Make your teen’s phone call a family matter (not invading their privacy)

Whether you are a parent or a teenager, online life and technology use are full of obstacles, and it is often felt that tech companies in the world do little to help relieve anxiety.

Most tech kids use – from smartphones to social media – never specifically consider them. Finnish phone maker HMD is working on changing the issue, and at MWC 2025, a new family portfolio is launched with the Fusion X1, a phone designed by kids and kids.

The phone was designed in partnership with Xplora, a company known for its child-friendly smartwatches. The two companies have made a cell phone that allows teenagers to ask their parents for permission to download the app from the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, their parents can remotely control their access to all apps and features through the partner app, while setting and tracking screen time and location.

Read more: MWC 2025: All phones, wearables, robots and AI from Barcelona

While most phones with parental controls either rely on applications that can be deleted or bypassed, or rely on applications that can be deleted or bypassed, or are a proprietary operating system that doesn’t allow children to access the same applications their friends are using, Fusion X1 combines application-based controls that are deeply embedded in its Android OS version. If parents agree, this creates a locked secure space where kids still have limited access to Snapchat, WhatsApp and Tiktok.

The flexibility provided by the Fusion X1 is to create options for families who know their children need to use technology, but may want to do it at their own pace by following their own rules. “The idea is to provide a device that is a stepping stone,” HMD’s global product leader Adam Ferguson told CNET. “Ultimately, parents can control that management control to the device itself, so that’s part of the gradual growth.”

The idea has been causing a sensation and has attracted the attention of many, especially actor and talk show host Drew Barrymore, who spoke at the HMD event at Nou Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. “What’s right for me may not be for you,” Barrymore said while raising two daughters. Currently, the 11- and 13-year-old daughters do not have a smartphone.

Barrymore talks about his own experiences growing up without boundaries and protecting the world many dangerous experiences, but also learns that teenagers don’t like being told what to do. She said HMD is a company and she felt understanding that it was to help parents navigate the meaning of teenagers introducing technology. “It’s very personal to me,” she said. “It’s been a very exciting journey.”

The Fusion X1 will be available in May for £229 (about $290), but you can book it now.

Better kids’ phones

HMD announced its better phone program last summer and after interviewing 25,000 teenagers and parents, it found that both adults and children need to revolve around the limitations and boundaries of phone use, not even minding their parents tracking their location. This was a surprise for the company and me. As a teenager, I just want to use the internet to talk to the boys who went to school at MSN Messenger, and I certainly don’t want my parents to look at my shoulders.

But 52% of children with HMD said that at some point, strangers approached them online, proving that the risks of young people on the internet are effective – and they realize that. “Our mission is to help provide a safer environment because they know there are no silver bullets, but we can try to do something better,” said James Robinson, HMD’s Americas SVP.

Through research, HMD also learned that there are three stages when children start using technology. First is the initial connection, they may be between 8 and twelve, and start to develop healthy habits. Next comes kids aged 13-16 who start using more feature phones, but they may not be ready for unrestricted access to all the internet. Then, there are some older teenagers who may transition to more adult experiences.

Due to the flexibility of parental control, the Fusion X1 may be any of any age group. “It’s a device to grow with children,” Robinson said.

Teens and parents everywhere are likely to have unique concerns, and these issues may include factors such as screen time, pornography, bullying and safety. Together, families will figure out how children can enter and occupy the digital world, and a call like Fusion X1 can help them do this as they wish.