EE’s Age-Specific Smartphone Guidelines Address Child Safety
Mobile operator EE is introducing age-specific guidance for smartphone usage, in response to parental concerns about screen time, online safety and how digital devices impact a child’s health and wellbeing.
The company will classify device use into three groups based on age:
- Under 11s
- 11-13
- 13 -16.
EE is a leader in a number of key measures, such as nationwide network quality, performance, reliability, speed, data, calls and texting.
EE launches comprehensive guidelines and tools to promote safe smartphone use for children
EE has encouraged parents of children under the age of 11 to only give them non-smart devices where they can make texts and phone calls, but restrict access to social media or inappropriate content.
For children aged 11-13, EE advises that if a smartphone is to be used, they should have parental controls and a family-sharing app in place such as Google Family Link or Apple Family Sharing, while limiting access to social media.
For those aged 13-16, EE suggests smartphones should have parental controls which manage and restrict children’s access to inappropriate sites, content and platforms. 13-16 allows social media access, but specifies it should be linked to a guardian account.
Additional new measures from EE include:
- Easy-to-use parental control features to let parents to manage and monitor their child's device usage
- In a partnership with Verve Connect, EE will make the Dash+ available exclusively to EE customers. This feature phone is designed for talking and texting, with safety in mind
- Resources promoting responsible smartphone use and online safety will be offered to parents, teachers and children
- The Family Online Safety Hub is a platform which offers product recommendations, guides and FAQs to support families in navigating the digital landscape securely.
EE will also offer retail staff training for assisting these three groups and will create a staff volunteer programme later on this year, to help keep children safe across their digital devices.
Stricter smartphone guidelines will protect children from impact of technoloy and social media
EE’s Mat Sears, Corporate Affairs Director, said he recognised that technology and connectivity have the power to transform lives, but also understood that the growing complexity of smartphones can be challenging for parents and caregivers.
“They need support, which is why we are launching new guidelines on smartphone usage for under 11s, 11–13-year-olds and 13 -16-year-olds to help them make the best choices for their children through these formative years.”
EE is not the only mobile operator speaking out against the negative impact of smartphones on children.
In a recent survey commissioned by HMD, 10,000 parents across the UK, US, India, Germany and Australia shared the impact that having a smartphone had had on their children.
Over half of those questioned said that they regretted exposing their child to a smartphone at such a young age. Parents cited changes in personality to body image issues as the main negative effects that the devices had had on their children.
Despite being the most followed athlete on Instagram, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has taken steps to protect his young son from technology, out of a desire to ensure his child understands the value of hard work and discipline.
“Ronaldo doesn't let his 14-year-old son have an iPhone or social media account because those things ‘will make it harder for him to reach his potential’. How about we make these the new norms - no smartphones before high school and no social media before 16,” said social psychologist Professor Jonathan Haidt of the NYU Stern School of Business. “Together, we can reverse the #phonebasedchildhood and give kids and teens healthy, real-life childhoods that allow them to reach their full potential.”
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