Boca Raton Startup Launches Tool to Keep Kids Safe and Unplugged at School

Boca Raton, Florida, USA - In today’s digital environment, where screens often dominate children’s lives, a new initiative from a Boca Raton startup aims to tackle the challenges of smartphone use in schools. Fiorella Occhionero, a manufacturing executive and mother, founded Focus Safe after observing inconsistent management of smartphone usage across various educational settings. Her mission? To create a safer environment where students can thrive without unnecessary distractions from their devices. As Occhionero emphasizes, “Effective enforcement of rules is crucial, as teachers are already overburdened.”

Focus Safe’s innovative software permits schools to regulate student-owned devices by restricting nonessential phone use while still allowing for emergency communication. Remarkably, the setup process takes less than an hour, and the product can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each school. Additionally, parents are equipped with a companion app to monitor their children’s screen time during school hours, enhancing transparency and support for healthy media habits.

Legislation and Enforcement

Recently, Florida took a significant step by passing legislation that bans cell phone use during school hours for grades K-8. This move reflects a growing awareness about the detrimental effects of excessive screen time among children. Various studies highlight that increased screen exposure correlates with negative academic outcomes and can impair social-emotional development. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reports that each additional hour of television at age two can lead to declines in both class participation and math proficiency as the child progresses through school.

While screens can have positive effects—like fostering early reading skills and creative thinking through educational apps—excessive use has been linked to numerous issues. The American College of Pediatricians warns that too much screen time can contribute to obesity, sleep disturbances, and increased aggression. For instance, children exposed to screens for more than one hour a day are more likely to encounter behavioral problems and poor vocabulary development.

Finding a Balance

The key to a successful approach seems to lie in moderation and intentionality. As emphasized in studies, parental involvement and awareness can significantly mitigate the harmful impacts of screen time. For younger children, the ideal screen time limit is suggested to be as little as 30 minutes to an hour per day. Unfortunately, many families struggle to implement such guidelines, often finding themselves battling with the allure of screens.

Occhionero has noted that the startup ecosystem around her, particularly at Global Ventures in The Research Park at FAU, is teeming with innovation—particularly since the pandemic has sparked a surge in tech solutions aimed at education. With a team of eight already collaborating on district-level pilots and research, Focus Safe illustrates how communities can come together to address modern challenges.

The message from experts is clear: while digital devices can serve as valuable tools, they must be managed thoughtfully. As parents and educators strive to create healthier environments for learning and growth, initiatives like Focus Safe can pave the way for a future where children can safely navigate their digital worlds.