Like me, it will be something every parent and guardian has pondered. A phone can open up a new world of exciting possibilities, but it also exposes children to dangers many of us never had to face as a child.

As a father of three, I know sometimes it's not easy getting your children to listen to the potential dangers of an exciting new device. So I'm really proud to say at EE, we’re teaming up with Beano to help parents and guardians learn how to support and educate their children on responsible phone use and show how our PhoneSmart Licence helps Dennis and Minnie stay safe online.

EE's PhoneSmart Licence is a free course that teaches children and parents how to be kind and safe when they’re using the internet. It's available to anyone on any network – not just EE customers – and is designed to prepare children for the big wide world that a connected device can open up for them by giving them the tools to stay safe and be kind online. It is also designed to give parents and guardians the confidence to prepare their child with the digital skills they need for a brighter future.

The Beano comic strip, which has been specially created in partnership with EE, stars Mr and Mrs Menace and their son Dennis, and brings to life the potential perils of the online world. The comic has been created to provide parents and guardians with actionable tips they can follow to keep their kids safe and help them be kind to others when they’re online.

It tells the story of Dennis picking up his first mobile phone at an EE store  before getting into some characteristic scrapes by making prank calls, uploading a video of his cousin Minnie without her consent and downloading age-inappropriate apps. All of which can happen without the correct guidance. As well as comic japes, the Beano content also provides parents with useful tips and advice to help parents support their children to be a responsible online citizen and to use their phone safely.

As the UK’s best network, we have a responsibility to be there for our customers – and not just in the digital space. I’m so proud of the way our retail colleagues help customers every day in our stores in our communities up and down the UK, treating people like they would want to be treated. So it’s really exciting to see those worlds come together, with Michelle Ager, from our Chelmsford store, immortalised in the Beano comic. Here she is in real life!

Michelle’s appearance in Beanotown coincides Michelle’s appearance in Beanotown coincides with Dennis and Minnie getting their first phones. They (eventually) take her advice and get their EE PhoneSmart Licence, which means they can help keep each other safe with tools including turning off their geolocation (because you should never share your location with strangers), age appropriate web filters, muting, blocking and reporting online hate, and more.

Our EE PhoneSmart Licence takes approximately one hour to complete and features a range of engaging storylines and interactive quizzes and activities. It highlights the benefits and dangers of tech use and provides a platform for children to understand how to report instances of online abuse, hate, discrimination and cyberbullying. We created PhoneSmart in collaboration with experts from Internet Matters, and in consultation with Home-Start, ChildNet, Marie Collins Foundation and the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

EE teaming up with Beano comes hot on the heels of EE’s Hope United campaign that ran alongside this summer’s UEFA Women's European Championships and brought together a team of elite footballers united to tackle online sexist hate with a series of digital skills.

It’s so important that we play our part in helping educate young people. That’s why EE will continue to help shape a safer online world, giving others the confidence and knowhow they need for a brighter future.

Search EE PhoneSmart to access the free online course and visit ee.co.uk/beano to watch the animated Beano comic .

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That’s one big reason why Safer Internet Day is more important than ever. It provides an annual focus for something that should be front of mind every single day in our digital-first world: promoting the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people across the UK.

The theme for this year is, 'All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online', spotlighting how crucial it is to stimulate conversations about online safety between children and their parents and carers, especially as the age of those accessing technology becomes younger and younger.

A focus on gaming and interactive services also provides an opportunity to ensure that young people are listened to and supported when using these platforms, and to celebrate their role in creating a safer internet.

Being PhoneSmart

Gamification is an incredibly effective and engaging tool for learning, an approach we used with the EE PhoneSmart Licence. An online programme in partnership with Internet Matters, PhoneSmart helps children getting their first phone learn how to stay safe and be kind online. It’s also free to everyone, on any network – not just EE customers – because access to these tools is an essential part of creating meaningful change and because we believe everyone should have the skills they need for a brighter future.

The next phase of the PhoneSmart campaign is designed to support parents and guardians in navigating the world of video streaming – supporting their children to stay in control of what they share online and who they share it with.

Paving the way for change

Our research shows that nearly 1 in 3 (31%) of us have witnessed online hate whilst gaming, with 1 in 5 (20%) of online gamers having personally experienced it. As a parent of avid gamers, that’s not something I want my children to worry about when enjoying their time online.

Education paves the way for change, yet 43% of all those who play online games say they don’t know how to deal with online hate if they experience it. We have a duty to help provide people with the knowledge they need to take a stand against hate.

That idea is at the core of BT and EE’s Hope United campaign, formed to make a stand against hate speech online, educating people on the effects of online hate and how to be a part of the solution. The campaign brought the UK’s top footballers together to shine a light on the issue of online hate and the digital skills needed to tackle it.

This year, we’re taking Hope United to amateur football clubs across the UK with a roadshow and online workshop. We’ll also be adding the Hope United kit into the FIFA 22 video game - so not only can players show what side they’re on by wearing the shirt in the real world, their FIFA team can too.

Standing together

Through the BT Skills for Tomorrow programme which aims to help 25 million people in the UK make the most of the digital world, campaigns like Hope United help us make real change; educating young people, empowering them, and giving them the tools to share our message: hope can beat hate if we all stand together.

But perhaps the most important message to get across is that words can be impactful and powerful. The effects of online abuse and hate speech should never be underestimated; hate speech online can have a real impact on someone's life.

We want to enable everyone to stand against online hate. We want everyone to feel empowered to do that in their favourite games, and we want everyone to have the skills to do something about online hate wherever they see it, because hate has no place in any game.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @marcallera