Sidebar – a private ESP32 intercom for five kids, no accounts

In plain words

Sidebar is a private intercom system built on ESP32-S3 touchscreen devices that allows a small group of children to communicate without phones, accounts, or algorithms. Each unit connects through a central relay server, enabling kids to call individual friends or everyone at once by tapping a name. Communication uses encrypted audio over UDP with WebSocket fallback, designed for parents who want their children to experience simple two-way communication similar to ham radios while maintaining privacy and parental control over the contact roster.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

A parent excited by his childhood Hollywood movie portrayal of kids using ham-like radios chatting away to glory wanted to provide that experience to his son and his friends.

In the maker’s words, at launch

Hello all - Inspired by many who build/assemble for their daughters/sons, I took cue and assembled a two-way communication between my son and his friends. Nothing spectacular. Just basic stuff to talk. He is eleven and doesn't have a phone. I wanted him to talk to his friends without an account, a feed, or…

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