I Gave My Son A Loaded Gun—Entering His Screenager Era
Billy Parks
Context: This summer, I gave my 14-year-old son his first iPhone—and it sucked. Not because of screen addiction or TikTok spirals, but because there’s no clear way to onboard a family into tech that reflects what we actually value. Despite all the tools and parental controls, I found myself spending hours configuring settings, watching YouTube tutorials, and becoming my own family’s IT admin—just to give him a phone that felt safe, empowering, and intentional.
Market Signal: More and more parents are hitting this same moment: giving their kid their first phone and realizing how little support exists for doing it well. Books like The Anxious Generation are sparking cultural awareness, but most “safety” tools focus on control, not connection. There’s real demand for something better—something that helps families align technology with values, not just restrict access.
Takeaways: There’s a product I wish existed: a values-based tech setup service for families. One that asks what you care about, walks you and your kid through it, and configures the phone accordingly—in 30 minutes. Not surveillance. Not shame. Just clarity and alignment.
Ask: If you follow any creators working at the intersection of parenting and tech, I’d love to know who they are. And if you’re interested in building this product with me, let’s talk. I’m in.