Resembling a retro landline telephone, a new device called Tin Can allows kids to make voice calls without any of the distractions, apps or internet access that come with smartphones. Created by parents who couldn't find a suitable communication device for their own children, Tin Can operates over Wi-Fi and connects only to contacts approved by parents through a companion app.
What sets the product apart is its deliberate limitations: no texting, no apps, no games and no access to strangers or unknown callers. The device does include playful touches like secret codes to hear a daily joke or word definition. Tin Can is available for pre-order at USD 75 and includes free unlimited calling to other Tin Can devices. An optional subscription is available for calling regular phone numbers.
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With their pseudo-landline for kids, Tin Can's founders are responding to persistent causes for concern: screen addiction, online predators and the erosion of in-person conversation skills. While Tin Can might seem nostalgic, it's a forward-looking intervention that reclaims the telephone as a tool for genuine connection, especially during the formative, pre-smartphone years when kids are building their social habits and emotional vocabulary. While parents retain control over who can call and be called, kids gain a sense of independence and social agency.
✳️ Simplicity as a feature, not a flaw (aka Calm Tech)
🔒 Control without surveillance
🧠 Offline connection that still feels cool
🧃 Analog nostalgia reimagined for digital-native kids
