EE teen mobile plans are set to launch in August, offering UK families new tools to help protect young users from harmful online content. The new SIM-only plans from the UK’s largest mobile network will include age-based internet filters, scam call protection, and speed restrictions to limit streaming—all aimed at safeguarding children under 18.
The mobile-only filtering means these controls are effective only when the user is on EE’s network data and not connected to Wi-Fi, a limitation the company acknowledges. However, EE believes these plans still offer much-needed peace of mind to parents concerned about their children’s digital wellbeing.
Three Levels of Online Protection
The new EE teen mobile plans come in three protection tiers based on age:
• Protected: For pre-teens, offering strict controls
• Guided: For younger teens, with moderate restrictions
• Trusted: For older teens, with looser filters but continued scam call protection
Prices start from £7 per month. The plans are designed to give parents more control while helping teens access the benefits of smartphones safely.
UK’s First Major Network to Launch Under-18 Plans
EE, which serves over 25 million customers, says it is the first major UK network to offer mobile plans designed specifically for under-18s. While UK law already requires networks to block adult content on mobile data, EE’s plans go further by adding scam prevention and tiered internet speeds based on age.
Claire Gillies, head of BT’s consumer division (EE’s parent company), said: “As a parent of a teenager, I know the struggle of managing a child’s first smartphone. Our network aims to make that process easier for families.”
Helping Parents Navigate Online Safety
EE is also offering in-store guidance sessions and launching a new educational resource to help parents talk to their children about smartphone use. Children’s online safety charity Internet Matters welcomed the move, calling it a “positive step” that may prove more effective than banning access to apps altogether.
TV presenter Konnie Huq, speaking at the launch, compared the confusion many parents feel today to “being like our mums trying to work a VHS remote.”
While experts agree this move is a strong start, they stress the importance of making safety tools work across all technologies, including Wi-Fi. Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore noted that tech-agnostic solutions would better address the real challenges families face.
The launch comes as UK platforms begin implementing mandatory age checks for users—a sign of growing pressure on tech companies to protect younger audiences online.
