Between stranger danger, social media pressure, and the endless parade of inappropriate content, parenting in the digital age is basically a circus act, and you’re juggling phones, tablets, and your sanity. Cue the HMD Fuse protected with HarmBlock+ – the world-first smartphone designed for children that actually keeps them safe online. Finally, a phone that won’t make you want to cry into your latte.
HMD, the folks behind the classic Nokia you probably smashed into the wall at some point, has teamed up with online safety pros SafeToNet to create a device that actually delivers on safety. HarmBlock AI, built deep into the operating system (not an app, not floating in the cloud where your child could hack it), stops nude and sexual content from appearing on the screen, being photographed, shared, or stored. Experts are calling it “pornography incompatible.” In parent terms: peace of mind served hot.
The HMD Fuse didn’t just magically appear. It was born from the Better Phone Project, a massive co-design initiative that consulted 37,000 parents and kids worldwide, including Aussie families. The brief was simple: make a phone that protects, grows with kids, and isn’t a nightmare for parents to manage. The result? A smartphone that feels like it’s designed by someone who actually understands family life.
From the moment you power it on, the HMD Fuse is in lockdown mode – no apps, no camera, no contacts beyond what you approve. Gradually, as your child proves they can handle it, you can unlock music apps, messaging, or web access. Think of it as a “grow-with-me” phone, a digital training wheels system that keeps kids safe while teaching them to navigate the online world responsibly.
Parents get control that actually works. Want to set screen-time limits? Check. Schedule tech-free homework hours? Check. Block apps your child hasn’t earned yet? Check. Keep track of where they are with real-time location updates and safe-zone alerts? Double check. Whitelist contacts so only trusted friends and family can call or message? Triple check. It’s like helicopter parenting without the guilt.
And, the need is real. Recent HMD research found that 32% of Australian kids have been shown or sent sexual or violent content, 43% have been contacted by strangers online, and 21% have had a stranger try to lure them into private chats. Nearly half of children have stumbled across content that scared or upset them. Parents are stressed, kids are at risk, and traditional smartphones weren’t built to protect them. HMD Fuse changes all that.
Just to prove it’s not all doom and gloom, HMD has added a bit of fun. The phone comes with two LED light ring inbox covers made from 100% recycled TPU. Selfies, video calls, or TikTok moments are now stylish and safe. Finally, a phone that says “you can play, but you cannot break the internet.”
Priced at $799 and available from Harvey Norman and Officeworks from August 28, 2025, the HMD Fuse protected with HarmBlock+ is more than just a phone – it’s a safety net, a teaching tool, and a tiny lifeline for parents everywhere.
No parent should have to choose between connection and protection. With HMD Fuse, you don’t have to. It’s a smartphone designed for kids, but built for the adults who still remember what it’s like to sleep through the night.
