One of the biggest challenges we face as parents is helping our children to embrace technology, and all its benefits, whilst making sure they stay safe online. This week we chatted with Deborah Honig, Samsung’s Chief Customer Officer, about what Samsung are doing to help with that challenge.
She talked us through everything from device controls to the partnerships they have developed and their ongoing commitment to educating children and their families so they have the tools and resources to get the best out of their technology. Here’s what we learnt:
‘We fundamentally believe tech is such a great enabler for everyone’
Samsung really understands the power technology has to connect people and is dedicated to ensuring that safety concerns don’t prevent anyone from benefiting from these advances. Their commitment to creating tools and solutions that empower families to feel more in control starts on their own devices. Deborah talked us through how Samsung Kids and Galaxy for Families can help you create a safe and fun online environment for your children.
Samsung Kids is perfect for giving younger children a safe digital space, on a shared family device, where they explore and learn. You can set up a PIN, browse recommended apps and set screen time and bed time limits so you know how long your children will be online. Then you add approved contacts, so you know who they are communicating with, as well as music photos and content you approve. Once you are ready to let your child have their own device Galaxy for Families will allow you to manage your child’s website access, location sharing, apps and games, screentime and in app purchases. It’s easy to set up and you can find step by step instructions in the video below.
Device controls are only one part of the work that Samsung do. They are also committed to helping educate families. As Deborah notes: ‘As a parent with a young son, my priority is his safety, both off and online. I have to help educate him and give him a safe space to learn when accessing new technologies.’
Research commissioned by Samsung is 2024 showed that 35% of parents feel their children know more about tech than them, so it’s vital that they can access information and resources to help bridge that knowledge gap.
With that goal in mind Samsung have supported Safer Internet Day since 2017. This year’s focus was how to protect yourself and others from scams online, and previous years have tackled topics including respect and relationships online, consent in the digital world and how to separate fact from fiction in the online space. There are films, games, quizzes and advice to help you to use the internet safely, responsibly and positively on their website and as Deborah says: ‘That’s where the magic happens, in the conversations we have with our children.’
Partnership and collaboration are central to Samsung’s approach. Deborah says:
‘I think that is what the future of online safety should be. Everyone—children, parents, teachers, governments and other key voices—coming together to work to a common goal of keeping everyone safe online.’
She is particularly passionate about Samsung’s long standing partnership with Internet Matters, a not-for-profit organisation who have been working to create a future where children and young people are prepared to benefit safely from the impact of connected technology for over a decade. We can see why she is so passionate – the resources on their website are fantastic. First up is their ABC Online Safety Checklist, designed to help parents remember the top 3 things they need to consider to keep their children safe online. These are A – Activate parental controls, B – Balance screen time, and C – Check and chat with children. Then there are articles and videos talking you through every aspect of online safety from Cyberbullying to Grooming and Sexting. These include tips on how to talk to your children about online safety and you can even get a tailored resource pack which will include age specific advice you can use to support your children. The video below explains more.
Working in partnership with Internet Matters Samsung have created The Online Together Project – a skills tool that encourages learning through conversations. It helps young people explore online topics and fosters discussion through conversation starters, whether used alone, with peers, or with teachers, parents and carers. There are quizzes, companion guides and lesson plans, reviewed by experts from Global Diversity Practice and Stop Hate UK. All of the resources are free to access on Samsung’s Online Safety website here
Of course, this collaborative approach also includes our young people themselves. You’ll remember Deborah’s belief that tech is such a great enabler for everyone? Well, nowhere is that more evident that in the Solve for Tomorrow initiative Samsung has been running since 2020. It is a free to enter competition that is designed to empower young people, regardless of their background, to create tech-for-good solutions that benefit society by addressing real-world issues. It’s open to all young people aged 16-25, giving them a chance to design the future, exploring how tech can be used to solve a problem they care about. Entrants can win up to £10,000 to make their ideas a reality and all short listed applicants get the opportunity to develop their ideas through virtual and in person workshops and 1:1 mentoring with industry experts.
For younger children Samsung, together with the National Schools Partnership, run the Solve For Tomorrow Next Gen programme. Designed to inspire 11-15 year olds the programme reaches over two thirds of secondary schools across the UK and Ireland. It offers interactive video lessons, design thinking and careers resources for teachers to use with their students, and a fun competition on the popular theme of inclusivity.
Deborah notes: ‘young people today are so excited about tech and they can definitely help us design solutions.’
This year’s winners in the 16–18-year olds category were Samuel Mo (16) and Dexter Rigby (17), otherwise known as team Optimum. They created a mobile app that uses AI to schedule when smart devices consume power, so that they use renewable energy when it’s generated, in a bid to phase out fossil fuels.
In the over 18s category winners Anjali Benny Devadasan (22) and Yu Gu (22) became passionate about finding a solution to climate change after Anjali’s family were affected by flash floods in Kerala. They created Treeva, a turbine device that can be placed on the side of roads to generate energy from passing vehicles, in order to provide affordable and reliable power and, in turn, create safe net zero transport systems.
The 2024 programme engaged 23,878 students and the 2025 Next Gen challenge is open for registrations now so if your school is not already involved, sign up here.
You can watch the 2024 highlights, and hear from Samuel, Dexter, Anjali and Yu in the video below.
Working in partnership with Internet Matters Samsung have created The Online Together Project – a skills tool that encourages learning through conversations. It helps young people explore online topics and fosters discussion through conversation starters, whether used alone, with peers, or with teachers, parents and carers. There are quizzes, companion guides and lesson plans, reviewed by experts from Global Diversity Practice and Stop Hate UK. All of the resources are free to access on Samsung’s Online Safety website here
Of course, this collaborative approach also includes our young people themselves. You’ll remember Deborah’s belief that tech is such a great enabler for everyone? Well, nowhere is that more evident that in the Solve for Tomorrow initiative Samsung has been running since 2020. It is a free to enter competition that is designed to empower young people, regardless of their background, to create tech-for-good solutions that benefit society by addressing real-world issues. It’s open to all young people aged 16-25, giving them a chance to design the future, exploring how tech can be used to solve a problem they care about. Entrants can win up to £10,000 to make their ideas a reality and all short listed applicants get the opportunity to develop their ideas through virtual and in person workshops and 1:1 mentoring with industry experts.
For younger children Samsung, together with the National Schools Partnership, run the Solve For Tomorrow Next Gen programme. Designed to inspire 11-15 year olds the programme reaches over two thirds of secondary schools across the UK and Ireland. It offers interactive video lessons, design thinking and careers resources for teachers to use with their students, and a fun competition on the popular theme of inclusivity.
Deborah notes: ‘young people today are so excited about tech and they can definitely help us design solutions.’
This year’s winners in the 16–18-year olds category were Samuel Mo (16) and Dexter Rigby (17), otherwise known as team Optimum. They created a mobile app that uses AI to schedule when smart devices consume power, so that they use renewable energy when it’s generated, in a bid to phase out fossil fuels.
In the over 18s category winners Anjali Benny Devadasan (22) and Yu Gu (22) became passionate about finding a solution to climate change after Anjali’s family were affected by flash floods in Kerala. They created Treeva, a turbine device that can be placed on the side of roads to generate energy from passing vehicles, in order to provide affordable and reliable power and, in turn, create safe net zero transport systems.
The 2024 programme engaged 23,878 students and the 2025 Next Gen challenge is open for registrations now so if your school is not already involved, sign up here.
You can watch the 2024 highlights, and hear from Samuel, Dexter, Anjali and Yu in the video below.
Deborah’s ambition is to continue to champion all of this great work – and find new ways to keep the momentum going. She recently hosted a panel discussion with one of Samsung’s ambassador, Fearne Cotton, where experts including Rachel Huggins, Co-CEO of Internet Matters, Vanessa Kingori OBE, Managing Director of Technology, Media and Telecoms at Google, and Marvyn Harrison, Founder of Dope Black Dads discussed some of the challenges young people face online and the role we can all play in supporting them.
In her words: ‘It is a long-term journey that we’re committed to, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us, to help tackle online safety successfully – this work will never be done.’
We’re delighted to have been able to chat with Deborah and to share all of the resources we discussed with you.
Resources:
