When HN users recommended it
4 HN users recommended this between 2017 and 2019, in 4 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
4 HN users recommended this between 2017 and 2019, in 4 comments.
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
Amazon's Kindle stuff for kids includes limits. However, it doesn't appear to offer additional customization/filtering within the existing setup.
https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-FreeTime-Unlimited-Monthly-Sub...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018Y226XO
"[Bezos] starts in on the mantras of Amazon’s e-reader and tablet business. Mantra one: premium products at non-premium prices. Mantra two: "We make money when people use our devices." - https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/25/4766878/jeff-bezos-interv...
See for example Rapids (https://rapids.amazon.com), FreeTime Unlimited (https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-FreeTime-Unlimited-Monthly-Sub...), Kindle Unlimited (https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/hz/signup?_encoding=UTF8&*...)
> But it takes a lot of time and effort to filter the content your child consumes.
It really doesn't if you use the tools available.
For instance Amazon FreeTime (https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-FreeTime-Unlimited-Monthly-Sub...) gives you a curated library that is appropriate for the age range you set.
There's no microtransaction apps or other nonsense like that.
You can even set limits like "30 minutes app time per day", "30 minutes book time", "30 minutes video time", etc.
You can also remove or add specific apps you want your kid to have access to.
Honestly it's wonderful to give a young kid that level of autonomy and access to information. You should still pay attention to what they do. But there's no need to give them access to the open internet or to curate everything yourself.
The time for regulating data collection for minors at a Federal level is now[1]. I went to purchase an Amazon Echo a couple of days ago, and was surprised to see the children's version on sale for less than the current Echo Dot. It's currently listed as unavailable[2], perhaps because of the findings explored in this article.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were trying to liquidate.
I think it was $39.95 for the children's version and $49.95 for the regular version.
There were a few pieces of dark UX/UI that hid a couple of very important differentiations that made me nope out.
1. The service automagically came with something called Amazon FreeTime[3]. It's advertised as free everything for your child; books, tv, music, etc. in exchange, of course it would kindly listen and "learn" to offer better things. Nope.
2. The device was last generation's hardware with a nice cover. It wasn't even technologically up to snuff with the current Echo Dot.
Basically I wrote it off as a kid's tracking and advertising device and purchased a regular new one.
Glad my Spidey senses were tingling.
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising_to_children#Histor...
[2] - https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Kids-smart-speaker-Alexa/dp/B077...
[3] - https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-FreeTime-Unlimited-Monthly-Sub...