Building a safer digital world where teens can thrive

Khaleej Times

24-06-2025

In an age where smartphones are handed to children as young as seven, the question isn't whether kids will be online, but how they can be safe while they are. That's the driving force behind HMD's latest initiative, a bold reimagining of what technology should look like for the next generation.
At the helm of this movement is Sanmeet Singh Kochhar, Senior Vice-President for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at HMD. Backed by sobering new research and powered by a coalition of global experts, HMD is taking a stand: children deserve technology that is as safe as it is smart.
'The world our teens are growing up in is profoundly different from the one we knew,' says Kochhar. 'While technology opens incredible doors, it also exposes kids to real risks.'
The statistics tell a chilling story. In collaboration with Perspectus Global, HMD found that 51% of children globally have been contacted by strangers online, and 40% have encountered harmful or explicit content. These aren't isolated cases, they represent 556 million children who could be at risk.
For Kochhar and the HMD team, the findings weren't just numbers; they were a call to action. 'Digital safety shouldn't be an afterthought,' he says. 'It should be built in from the start.'
Parents Caught in the Middle
Modern parents face a no-win situation. Give a child an unrestricted smartphone, and open the door to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and screen addiction. Withhold it, and risk social exclusion or stifled curiosity. HMD's research found that more than half of parents regret giving their child a phone too early.
'What's missing is a middle path,' Kochhar explains. 'Parents are looking for tech that respects their child's curiosity , while still protecting them. That's exactly where HMD wants to lead.'
HMD's response is more than just a product — it's a philosophy. The Better Phone Project was born from a single, provocative question: What if a child's first phone was actually designed for them?
Rather than starting with assumptions, HMD started by listening. Over 12 months, the team collaborated with parents, educators, teens, and mental health experts across 84 countries. The result is a new kind of device one rooted in empathy, trust, and control.
Fusion X1: Tech with teenagers in mind
The flagship outcome of this initiative is the HMD Fusion X1, a smartphone crafted specifically for teens and their families. Unlike traditional smartphones, it integrates safety features from the ground up not bolted on as afterthoughts. Among its standout features:
Tamper-proof parental controls
GPS tracking with geo-fenced safety zones
Screen-time management tools
Communication restricted to approved contacts
Optional social media and web access, unlocked only when the parent deems the child ready
'It gives kids their digital independence,' says Kochhar, 'without handing them the entire internet on day one.'
HMD isn't stopping at hardware. They've partnered with SafeToNet, a cutting-edge AI platform that filters harmful content in real time before it reaches a child. Unlike traditional tools that simply report on past behavior, SafeToNet actively prevents exposure in the first place, all while respecting the child's privacy.
'HMD will be the first phone provider in the world to integrate this level of real-time protection directly into our smartphones,' Kochhar notes. 'It's a game-changer.'
The Response: Empowered Parents, Respected Teens
Early feedback from families who've trialed the Fusion X1 has been overwhelmingly positive.
'Parents tell us this is the first phone that gives them peace of mind not because it limits their child, but because it supports them,' says Kochhar. 'Kids, in turn, don't feel punished or micromanaged. The Fusion X1 creates a shared digital space where trust grows, not tension.'
Looking ahead, HMD sees this as just the beginning. Kochhar hints at a broader family-focused tech ecosystem in development including wearables, content, and services all tailored to evolving family needs.
With governments increasingly regulating digital wellbeing and schools promoting healthier screen habits, HMD believes this moment is ripe for public-private partnerships that can shape a safer digital world.
Kochhar's message to hesitant parents is clear: 'You don't have to choose between protection and connection. The safer digital world you want is possible. It starts with smarter tools, transparent design, and a commitment to empathy.'
For HMD, supporting families isn't just a strategy it's a mission. 'We're not here to replace parenting,' says Kochhar. 'We're here to support it. Kids shouldn't just survive the digital world they should thrive in it.'