Helping Our Kids Use Smartphones Healthily... SKT Strengthens 'Gem' Habit Features

SKT upgraded the 'ZEM' app on the 18th. Photo by SKT

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] SK Telecom announced on the 18th that it will upgrade its ‘ZEM’ service by adding features that allow children and parents to communicate and build daily habits together, as well as expert content for parents.

Following the service enhancement in May, SKT stated that with this upgrade, the ‘ZEM’ service is expected to become more than just an app that helps develop proper smartphone usage habits; it will serve as a guide for both children and parents to grow together.

Introducing ‘Expert Habits’ to Support Healthy Smartphone and Internet Use

First, SKT will add ▲Expert Habits feature ▲Habit Report feature to the existing ‘Self Habits’ function.

‘Expert Habits’ is a feature that allows parents and children to easily set essential daily habits for elementary school students proposed by experts. It also includes expert tips on why these habits are necessary.

Through the ‘Habit Collection,’ where children and parents select habits and rewards together and earn badges to level up each time a goal is achieved, children can be motivated and have fun.

Additionally, the ‘Habit Report’ allows parents and children to check their progress together and gradually improve their daily habits.

In this enhancement, expert habits for proper smartphone and internet video and game use are provided first. SKT plans to continue adding habits based on expert advice in various areas that help children form good habits.

New Content Added for Both Children and Parents

SKT introduced a new ‘Break Time’ feature in ‘ZEM’ to help children recognize the importance of proper smartphone usage habits on their own.

‘Break Time’ offers content such as ZEM comics and Children’s Science Dong-A, which can naturally enhance children’s digital literacy. SKT will continue to update related content that children can enjoy.

For parents, a new ‘Parent Class’ menu has been established, providing free expert content on how to educate so-called ‘digital native’ children, including conditions for allowing smartphone use.

Moreover, a lively app review sharing feature has been added so parents can gain help by seeing how other parents raising children of similar ages use the app.

Revamped Smartphone Management Mode for Self-Directed Habit Formation

SKT revamped the smartphone management mode so that children can create smartphone usage habits independently according to their lifestyle patterns.

The newly introduced Promise Mode allows children to practice setting appropriate smartphone usage times daily or weekly together with their parents based on their lifestyle. Focus Mode and Free Mode are also provided to restrict or allow apps depending on the child’s age and situation.

Additionally, ‘ZEM’ includes various safety and convenience features as basic functions for children, such as ▲real-time location tracking ▲Smombie prevention ▲harmful site blocking.

‘ZEM’ is free to use for children who are SKT customers regardless of their parents’ carrier or OS (Android or iOS).

SKT also introduced a new character in the ‘ZEM’ service to be a friend that helps children use smartphones properly.

The character is designed based on animals that children can easily relate to, explains difficult words in simpler terms, and uses friendly and fun language suitable for children.

For example, a notification like “Smombie prevention mode is active. Please stop using your smartphone while walking” is conveyed entertainingly through the character as “Remember our promise not to look at the smartphone while walking? It’s dangerous, so stop using it!”

SKT announced that detailed stories about the newly introduced character will be revealed later.

Kim Ji-hyung, SKT’s Head of Integrated Marketing Strategy, said, “We revamped the ZEM service to be child-friendly so that children can actively develop proper smartphone use and daily habits,” adding, “SKT will continue to lead ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) activities by enhancing services to prevent smartphone overuse among children.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.