We’re creating a better phone – and we need your help

It’s time to talk about phones, mental health, and what can be done.

Around the world, people’s mental health has become something we need to talk about. There is no one fix-all solution – it’s a complex topic. But we do know mobile devices, and we want to give people the choice they need to find balance with their phones.

Technology is central to all our lives, and we believe it can be a force for good. Giving people greater control, balance, and safety could play a key role in improving our relationship with mobile technology.

This is what The Better Phone Project is all about, and we are excited about what we can achieve working together.

The growing concern of mental health

Our global research has consistently found cause for concern regarding the impact of social media on our lives, and it’s something that can often be linked with smartphones.¹ We know that younger people themselves are concerned about the effects of their screen time and social media usage, with 38% saying they spend too much time on social media.²

At the same time, two thirds of parents globally are concerned about the impact of smartphones on the mental health of their children, while almost half feel that mobile phone use has changed their child’s personality.¹ And while 11 years old is the average age a parent gives a smartphone to their child for the first time, a majority of parents (54%) confessed they wished they had waited longer.¹ With too many parents and younger people alike feeling the strain of their screens, more needs to be done to address these concerns.

Action is needed today.

Has tech created a dilemma for parents and young people?

A significant dilemma exists where many parents understand the benefits technology can bring for their children and younger people, but on the other hand there is a constant struggle of balancing these benefits with control around smartphone use.

Our research found that more than half of parents agree smartphones can have a positive impact, benefitting their children educationally and enabling them to keep in touch with friends. However, two thirds said they have had to put together solutions themselves to try and control their children’s smartphone use to help protect their mental health and find balance.

This poses our fundamental question: is the lack of choice in mobile devices and solutions to provide better balance and control for parents and young people absent?

We believe it is, and want to work together with you to create the solutions.

Taking action to offer more choice and control is vital

We know that parents and young people want a better phone that can help to protect their mental health, while parents are struggling with the challenges their children face and want to take action to protect them.

That’s why we have launched The Better Phone Project, a journey of discovery that strives to understand the challenges people are facing and using this shared understanding to envision a range of new products and possible innovative solutions that tackle digital overload, providing choice and better balance for parents, young people or anyone who is looking for credible alternatives to a smartphone.

Be a part of the solution

We cannot make impactful and lasting changes alone. That’s why we are collaborating with everyone who cares about tackling this. We want you to help us change the landscape together and offer everyone more choice and better balance around their mobile phone use.

We recognize the urgent need to give people the ability to make informed decisions as they navigate the complexities of the smartphone landscape, helping them make technology fit into their lives on their own terms – with the choice that enables them to do so.

That’s why this project is happening now, with the outcomes due to launch in less than a year.

We hope you want to be part of the solution by joining this global community and helping create a better phone together.

👉 Sign up here to be a part of the conversation. 👈