When every member of your family has one (or more) internet-connected device, life can get complicated. For one, it can be a struggle to have a peaceful, technology-free mealtime, but on top of that, you’ve got to worry about whether the kids may be seeing NSFW content or accidentally riddling their phones with malware.
Gryphon is the latest to tackle this issue with hardware, specifically a new router currently raising funds on Kickstarter. It’s got two parts: a slick-looking white tower you install as your home router, and an accompanying mobile app you can use to monitor and control web activity. Through the app, parents can set bedtimes or homework times for specific devices (ensuring a Netflix binge session isn’t happening when Algebra equations should be getting solved), and internet access can be paused altogether if family time is in order.
That in itself isn’t new. Google WiFi, shipping in December, gives parents similar master controls over their home internet, as does Circle With Disney. But Gryphon also gives parents control over what sites kids can visit, showing you what sites are “crowd approved” in the app’s community and suggesting different levels of web filtering based on your child’s age. And if a child needs access to a currently blocked website, unlike other options, they can request access, which you can then grant or deny through a notification on your phone. You can also check out the browsing history for each device—a bit Big Brother-esque, but a potentially useful tool for occasionally checking in on what your teen or tween has been Googling.
The Gryphon Wi-Fi router starts at a pre-sale price of $149, with an additional $49, $79, or $99 purchase for one to three years of malware filtering. Estimated to arrive next June, you can grab it on Kickstarter. The campaign runs from now until Dec. 8.
