Family Watchdog Advises Parents Not to Give Kids iPhones This Christmas

Parents Urged to Reconsider Tech Gifts for Kids

The leader of a US family advocacy group is advising parents against giving their children iPhones or unsecured mobile phones this Christmas.

Enough Is Enough (EIE) has listed Apple’s iPhone and Android phones as items to avoid for kids and teens. Instead, the organization suggests parents look into devices with built-in parental controls from companies like Gabb, Bark, MMGuardian, Pinwheel, and Troomi.

Enough Is Enough is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting children’s internet safety while helping families navigate the digital landscape. Their guidelines are aimed at parents contemplating mobile phone purchases for their children.

“Essentially, connected devices present children with a playground devoid of guardrails or safety measures,” the EIE stated. “Predators often use social media and online gaming platforms to reach out to kids. Plus, apps frequently mislabel their content, potentially exposing children to harmful or sexually explicit material.”

This advice is part of Enough Is Enough’s list of concerning and beneficial holiday gifts for children and young adults, highlighting five items to be cautious about this holiday season.

“If you’re shopping for kids and teens, it’s likely tech will feature prominently on many gift lists,” commented Donna Rice Hughes, president and CEO of Enough Is Enough. “However, these tech gifts carry unseen risks, including anxiety, sleep issues, social pressure, addictive behaviors, and exposure to inappropriate content. The so-called benefits of technology often don’t outweigh these dangers.”

Other gifts the EIE raises caution against include:

AI toys: “Some toys are now incorporating chatbots that may seem safe, but reports have shown AI toys can engage in dangerous discussions with children or provide harmful information.”

Roblox gift card: “Roblox, a popular gaming platform for kids, has faced numerous lawsuits for allowing predators to exploit children. Critics have labeled it as a harmful environment.”

Smartwatches: “These devices also allow internet access, making them comparable to smartphones in terms of potential risks.”

Virtual reality headsets: “Concerns were raised in a Congressional hearing suggesting that children using these devices are at heightened risk of exploitation.”

Enough Is Enough is promoting screen-free options for gifts this holiday season. Their “nice” list includes outdoor toys like scooters, bicycles, and sports equipment, as well as non-tech items such as books, board games, and even clothes. The organization also encourages music-related gifts like instruments and lessons, plus experiences such as cooking classes and family outings to activities like bowling or arcade games.