The Yoto music box is a ray of hope for a decadent tech industry
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Yoto CEO and founder Ben Drury (above) and his business partner Filip Denker created the Yoto Player (right), which has since gained a cult following.
PHOTOS: SAM BUSH/NYTIMES
Brian X. Chen
- Ben Drury created the Yoto Player, a screen-free music device for children with physical controls, to offer a non-addictive, enriching tech alternative for kids.
- Yoto has sold millions, remains profitable, and sells audio cards with licensed content.
- The product contrasts with addictive tech trends by promoting screen-free, developmentally appropriate listening, addressing parental concerns about digital addiction and excessive screen time.
AI generated
NEW YORK – When Ben Drury was shopping for his newborn at a department store in London, he saw something that made him grimace: a stroller on display had a holder for an iPad to keep an infant occupied.
“I remember having this visceral reaction against that, saying, ‘No way, this is really bad,’” he said. In that moment, Drury wondered whether there was a technology product he could create that was enriching for children but not addictive.
