Special smartphone launched to protect children's safety

Accordingly, phone manufacturer HMD – the company behind modern Nokia devices – has just officially launched Fusion X1, a new smartphone designed to address growing concerns about online safety for children.

The product was born based on research results from HMD, which showed that more than half of children have been contacted by strangers online, raising concerns about the digital environment for young users.

The study, conducted on 25,000 children and adults in 6 countries including the UK, US, Germany, India, Australia and UAE, revealed many alarming facts. Accordingly, 1 in 3 children have been drawn into conversations on private platforms; 40% of children have been exposed to pornographic or violent content and 52% admitted that they feel addicted to their phone screens.

To counter these risks and protect children's mental and physical health in the digital environment, Fusion X1 is equipped with a series of strict parental control features.

Parents can set social media access limits, approve contact lists before their kids can text or call, and use location tracking to get notified if kids leave a set safe zone.

Additionally, a “stay focused” mode limits app access during study or bedtime, minimizing distractions from your phone.

The Fusion X1 was developed in collaboration with Xplora, a Norwegian tech company that makes safe smartwatches for children. The device also comes with an Xplora subscription, built directly into the operating system, providing a safer and more controlled experience.

HMD emphasizes that its goal is not just to create a phone for children, but also to provide a practical solution for parents who are faced with the dilemma of either giving their children a fully featured smartphone with unlimited internet access, or refusing connectivity altogether.

Fusion X1 is the balance between the two, allowing children to communicate and access technology in a safer environment.

Looking ahead, HMD is committed to launching two new devices by 2025 as part of the “Better Phone Project,” a year-long initiative that will see the company partner with parents and experts to develop a child-friendly device that is safe and still meets the needs of connectivity.

Lars Silberbauer, Chief Marketing Officer of HMD, highlighted the importance of smartphones not only in the technology sector but also in how they impact the lives of children, families and society as a whole.

Silberbauer also points out that very few companies are truly focused on developing solutions that are suitable for both children and parents. HMD is working to change that by working closely with parents to build a safer technology ecosystem for young children.

In addition, HMD has confirmed a major step forward in protecting children online by announcing that the company will soon roll out real-time protection features on its devices, thanks to a partnership with British cybersecurity company SafeToNet.

The technology uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to automatically detect and block harmful content before it reaches children, helping to minimize the risk from online threats.

Silberbauer asserts that HMD's mission is to give parents real choices to control and protect their children in the digital world.

“The HMD Fusion X1, along with the partnership with Xplora and the upcoming new technology with SafeToNet, is just the beginning. Together, we are driving a future where children can access technology more safely, while giving parents effective tools to proactively monitor and protect their children,” Silberbauer added.

The trend of developing smartphones specifically for children is becoming more and more popular. Over the past year, a number of technology companies have begun to focus on this market. Notably, Pinwheel - an American technology company has launched the first line of safe smartphones for children in the UK.

This product integrates a special operating system controlled by parents, running on hardware platforms from major brands such as Samsung and Google, helping children connect safely while still being under parental supervision.

With more and more companies entering the space, the future of kids’ smartphones promises to be safer and more optimized, offering a balanced solution between the need for connectivity and protection for the younger generation.