1,000 Dutch schoolkids get a free smartphone to fight isolation

One thousand kids in the Dutch city of The Hague are getting a free smartphone courtesy of T-Mobile, Samsung, and the municipality.

Since more and more services – announcements, class schedules, etc – at high schools are moving online, kids from low-income families who can’t afford smartphone are being left behind.

The first 250 kids, who are starting high school next week, will be receiving their brand new smartphone from Dutch state secretary for education, Jetta Kleinsma.

In a press release she states that: “All children should be able to participate. That’s why the government has reserved extra money so children from low-income families can also do sports, make music, dance, and participate in activities at school. Participating in this day and age also means participating online and on mobile.”

At the ceremony where the high schoolers get their new Samsung Xcover 4‘s, they’ll also be getting a probably very awkward lesson on why sexting is bad, safe use in traffic, and being financially responsible with the phones.

The ‘Social Sim’ program, as T-mobile is calling the low-cost contract these phones are also part of, offers users unlimited local calls and 1 GB of data per month – but blocks certain paid numbers and international calls. The press release is vague about if users can install any app they want on the phone, stating only that they can use “all apps that are relevant for them.”

All in all, this seems like a good initiative. In an increasingly digitalized world, it’s getting easier to be left behind if you or your family can’t afford an internet connection or smartphones – not only at schools, but also at banks, government services, and other essential parts of society.