike a smartphone, it comes with limited features to protect young users from social media and inappropriate content – while still offering essential communication like calls and SMS.
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Designed for Childhood
In alignment with public health recommendations, we’re defining what an ideal startphone can – and cannot – include. The phone should be designed to give children exactly what they need, and nothing that could cause harm.
A startphone can have the following features:
Kid-First Design
Made for children under 16 who need a phone for safety and communication – like walking home from school or chatting with friends.
Regular Phone Calls
Can make calls to anyone, and receive phone calls from contacts only.
One-to-One Text Messaging
Can send SMS (to one person at a time) to anyone, and receive SMS from contacts only.
Voice Messaging
Voice feature: Speak to write, listen to read – every message is traceable as SMS to help prevent bullying and misuse.
Basic Tools
Timer, alarm, stopwatch, flashlight, calendar, and notes.
Text-Only Screen
Screen shows text, emojis and maps only – no games, no apps, no internet access.
Optional Location Sharing
May include passive or child-initiated location sharing, as well as an SOS button, if it meets strict privacy and safety requirements.
Bluetooth Capability
Wireless pairing with audio devices like headphones or speakers.
Listen to Music
Screen-free Spotify access (through SDK integration), wireless FM radio, or MP3 player.
The Basic Principle
The startphone is based on a clear principle: children should only have access to technology when it has been proven safe. This is the same precautionary approach used in medicine. If a feature hasn’t been shown to be safe for children, it shouldn’t be included. The responsibility for proving safety lies with the companies that build the technology – not with parents, and certainly not with children.
No Social Media
Our position starts with a simple assumption: the research is clear. Social media use is linked to harm in children and teens under 16. While many governments have yet to act, we believe 16 should be the global minimum age for access to social media.
Safe Hardware
That’s why we don’t consider smartphones appropriate for anyone under 16. Even with parental controls in place, most children find ways to access platforms that can affect their well-being. If a device can connect to social media in any form, it simply isn’t safe. The solution isn’t trying to outsmart the brilliant youth with more control settings – it’s redesigning the hardware itself.
Disqualifying Features
Following public health principles, we’ve used the least harmful method to define what a startphone must exclude – prioritizing features that minimize risks to a child’s safety, privacy, well-being, and development.
This is why we recommend the following for phones for children under 16:
No Images or Videos
Removes addictive social media features and limits exposure to harmful or explicit content by design.
No Camera
Significantly reduces the risk of privacy violations and unintentional sharing, supporting stronger GDPR compliance.
No Internet Browsing
Significantly reduces risk of exposure to inappropriate content and unsafe interactions.
No Social Media
Social media platforms are not designed with child safety in mind.
No Encrypted Chats
Encrypted chat platforms are not designed with child safety in mind.
No Games
Reduces distractions and allows the child to focus on offline interactions.
No Ability to Download Apps
Prevents access to ads, games, hidden chat functions, and distractions.
No Email, Cloud Syncing, or File Sharing
Removes complexity and paths to bypass safeguards.
No Group Texting or “Reply All”
Reduces risk of exclusion, drama, or peer pressure.
“Once you give your kid a smartphone, 80% of the healthy, normal, necessary activities of childhood drop away, and their life revolves around the phone.”
Jonathan Haidt
Professor, Social Psychologist, and Author
Protecting Childhood in a Connected World
Co-Create the Startphone With Us
Join parents and experts in further developing the Startphone Standard that truly meets the needs of children under 16.
The Startphone Standard
While the ultimate startphone is still taking shape, a few models are already coming close to meeting the standard.
Available Startphones
Find the best available options on the market here:
The Startphone of Tomorrow
- Will resemble a smartphone in form and feel, but without camera, video or image display capabilities
- Can play music from services like Spotify (through SDK integration)
- Is built for the future while staying true to the startphone principles: no images, no group chats, no web browsing
- Answers the key question: should a phone for a child be an entertainment device or a safe communication tool?
Calling on Mobile Manufacturers to Build the Next Generation Startphone
Manufacturers are invited to apply to have their phones evaluated and certified under the Startphone Standard, with approved devices featured on this page. The Startphone Standard defines a phone that meets the essential needs of children under 16 while prioritizing their safety.
A startphone is not an entertainment device. It is a communication tool that connects children with family and friends, without access to social media, group chats, or internet browsing. Any additional features must be proven safe and appropriate for young users, with the responsibility of proof resting with the manufacturer.
We also encourage manufacturers to reach out for insights gathered through our co-creation initiative and to explore how their devices can qualify as an approved startphone. We’re here to support you in this mission.