*This is a partnered post.
Online safety is a major worry for parents in the modern day. After all, not only do they have to worry about what their children’s access on the computer, but they also have an array of different devices to worry about too. Now parents need to concern themselves with tablets, mobile phones, game consoles, and even television.
Mobile phones are a particularly interesting point. The development of the smartphone and the boom in mobile internet means that there is a refreshed concern for parents in this area.
Nevertheless, the good news is that there are ways you can control what your child accesses on their mobile phones. Read on to discover what these are…
1. Talk to your provider
All networks offer methods of control. They can limit your child’s access via blocking sites, content and alike that is not suitable for those who are under the age of 18. This blocking feature may not be turned on when you purchase the phone, so it is important to chase up on it.
2. Turn Bluetooth off
If you turn your child’s Bluetooth off then you will be able to limit what they can access on their phone. After all, if Bluetooth is on then people can easily send any type of file to your child’s device.
3. Talk to your child
This sounds like an obvious point. But you need to actually talk to your child not merely tell them ‘no you can’t do this’. Make them aware of the dangers of using chat rooms on their phone and alike. This is much more likely to have a better impact than merely banning your child from doing something.
4. Set the password on their app store
You can be in control of your child’s app usage via setting it up in the first place. On most smartphones, people will have to enter a password before they are able to download an app. If you set the password in the first place, then your child will have to ask your permission before every download.
5. Monitor their chat conversations
If you want to know who they are talking to on WhatsApp, you can read this guide on how to use WhatsApp on Mac computers. You can set up your child’s WhatsApp on your PC so you can view their conversations at the same time.
6. Usage controls
You also have the opportunity to put controls on your child’s mobile phone in terms of usage. Once your child hits a certain amount of text messages and phone calls in a month their usage will be blocked for the rest of the month.
7. GPS
A lot of mobile phones come complete with a GPS tracking option nowadays. This means that you can track where your child is at all times. Not only this, but there is even the possibility of setting an alert so that you are notified when your child leaves a designated zone.
8. Explicit song titles
There are mobile phones, such as the iPhone, that allow you to put a block on any song titles that contain explicit words. This ensures children are not listening to inappropriate music behind your back.
While you may not be able to control everything your child does on the internet, there are methods you can put into place so that you do have a substantial amount of control. Use these eight tips and put your mind at ease or click here to learn internet access for kids and parents.
