Some families in the United States are turning to Tin Can, a device that looks like an old home phone, to keep children away from smartphones. The idea is simple: preserve basic communication while removing the endless pull of apps, screens, and unrestricted internet access.
The device stands out precisely because it moves against the habits of modern family life. Instead of handing children a full-featured phone, parents are choosing a tool that feels far closer to a landline than to a smartphone.
A phone designed with limits
Tin Can was built to resemble a classic household telephone, including a base that looks like an old phone cradle. It also plugs directly into a wall outlet, which strengthens the impression that it belongs to a different era of communication.
Its functions are intentionally narrow. The device includes speakerphone, speed dialing, and an automatic answering machine, but it does not try to offer the full-screen experience of a modern smartphone.
How the service works
Calls between Tin Can devices are free, and the device can also be used to reach emergency services. For calls outside the Tin Can network, families can subscribe to a plan priced at around 10 US dollars or about Rp 172.000 per month.
That plan allows calls to numbers approved by parents. In practice, that means children can stay reachable, but only within a framework set by the family.
Why parents are paying attention
The appeal of Tin Can comes from a growing concern among parents about how children communicate on smartphones. Tin Can Untechnologies CEO Chet Kittleson said the product was created in response to worries about the way children interact today.
Kittleson has argued that voice conversations can help children build stronger communication skills. He also pointed to the value of learning to deal with pauses in conversation, something that is less common in text-based communication.
Demand spread beyond the home
Tin Can is not being used only as a household device. Several schools in the United States have also started looking at it as a way to limit smartphone use at an early age.
At Nativity Parish School near Kansas City, about 95 percent of families with children from kindergarten through fifth grade have joined the program. Students there also use paper directories to record contacts, which fits the device’s old-school approach.
St. James’ Episcopal School in Los Angeles has taken a similar step. The school planned to distribute Tin Can devices to 220 families before summer break, with the goal of helping students stay connected without relying on group chats.
Growing demand and limited availability
The rise in interest has been strong enough to create operational strain. Tin Can Untechnologies said demand surged so sharply that server issues appeared when installations spiked on Christmas Day.
So far, Tin Can is available only in the United States and Canada. The company has not confirmed whether it will expand to other countries, but the early response suggests there is clear demand for a screen-free communication option.
Source: tekno.kompas.com-
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