An 'iPhone for kids' that can't access TikTok or Instagram or search the internet will be released

In recent years, children's excessive use of smartphones and access to some extreme content from smartphones have become a problem. In the UK, a new iPhone for children called 'Sage Mobile' has been released that does not allow the use of web browsers or SNS, and costs 99 pounds (about 20,000 yen) per month.

Internet-safe iPhone for children goes on sale for £99 a month | Smartphones | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/16/internet-safe-sage-iphone-for-children-goes-on-sale-in-uk-for-99-pounds-a-month

Sage Mobile, launched by US company Techless , is an iPhone 16 equipped with custom software that blocks internet searches, games, and downloads of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. The device is designed to appeal to parents worried about excessive smartphone use by their children, and is a £99 monthly subscription rather than a one-time purchase.

Sage Mobile only has its own app store, and users can only use certain apps such as online banking, public transportation, school, calendar, weather, and music streaming services. Similar devices are already on sale in the United States, and they have been successful in reducing children's smartphone usage time to 15 minutes to an hour a day. Considering that the average screen time for American children is three hours a day, this is a significant reduction in screen time.

The launch of Sage Mobile coincides with the UK's Online Safety Act coming into force at the end of July 2025, imposing obligations on online platforms to protect children. In response, message board social media site Reddit is now requiring users to verify their age before viewing 'certain adult content.'

The Guardian, a foreign media outlet, pointed out that the price of a Sage Mobile subscription is nearly twice that of a typical two-year iPhone 16 contract, saying, 'This will be an expensive way to avoid online dangers, but it reflects a growing dilemma for parents about how best to start their children's digital lives.'

Previous studies have shown that children who are addicted to smartphones are twice as likely to experience anxiety and three times as likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to children who are not. Chris Kasper, founder of Techless, said, 'It's like selling cars without seat belts now, because most smartphones allow access to a wide range of apps and the Internet by default. We want the default settings to be safe and sane.'

However, due to the high price tag of Sage Mobile, it is expected that only a few thousand units will be sold. The Guardian points out that children from low-income families are at high risk of online victimization, and the monthly price of £99 is prohibitive for such families.

In fact, The Guardian published an anonymous 16-year-old writer living in the UK's review of Sage Mobile.

Sage iPhone for children review: 'Would it make me want to divorce my parents?' | Smartphones | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/16/sage-iphone-for-children-review-teenagers-internet-safe-smartphone

This writer says that he uses his smartphone for about 4 hours a day on weekdays and about 8 hours a day on weekends, and that 'Snapchat is the most important, but I often follow friends on TikTok and Instagram.' The only apps installed on Sage Mobile were Google Maps, Spotify, Monzo (online bank), Uber, calendar, and transportation apps, and he said that he had no use for any of them.

As a result of using Sage Mobile, they felt benefits such as 'I started talking more with my family because my smartphone was too boring' and 'I spent less time in my room and became more productive.' On the other hand, for teenagers, TikTok and Instagram are ways to connect with the world, so they felt a sense of crisis that 'if I continued to use Sage Mobile, I would feel left out when talking to friends in real life.'

'I'm not as worried about the harms of social media and games as many adults are. I played Roblox during the COVID-19 lockdown and made some good friends,' Reiter said. 'I wasn't addicted to it. It was just fun.' 'Snapchat is a source of social bonding, and without it our networks might fall apart.' On the other hand, it's true that the 'beauty images' on TikTok have a negative impact, and Sage Mobile acknowledges that it may help reduce the risk for people with body image issues.

If your parents want you to have a smartphone without Internet access, Sage Mobile is a good option. 'When you're out with friends and everyone's checking their phones, it's really weird to take out your Nokia or nothing,' he said.