In today’s digital age, the safety of our teenagers while using smartphones is a growing concern. This was the driving force behind a single mother of teenage daughters, who felt compelled to create a solution to keep her children safe on the road. The result? An innovative app known as ParentGuard, designed to restrict smartphone usage whenever a parent chooses to disable it. While it may initially seem intrusive, as any adult knows, the temptation to text while driving is a real danger. ParentGuard has the potential to save lives.
Concerned about her daughter Ella’s incessant phone use, Sarah Thompson shared, “It became a recurring issue. Ella would be in her room on video calls late into the night, constantly engaged with friends and downloading new apps. She simply wouldn’t put the phone down.” With Ella nearing the age of obtaining her driver’s license, Sarah worried that her daughter’s phone obsession could lead to dangerous situations on the road.
Sarah decided to transform her worries into action, leading to the development of ParentGuard. For a subscription fee of $1.99 per month, this app allows parents to disable specific smartphone features, all while ensuring that essential communication options, like calling or texting emergency contacts, remain accessible. Sarah noted, “Other existing solutions only targeted texting and driving, but teens engage in so many other activities on their phones: photography, social media, browsing the Internet.”
The necessity for an app like ParentGuard arose from Sarah’s realization that she wanted a tool to enforce limits while still allowing her daughters the ability to contact her in emergencies. Unique to this app is the capability to selectively disable apps, manage calling and texting permissions, and even prevent texting once a vehicle exceeds 10 mph.
Research from the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future reveals that 18% of adults admit they cannot resist the urge to check or send messages while driving. Given the nature of teenage impulsivity, these statistics would likely be even higher among younger users. While it’s important for parents to foster trust and independence in their children, the reality is that safety must remain a priority. Many responsible adults find it hard to ignore notifications at the wheel, and the same temptation exists for teens.
With smartphones consolidating numerous features into one device, the risk remains high for distracted driving. This app is not designed to invade privacy but to protect teens when they should be focused on driving. For parents concerned about the potential for distracted driving, tools like ParentGuard offer a viable means of alleviating anxiety.
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In summary, Sarah Thompson’s ParentGuard app stands as a testament to innovation born from parental concern, aiming to keep teens safe while using their smartphones, especially when behind the wheel.