New smartphone with key feature blocking kids seeing explicit content online launches tonight
This new smartphone will be released on Vodafone at 5pm tonight.
Technology has become an aspect of everyone's daily life, with the vast majority of people owning a smartphone or tablet. Used for scrolling through social media, browsing the internet or communicating with pals, many of us live our lives through technology.
And it's not just adults who own smartphones these days. Many children can now be seen with a device, whether it is a brand new model or a hand me down from a relative.
While it is important to have a way to communicate with your children if they are out with friends or at school, many parents are concerned about what their kids are up to on their smart devices.
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For those who want to ease their anxiety, parents may want to consider a new device that is coming to Vodafone. Named the HMD Fuse, this device comes with a feature that can block youngsters from inappropriate content, reports the Express.
The groundbreaking feature is called HarmBlock+ which promises to stop kids from viewing and sending nude content across the internet.
This feature is extremely important today as recent research has revealed that one in five secondary school-aged children (aged between 11 to 17) have felt pressured into sharing explicit images of themselves online.
With AI integrated into the HMD Fuse, this new smartphone will be able to instantly detect when a user is attempting to view explicit images or is using the camera to send inappropriate photos to a contact.
HMD explained: "Human Mobile Devices (HMD) unveils the world’s first smartphone – HMD Fuse protected with HarmBlock+ – debuting groundbreaking HarmBlock AI from SafeToNet built into the device that works across the camera and screen.
"It prevents children from filming or sending nude content, and from seeing or saving nude and sexual images – even within a livestream."
Additionally, this smartphone comes packed with parental controls that will allow adults to block apps, track location and limit screen time.
There is also a feature that allows parents to set safe zones, where they will receive notifications when the area has been entered or exited.
While some people may feel like this is too restrictive, HMD has said the device has been designed to 'grow with your child', which means these controls will be removed as the child gets older and can be altered over time.
Vodafone will be the first to stock the HMD Fuse smartphone with HarmBlock+ protection. Prices are said to start at £33 per month, with a £30 up front cost and 5GB of data. The phone will be available from 5pm tonight.
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Speaking about the launch of this kid friendly smartphone, Vice President of the HMD Family James Robinson, said: "We believe this will be the most impactful smartphone launch of the year.
"We’ve created not just a new phone, but a new category. One that recognises children’s evolving needs and puts safety at the heart of the experience from day one. When you give your child a smartphone, you bring a stranger and unknown dangers into your home.
"You can’t watch them always online, but now you have peace of mind that there’s protection in place even when you can’t be there, all while keeping their privacy in place. That’s why we believe this is a huge step forward in making a safer phone."