EE to roll out in-store online safety appointments for families

EE is set to roll out in-store online safety appointments for families as part of a new range of initiatives to keep children safe online. 

As part of the initiative, in-store experts will give online safety support and practical guidance to parents and carers, as well as advice on setting-up device level controls.

Families will be able to book a 30-minute appointment with an EE Guide to receive personalised support and practical guidance, supported by content developed in partnership with online safety experts Internet Matters. 

They will also be able to pick up educational materials on safe smartphone use for young people.

As well as being able to give practical advice on managing the use of devices, the guides can also help advise on the set up of a young person’s first device.

Guides can also reset old devices if needed, and set up device-level controls, including Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link to help parents manage their child’s screen time and keep them safer online. 

It comes as part of a new range of smartphone services from EE for parents and their children.

Other initiatives include the launch of a new under 18s smartphone plan called ‘Safer SIMs’, which are designed with network level website content controls, scam call protection, spend caps and Stay Connected Data. Safer SIMs plans will be available on any smartphone device.

EE is also launching The P.H.O.N.E Chat, a content resource created to help parents explain the responsibility of smartphone ownership. The comprehensive guide has been designed with Internet Matters, children, and their parents, to aid conversations about owning a phone, and includes details of how to talk about using their first handset. This will be available immediately online, and in-store in the coming weeks.

The new initiatives come as research found that only half of parents (52%) feel they have the right tools and guidance to manage their child’s smartphone and social media usage, and four in five children (78%) admit they conceal some of their online activity from their parents. 

Claire Gillies, CEO at BT Group’s Consumer Division, said: “As the UK’s best network for families, we understand that while smartphones offer many benefits to people, there are also very real risks and challenges, especially for young people. As a parent of a teenager, I too have had to balance the benefits and challenges that come with giving our children their first smartphone. 

“I am proud that EE has consistently been an industry leader for online safety and today’s announcement is yet another example of our commitment to providing helpful tools and guidance to families. Our new initiatives and resources are there for parents at every stage of their child’s adolescence, so they can safely and confidently make the choice about smartphone usage that is right for them and their family”.