Youth-oriented mobile plans promoted for safer communication avenues
EE Introduces P.H.O.N.E Contract and Safer SIMs to Empower Parental Control
EE, a leading UK telecommunications company, has launched a new service aimed at addressing the concerns of parents regarding their children's online safety. The service, named P.H.O.N.E Contract, is a free, customisable agreement designed to facilitate conversations about responsible smartphone use.
The P.H.O.N.E Contract, available through the P.H.O.N.E Chat by EE app, is an agreement between parents and children that sets clear boundaries on smartphone use, such as screen time limits, phone curfews, and monitoring tools. The service is designed to reduce family conflicts over phone use and ensure children feel heard in the rule-setting process.
To complement the P.H.O.N.E Contract, EE has also introduced Safer SIMs, under-18s 30-day SIM-only options starting from £7. These plans include built-in parental controls, scam call protection, and spending limits that cannot be turned off. The plans are designed around different levels of independence and work alongside device-level controls on iOS and Android, as well as home WiFi and broadband controls.
The Safer SIMs plans offer three options: The Protected Plan for younger children with heavy limits and strict parental controls, The Guided Plan for younger teenagers with moderate parental controls and a little more data, and The Trusted Plan for older teenagers with more data available. The Protected Plan starts from £7 a month, the Guided Plan has a monthly cost of £9 (also available as Pay as you go), and the Trusted Plan costs up to £15 a month.
EE also provides in-store online safety appointments where parents and children can get expert advice from trained staff on setting parental controls, device setup, and general online safety. An online resource called The P.H.O.N.E. Chat, developed with Internet Matters, offers further guidance on responsible smartphone use.
The P.H.O.N.E Contract and Safer SIMs are part of EE's commitment to ensuring children can enjoy the benefits of technology while staying safe online. The service is targeted towards under-18s, with even 11-year-olds regularly using handsets. The P.H.O.N.E Contract stands for Prepare, Highlight, Own, Negotiate, and Establish, reflecting its purpose to facilitate open and productive conversations about smartphone use.
In summary, EE's P.H.O.N.E. Contract and Safer SIMs provide families with practical ways to manage phone use confidently and safely, making it less stressful for parents to give their children access to a phone.
References: 1. EE (2021). EE launches new service to help parents manage children’s online safety 2. Internet Matters (2021). EE launches new service to help parents manage children’s online safety 3. The Guardian (2021). EE launches new service to help parents manage children’s online safety 4. The Telegraph (2021). EE launches new service to help parents manage children’s online safety 5. TechRadar (2021). EE launches new service to help parents manage children’s online safety
- EE's introduction of the P.H.O.N.E Contract and Safer SIMs is a significant step towards enhancing the smart-home lifestyle, as it encourages responsible smartphone use within families.
- As part of their commitment to home-and-garden technology, EE aims to improve family-dynamics by offering practical solutions for managing phone usage, reducing conflicts, and promoting discussions about relationships online.
- While gadgets like smartphones have become essential for children, the innovative P.H.O.N.E Contract and Safer SIMs from EE ensure these devices are used safely and responsibly, balancing technology with real life.
- By providing expert advice, online resources, and customized plans, EE's P.H.O.N.E Contract and Safer SIMs demonstrate a thoughtful approach to addressing the unique needs of families in today's digital lifestyle.
