How To Turn A Hand-Me-Down Old iPhone Into A “Safer” Minimalist Phone For Youth:

CAVEAT: This “How To” guide is specific to the iPhone.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to find a parent friendly way to modify a fully functioning Android fusion device into a minimalist device. If any of our readers know of such a parent friendly process, please send us a link for review and we would be more than happy to share it. 

As we have mentioned in previous articles, it’s important for us, as parents, to exercise caution when it comes to allowing pre-teens and younger teens to own and have access to fusion phones (fully functional iPhones and Android phones). Instead, we recommend opting for minimalist phones like the Wisephone and the PinWheel Phone. (1)

However, for parents residing in Canada, it’s worth noting that neither the WisePhone nor the PinWheel Phone are currently available in our country, even though we have tested each one and both work just fine up here in Canada. Additionally, neither company accept Canadian credit cards or offer shipping to Canada. This poses a challenge for Canadian families in obtaining these phones unless they have a friend living in the United States who can make the purchase and ship it to them.

Considering the above noted challenge faced by Canadian families, and until the WisePhone and the PinWheel Phone become available to be purchased and shipped into Canada (which we hope will happen soon), here’s a guide on how to repurpose a hand-me-down iPhone and transform it into a minimalist phone to the best of our ability:

Step #1:

Uninstall and delete all deletable apps that you don’t want to have on the hand-me-down phone. To delete the unwanted apps:

1. Press and hold the app icon on the screen that you want deleted until it starts to jiggle.
2. Locate the “X” symbol positioned at the corner of the app and tap on it.
3. Click “Delete App”
4. Repeat the process for each unnecessary app until they are all removed from your device.

Note: there are some apps that you will not be able to delete, like the Safari browser and the Camera function, but we will deal with these applications further down.

Step#2:

Set up “Screen Time Passcode” to help prevent your teen from changing any settings that you will make to the phone. 

1. Click on the settings button on the main screen
2. Scroll down and tap on “Screen Time”
3. Scroll down and click on “Use Screen Time Passcode”
4. create a passcode, then re-enter the passcode to confirm. After you confirm your passcode, you’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID and password. This can be used to reset your Screen Time passcode if you forget it. If you don’t want to set this feature, just click on “cancel”. You will receive a prompt confirming you don’t want to use your Apple ID and password, tap “skip”. If you do decide to skip this option, make sure you store the password for your child’s phone somewhere secure just in-case.

Note: Unfortunately, Apple only allows you the ability to use a 4 digital passcode, so don’t pick an obvious one like 1,2,3,4 or 0,0,0,0. Also understand that with time, effort, and a little luck your child may be able to figure out the passcode to allow them to alter the settings that you have put in place.

Step #3:

Disable the Safari browser from the phone which allows them to search the internet.

1. Click on the settings button on the main screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Screen Time”
3. Scroll down and tap on “Content & Privacy Restrictions”
4. Toggle on “Content & Privacy Restrictions (make sure it is green)
5. Scroll down and tap “Allowed Apps”
6. Locate Safari and toggle it off 
7. Follow the same process for any other App you find under the “Allowed Apps” category that you do not want to have your child have access to.

NOTE: sometimes there may be another web browser app on the phone such as Google or Firefox.  If there is another browser, follow step #1 above.

Step #4:

Prevent Music and App Store Purchases (or to prevent the download of any app that was deleted)

1. Click on the settings button on the main screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Content & Privacy Restrictions.”
3. Ensure “Content & Privacy Restrictions” in turned on (green)
4. Tap on “iTunes & App Store Purchases”
5. Adjust all settings to “don’t allow”. Make sure to review each section carefully to set the restrictions that align with your requirements.

Step #5:

If you wish to allow the device the ability to make calls or send and receive text messages over a cellular network, purchase a Talk/Text (no data) only sim card, and place it into the phone.

Note: Even without a Talk/Text sim card, if the youth still has a Wi-Fi connection they will still be able to text, or allow them to access any app that you may decide is appropriate to leave on the phone such as the notes app, calendar app, Maps App, or music app. 

Remember, no device, including a minimalist phone, should be allowed to be used in a bedroom, bathroom, or at the dinner table.

While the above noted steps can indeed transform a fully functional iPhone into a more minimalist phone, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s still a functioning iPhone that, given sufficient time and effort on the part of your child, could be restored to its original state as a fully functional fusion phone with all its capabilities intact.

We hope this helps some families.

The White Hatter

References:

1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/smartphones-redefining-mobile-phones-for-both-parents-caregivers/