Safe on Social Launches Smartphone Readiness Model for US Families

ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Safe on Social Inc., a company that has been at the forefront of digital safety since 2013, has launched a new initiative aimed at helping US parents and schools navigate the growing challenge of digital access for children. The initiative, called The Smartphone Readiness Project, provides a structured model for families to determine whether a child is ready for a smartphone, app, or digital platform based on demonstrated judgment and responsibility, rather than age or peer pressure.

The project, which is currently available in the United States, introduces a framework that allows children to research the device or app they want and develop a formal business case for access. This business case requires the child to identify potential risks, understand privacy settings, establish a safety and time-management plan, and explain how they would handle situations such as unwanted contact. Parents can then decide whether the answer is a yes, yes with limits, or not yet. The decision always stays with the parent, and a persuasive presentation does not guarantee a device.

According to a Pew Research Center survey of 3,054 US parents conducted in May 2025, 42% of parents of children 12 and younger say they could be doing better at managing their child's screen time, with this figure rising to 47% among parents of children ages 8 to 12. Additionally, 61% of children 12 and younger use a smartphone, according to their parents, with use reaching roughly three-quarters among 11- and 12-year-olds.

Schools are also grappling with the issue of student cellphone use. A 2025 report from the National Center for Education Statistics found that 72% of US public-school leaders believe student cellphone use negatively affects mental health, 73% say it negatively affects attention spans, and 53% report a negative impact on academic performance. While 77% of public schools prohibit cellphone use during class, only 30% prohibit use throughout the school day.

Safe on Social's founder, Kirra Pendergast, explained that the initiative is designed to address the broader behavioral-risk question of what happens before a child is handed unrestricted access to a device.

The Smartphone Readiness Project includes a Phone or App Business Case, SWOT analysis, safety plan, privacy and time plan, Parent Presentation Checklist, 15 questions for parents to use during the presentation, and a Family Digital Access Agreement that parent and child sign together. It also includes Safe on Social's Start Small, Release Slowly framework, which provides guidance for families who choose a basic or children's phone or already have a smartphone in the home.

The project is designed to complement school phone policies and supports schools that choose phone-free school days. Safe on Social Inc. works with public and private schools to bring together education, risk intelligence, and governance through one connected system, helping make technology a safer and more positive part of school life.

A separate 2025 national poll from the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found that 75% of US parents regard both social media and excessive screen/device use as major problems for children and teens, while 66% identified internet safety as a major concern. Safe on Social, powered by Ctrl+Shft, has been building more than a decade of frontline knowledge to address these issues and provide practical solutions for families and schools.

The Smartphone Readiness Project is available at www.safeonsocial.com/product-page/the-smartphone-readiness-project.