Introducing a smartphone that's safe for children.

Finnish phone manufacturer HMD has launched a phone designed to be safer and less distracting for children to use.

Remote parental control

A new smartphone has just been launched, designed to keep children safe by integrating parental control features, location tracking, and approval for messages and call contacts.

Parents can track their child's location and approve text messages and call logs on their phone.

Announced by phone manufacturer HMD – the company behind modern Nokia devices – the Fusion X1 was created in response to new research showing that more than half of children are contacted online by strangers.

The study, which surveyed 25,000 children and adults in the UK, US, Germany, India, Australia, and the UAE, found that one in three children are drawn into conversations on private platforms, 40% are sent pornographic or violent content, and 52% feel addicted to their phones.

To address this and ongoing concerns about the impact of the digital world on the physical and mental health of young people, HMD's child-safe phone features controls that allow parents to decide when and if access to social media apps is possible.

All integrated controls include parental approval for contacts to text and call, location tracking that lets parents receive alerts when children leave designated safe zones, and a "keep focused" mode that can block app access during school or bedtime to reduce distractions.

These features were developed in collaboration with the Norwegian technology company Xplora, which manufactures child-safe smartwatches, and are supported by the Xplora subscription, which is integrated into the phone's operating system.

HMD stated that the device's purpose is to provide parents with a solution to the dilemma many parents currently face: providing their children with a fully functional smartphone and unrestricted internet access, or preventing them from connecting altogether.

AI assists in automatically detecting and blocking content.

The phone manufacturer has committed to launching two devices by 2025 as part of the Better Phone Project – a year-long program in which the company has worked with parents and experts on what to include in a child-friendly device.

According to HMD, the Fusion X1 is equipped with AI to automatically detect and block harmful content before it reaches the user.

"Smartphones are more than just technology – they shape childhoods, families, and society. Not many companies build solutions for children and parents. We are working with parents to make that happen. The Better Phones project is proof that change is about families, not corporations, leading the conversation," said Lars Silberbauer, chief marketing officer of HMD.

Additionally, HMD confirmed it will begin rolling out a real-time harm protection feature for its phones, built with the British cybersecurity company SafeToNet.

HMD says this feature will use AI-powered tools to automatically detect and block harmful content before it reaches users.

"This is about giving parents real choices. The HMD Fusion X1 with Xplora and the technology planned with SafeToNet is just the beginning. Together, we are driving a future where children are empowered to use technology in safer ways and parents have the tools to enhance protection and provide peace of mind," said Silberbauer.

New, specialized phones designed for young users are becoming increasingly popular.

Last year, the US company Pinwheel launched the first child-safe smartphone in the UK, which placed a specially controlled parental operating system on top of the existing software found on Samsung or Google smartphones.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/ra-mat-dien-thoai-thong-minh-an-toan-voi-tre-em-192250303141806362.htm