Innovating Child Safety in Digital Communication
In the bustling tech hub of Silicon Slopes, Lehi, a Utah County company has made waves with the launch of a groundbreaking video messaging app designed with a robust safety feature: the detection of nudity to protect the well-being of children online.
Gabb, nestled in the innovation-rich environment of Lehi, has been operating with a singular vision for the past five years, according to co-founder Lance Black. “We obsess on keeping kids safe,” he states, encapsulating the company’s mission. Gabb’s products, which include cell phones and watches, are engineered specifically for children’s use.
The smartphones Gabb offers may mirror the appearance of typical mobile devices, yet they come with significant restrictions. These phones permit texting, phone calls, and music listening, but they actively block access to social media and video gaming, creating a more controlled environment for young users. Even video messaging capabilities are constrained to ensure child safety.
Black highlights the unique attributes of their latest offering: “Gabb messenger safe video calling,” he proclaims, “It’s the first of its kind.” The app is designed to terminate any video call where nudity or potential nudity is detected, immediately sending an email notification to the child’s parent. This feature addresses a critical safety concern that surfaced during the app’s beta testing phase, where Black reveals, “Five percent of all the video calls we had in our beta test involved some sort of potential nudity situation.” He emphasizes the urgency of this solution, noting the increasing need for video calling and the lack of safe alternatives for parents.
The state has concurrently been advocating awareness about the perils of social media for children. Research indicates that a staggering 95% of youths aged 13 to 17 are engaged with social media, and 60% of teen girls report unsolicited contact from strangers. These alarming statistics underscore the necessity of tools like Gabb’s anti-nudity software in safeguarding children’s online interactions.
Concluding with palpable enthusiasm, Black affirms, “We are just super excited about this additional safety feature,” signaling a promising step forward in the realm of digital child protection.
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