EE, a UK mobile network operator, has introduced a new smartphone offer and mobile plans designed to address phone safety for young people, as concerns about online safety and screen time increase.
The operator said the downloadable P.H.O.N.E. Contract, developed with the EE Youth Council, online safety group Internet Matters and a parent ambassador, will enable parents and children to jointly agree upon rules about screen time, curfews, usage monitoring and reporting inappropriate content.
The initiative also includes the P.H.O.N.E. Chat, an online hub created with Internet Matters that offers advice and resources to help parents start conversations about responsible phone use and adapt rules as children grow.
The launch coincides with EE’s new Safer SIMs plans for users under 18, offering three 30-day plans from £7 per month with varying levels of parental controls and data speeds, as well as scam call protection and data gifting.
EE cited research showing that 93 per cent of adults in the UK argue with their children over smartphone use, with 39 per cent of parents and 31 per cent of young people believing clearer rules would reduce conflict. Screen time was the most common point of contention, with more than half of families clashing on the issue at least once a month.
The BT-owned operator also noted its latest initiative coincides with the back-to-school period in the country, with 3.8 million families expected to discuss smartphone usage over the summer. Of those planning to buy a handset for a child, 43 per cent aim to do so between mid and late August.
Major drawback
Kester Mann, Director of Consumer and Connectivity at CCS Insight, welcomed the operator’s push for online child safety as “each family’s situation is different and the thresholds at which they’re willing to allow technology into their lives can vary drastically”.
However, he cautioned that EE’s controls only work when connected to a mobile network, stating it remains a “major drawback” as children are more likely to spend the majority of their screen time at home. “EE does offer parental controls for broadband too, but it’s clear that only a combination of tools, guidance and advice will bring the most effective results,” he noted.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Stock Image
