FOR PARENTS AND TWEENS WITH THEIR FIRST SMARTPHONES
Privacy for tweens.
Peace of mind for parents.
Kids deserve a private place to text their friends. Parents want to know they're safe without being overbearing. ChimeChat gives tweens their own space backed by a smart AI safety net, stepping in with nudges only when real boundaries need setting.Proudly designed in Europe around the strictest child safety and privacy standards.
THE MODERN PARENTING DILEMMA
Navigating the First Phone
Where first phones get complicated
Most children in Europe receive their first smartphone around age 10, typically right as they transition to secondary school. For parents, a phone is a lifeline, offering location tracking, emergency contact, and a way for kids to stay connected with friends.Standard messaging apps weren’t designed for 10-year-olds. Families are left choosing between invasive monitoring apps that damage trust, or no support at all.
The middle ground
ChimeChat is being built to solve this. We're creating a European-standard messaging space that protects tween privacy and dignity, while giving parents the right alerts at the right time and the peace of mind they actually need.
Interactive preview
Experience ChimeChat
HOW IT WORKS
Safety without surveillance
Independence
A private space for tweens to text and share with friends. ChimeChat is being designed to process data within the EU, in line with GDPR and the UK Children's Code.
Chime, the safety net
Chime quietly looks out for bullying, unkindness, hurtful language and serious risks like grooming. Most of the time it helps your child directly, with a gentle “rethink before you send” moment. Parents are involved when it really matters.
Parent insights, not surveillance
You’ll never read your child’s messages. Instead, you get a calm weekly summary, a heads-up if a pattern emerges, and an urgent alert only if your child may be in danger, always with educator-written guides for what to say next.
Healthy habits by design
No streaks, no endless notifications, no tricks to keep kids hooked. Parents set quiet hours for school and sleep, and a “think before you share” pause helps kids consider who will see their photos.
WHY WE BUILT THIS
Built on the frontlines of youth wellbeing
Before founding ChimeChat, I spent over eight years as a science teacher and pastoral lead - from challenging state and top academic schools in the UK to building a science department from scratch at an international school here in Lisbon.Day after day, I sat across from parents asking the same anxious question:
How do I navigate my child’s first smartphone without ruining our relationship?
In the classroom, I saw both sides of the digital shift. I watched messaging help kids stay connected, but I also dealt with the fallout of COVID lockdowns -managing severe safeguarding concerns, cyberbullying investigations, and the drama of unmonitored group chats on apps like WhatsApp. Parents were trapped between invasive spyware and zero supervision, and kids were losing their privacy and dignity in the process.
A better way forward
I believe technology should foster connection, and that banning smartphones entirely does kids a disservice. But I also know that unmonitored digital access is a minefield.ChimeChat is the platform I always wished I could recommend to families - designed on a background of rigorous child protection, alignment with European safety standards, and a deep respect for a child's right to autonomy and trust.
Sophie Jones
Founder, ChimeChat
Former educator (UK & Portugal). Building the future of child online safety.
Are you a mission-driven engineer or safety researcher?
LISBON PILOT PROGRAMME
Help us build a safer digital standard for Lisbon families
We're inviting families in Lisbon with children aged 10-13 to help shape ChimeChat.
Now: join a relaxed, guided session where you and your tween try our interactive prototype and tell us what you think.
Next: founding families get first access when the ChimeChat pilot launches.
Become a ChimeChat founding family
For parents and guardians only. We’ll only use your email to send ChimeChat updates and pilot invitations. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy below.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: November 2026
Who we are
ChimeChat is run by Sophie Jones, based in Lisbon, Portugal. Contact: [email protected]What we collect
When you join our founding families list, we collect your email address, and, if you choose to share it, your child's age. We don't collect your child's name, contact details or any other information about them.Why we collect it
To send you updates about ChimeChat, invite you to research sessions, and let you know when the pilot launches. We collect this with your consent, and you can withdraw your consent at any time.Who handles your data
We use Kit (kit.com) to store our mailing list and send emails. Kit is based in the United States and protects data transferred from the EU and UK with legally approved safeguards. We never sell or share your data with anyone else.How long we keep it
Until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it. If ChimeChat stops operating, we'll delete the list.Your rights
You can ask to see, correct or delete your data at any time by emailing [email protected]. Every email we send includes an unsubscribe link. If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, you can complain to the CNPD (Portugal's data protection authority, cnpd.pt) or, in the UK, to the ICO (ico.org.uk).Children
This list is for parents and guardians only. We don't knowingly collect data from children.