Hello Reader,

Thinking about an Apple Watch for your tween or teen? While kid-safe smartwatches are good for younger kids, older ones often prefer something cooler. Apple Watches can seem like a good option because they:

• don't need a paired phone,
• can join your family plan,
• offer traditional texting and calling to keep your kid connected,
• offer lots of models and styles to choose from,
• can be bought used or refurbished at lower prices.

BUT, but, but.

⚠️ Apple Watches are not designed for kid safety. Some of the drawbacks include:

• Full internet access, meaning everything online, including inappropriate content and pornography
• (Yes! Porn has been developed specifically for the Apple Watch!)
• Lots of extra effort is required for parents to set up strong parental controls
• Distractibility is a problem–teachers aren't fans!

Parental Controls on the Apple Watch

To set up an Apple Watch with parental controls, check out these instructions. According to Apple, parents can turn on Content and Privacy Restrictions as well as Parental Controls to block explicit content, downloading apps, and access to the internet among others.

Note: You will need to invest a good chunk of time to get all of this set up.

App safety! Kids are amazing at finding loopholes and backdoors in apps that take them to the internet. See what Titania Jordan from Bark teaches about app safety in this 2025 article.

✅ Our best advice

We still highly recommend dedicated kid-safe smartwatches. Like Gabb, Bark, Pinwheel and a few others. Read our review of 5 smartwatches to find the perfect one for your kid.

If you’re still considering an Apple Watch for your older child, just be prepared to roll up your sleeves and really lock down those settings to ensure a safer and more positive experience.

And schedule regular conversations that help your kid install an INTERNAL filter—one that reminds them that porn is harmful to their mental health, their brain, and their relationships!

Warmly,

Kristen

P.S. Heads up! We'll be running out of Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. inventory on Amazon this week. We have plenty of books ready to ship, but we're working to resolve an issue with a new Amazon policy that's affecting small publishers and book retailers. I'd love any good thoughts 💭, vibes 😊 or prayers 🙏 you could send our way! I'll fill you in next week on our progress and where else you can purchase our book. Btw, our original Good Pictures Bad Pictures is still in stock, no worries.

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