The Story Behind
Joey Family
Joey was created from a simple idea: children deserve to explore the online world with freedom, while parents deserve the confidence that they're there when it matters.
Why we created
Joey Family
"As a father of a then-12-year-old and the CEO of an analytics company, I was deeply concerned that the platforms our kids are playing on do nothing to protect them. I knew I needed to do something to help parents and kids navigate the online world safely.
To ensure the perspectives of both adults and children were considered, I joined forces with my son Francis to create Joey together. Francis has since become a young author, writing insightful articles about digital safety from a kid's perspective.
When kids are online, parents often have questions about their children's friendships, what platforms they are on and if they are safe, who they are talking to and if they are being respectful."
- Grant Callaghan, CEO & Founder
A father and Son's Perspective
Joey isn't just a product built for families.
It's a product built with family perspectives at its core.
Grant Callaghan & Francis Callaghan
Founders and CEO of Joey Family
Kids are growing up in a digital world.
Parents need better ways to protect them
The Problem
Kid's lives have moved online.
Friends, games, social media and conversations are now part of everyday childhood.
No Built-in protection
There is no "anti-virus" for social media. Children can still face harassment, scams, manipulation and unsafe contact with little meaningful protection.
The risks are real
More than 20% of kids report being approached by strangers online. Parents need early safety signals so they can act before a situation escalates
Safety shouldn't mean surveillance
Children deserve privacy and autonomy. Parents need meaningful safety signals, not access to every conversation
What we believe in Joey Family
Kids deserve safety and space to grow
The Ethical Design
Consent-led by design
Joey is built around clear family agreements, so children understand how they're being supported and what their parents can see.
Privacy-preserving
Joey surfaces meaningful risks without exposing every message. We focus on what parents need to know, while keeping personal information to a minimum.
Transparent by design
Children and parents should understand how Joey works, what it looks for, and when information may be surfaced.
Built for independence
As children grow, they need more freedom. Joey gives parents a safety net that can support greater independence over time.
The Solution
A safe but private solution that works for both parent and child.
Smart Alerts
Clear warnings when Joey spots signs of bullying, risky contacts, scams, oversharing, emotional distress, or other online risks.
Discover
Risky Contacts
Spot unknown contacts, suspicious outreach, and relationships worth a closer look.
Discover
How's My Child Report
A simple parent report on your child's safety, mood, and relationships.
Discover
Social Graph
A simple visual map of your child's messaging world: who they message most, who is new, and which relationships may need attention.
DiscoverThe Minds Behind Joey
Meet Our Founders
A unique father-son partnership creating safer digital experiences for families
Grant Callaghan
CEO & Founder
Analytics expert and concerned father who recognized the urgent need for digital safety solutions. Grant combines his professional expertise with his parental perspective to create technology that truly serves families.
Learn more about GrantFrancis Callaghan
Co-Founder & Young Author
Digital native and young thought leader who brings authentic youth perspective to digital safety. Francis authors insightful articles and ensures Joey's solutions work for the people who need them most.
Learn more about FrancisGo deeper
Related articles
Stories and playbooks that explain the why behind Joey.
As a parent, why I created this app, Joey
When my son entered Year 6, I had nagging questions about friends, phones, and what really happens online. This is the backstory of why we started building Joey-and the three facts that shaped it.
Are you the type of parent we built Joey for?
We built Joey for parents that are worried about the dangers their children will face with their first iPhone.
How to keep your child safe on an iPhone: The Layered Approach we use in Our Family.
Step-by-step guidance for configuring iPhone safety settings, coaching your child, and layering Joey monitoring to keep their digital life balanced.