EE offers free contract to help UK families manage phone use

New research has indicated that nearly four million UK families are preparing to discuss smartphone usage with their children as the new school year approaches, with EE introducing a new free P.H.O.N.E. Contract to help facilitate these conversations.

Parental concerns

A study by EE involving 2,000 UK parents and 2,000 children aged 11-17 has revealed that 93% of parents report arguments with their children over smartphone use. The findings suggest smartphones remain a frequent source of family disagreements, with topics such as screentime, late-night usage, and distraction from schoolwork cited as common causes.

The research shows that 39% of parents and 31% of the children surveyed believe that clearer rules would help to reduce arguments in the family. Among parents considering buying their children a new handset ahead of the new academic year, 43% plan to do so between mid and late August.

Purpose of the contract

To address these issues, EE has launched the P.H.O.N.E. Contract, a customisable agreement that allows families to set boundaries covering aspects such as screentime, phone curfews, and the use of monitoring tools. The agreement is designed to encourage input from both parents and children, ensuring that young people have an active role in shaping the rules around their device use.

The contract was developed with input from the EE Youth Council, the not-for-profit organisation Internet Matters, parent ambassador Konnie Huq, and several families across the UK. It aims to help children understand when mobile phone use is inappropriate, such as at certain times of day or in specific settings, and requires children to inform parents if they encounter inappropriate material or behaviour online.

Safety and exposure risks

Concerns about online safety are prevalent amongst both parents and young people. According to the research, 51% of surveyed teens and tweens fear being scammed online, 50% worry about being bullied, and 48% are anxious about exposure to adult content. For parents, the main concern is exposure to adult material such as pornography, which 68% identified as their primary worry.

The agreement is structured to facilitate discussion around these issues and to encourage open communication should young people encounter cruelty, illegal content, or other troubling situations online.

Screentime and curfews

The contract also addresses screentime, enabling families to set daily usage limits and device switch-off times. Over half (53%) of families surveyed argue about screentime monthly, while 50% debate late-night use and 47% are concerned by its impact on schoolwork.

Nationally, 51% of parents would support a curfew on smartphone use for under-16s, increasing to 63% for children under 13. Of those in favour, 70% support a curfew of 9pm or earlier for under-16s, rising to 81% for under-13s.

Support from ambassadors

"All parents know how daunting it can feel to hand over more responsibility to your child. With a smartphone, you're excited to give over increased independence, but the risks can be a worry. EE's P.H.O.N.E. Contract enables parents to agree rules with their children and have conversations that they might never have had otherwise. It's all about creating a framework where families can feel confident about their digital lives."

This was the view expressed by Konnie Huq, TV Presenter and EE Parent Ambassador, who has two sons aged 11 and 13.

New services for families

In conjunction with the P.H.O.N.E. Contract, EE has launched new 'Safer SIMs' and in-store online safety appointments. The Safer SIMs are designed for under-18s, offering three new 30-day SIM-only plan options starting at GBP £7 and a pay-as-you-go plan. These options incorporate various levels of parental controls and are intended to complement device-based controls available on iOS and Android smartphones, as well as broadband-level restrictions.

Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Mobile Product at EE, stated:

"As parents prepare to give their children their first smartphones, our new free P.H.O.N.E. Contract has been designed to help both them and their child to agree boundaries on smartphone behaviour in a way that means everyone is fully engaged with the process."

Cubitt continued: "When combined with our new Safer SIMs and in-store online safety appointments, as the UK's best network for families, parents and guardians can be reassured we are here for them to get the practical guidance, tools and advice they need."

Parents and children can book in-store appointments to receive expert advice on setting parental controls, device setup, and online safety recommendations from trained EE staff. Additionally, an online resource, The P.H.O.N.E. Chat, developed in partnership with Internet Matters, is available to provide families with up-to-date information and guidance on managing responsible smartphone use.

The research and new tools arrive as parents and children across the UK prepare for a season often marked by the purchase of first devices and discussions around responsible usage.