A smartphone made for kids has launched in Canada. But does it go far enough?

With parents, lawmakers and experts increasingly concerned about the health and safety of kids using social media and excessive screen time, a U.S. company says it has a solution: a 'kid-safe smartphone.'

Navigating the social media minefield has become the new normal for parents and youth.

With more teens and even younger kids using social media today, cyberbullying, child predators and sexting, among other safety and mental health issues, have raised concerns.

Several Ontario school boards this year even joined a $4.5-billion lawsuit against social media giants Meta, Snapchat and TikTok. The boards said the platforms have caused mental health issues and violent episodes in their schools. Similar lawsuits were launched involving hundreds of school districts in the United States.

What's more, the Ontario government announced in April that it would ban cellphone use in elementary and high schools starting in September.

With parents, lawmakers and experts increasingly concerned about the health and safety of kids using social media and excessive screen time, a U.S. company says it has a solution: a "kid-safe smartphone."

Pinwheel made its smartphone for kids available in Canada starting Tuesday.

Pinwheel says in a press release that it is selling the country's first "kid-safe" smartphone for those aged eight to 14, with features such as photo-sharing, more than 1,200 curated apps, texting and games.