Keeping teens and other connected youngsters in the mobile realm safe and responsible in the digital age is a perpetual challenge.
Fortunately for concerned parents, Sprint is taking a more proactive role in protecting mobile’s youthful users.
“Among teenagers, smartphones are a lifeline,” Sprint said in a release this week. The carrier cited data published recently by Pew Internet Research, which shows that 75 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds now own cell phones, up from 45 percent in 2004.
“To help parents ensure their teens are using smartphones responsibly,” the carrier says, “Sprint announced today the availability of Sprint Guardian, a collection of mobile family safety and device security bundles that provide families tools to help keep their smartphones – and their families — safe and secure.”
Based on the details contained in the announcement, Sprint Guardian is available on several Sprint Android-powered devices through Sprint Zone.
Sprint Guardian features leading mobile applications from Safely, a division of Location Labs, and Lookout. The family safety bundle from Safely enables families to protect their phone-carrying children through location checks and limits on texting while driving or at school. The device security bundle from Lookout helps customers protect their mobile devices from loss and malware.
“With Sprint Guardian, Sprint is giving families and individuals tools and information to better manage their wireless experience,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development at Sprint. “For example, parents can set parameters for when and where their children can text; a Sprint phone can be programmed to stop calls and text messages while driving; and lost phones may be found more easily.”
