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User profile for user: Snoopy Dad
Snoopy Dad Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Text message monitoring

How do I monitor my child's text messaging on her 3GS phone? Does Apple have any downloads for this? There are products out there like Mobile Spy but loading it requires that I jail break her phone. Apple has to know that there are millions of kids out there using these phones and child safety is a big concern, especially for the parents.

Iphone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.1.3

Posted on Nov 25, 2010 10:47 AM

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User profile for user: Graham Outterside
Graham Outterside
User level: Level 4
2,932 points

Posted on Nov 25, 2010 12:02 PM

They kind of assume that if the person is old enough to have the phone then the parents are okay with all that it entails. There are Parental control locks but they only go as far as to limit changes made. You can't record what they say on the phone so texts are not much different .

If you can't trust them, then don't give them the phone...... IMO.

But its your child so its entirely up to you of course.

Its a very emotive subject on the Forum with some parents insisting Apple do their job for them (my side of the argument) and others (for balance sakes) who want Apple to provide the facilities (to do their job - my views again).

Either way, it isn't there and not likely to be.... IMO
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User profile for user: Graham Outterside
Graham Outterside
User level: Level 4
2,932 points

Nov 25, 2010 12:02 PM in response to Snoopy Dad

They kind of assume that if the person is old enough to have the phone then the parents are okay with all that it entails. There are Parental control locks but they only go as far as to limit changes made. You can't record what they say on the phone so texts are not much different .

If you can't trust them, then don't give them the phone...... IMO.

But its your child so its entirely up to you of course.

Its a very emotive subject on the Forum with some parents insisting Apple do their job for them (my side of the argument) and others (for balance sakes) who want Apple to provide the facilities (to do their job - my views again).

Either way, it isn't there and not likely to be.... IMO
Reply
User profile for user: diesel vdub
diesel vdub
User level: Level 7
22,178 points

Nov 25, 2010 4:29 PM in response to Snoopy Dad

Snoopy Dad wrote:
How do I monitor my child's text messaging on her 3GS phone?


It's not possible without jailbreaking the device.
That being said, you can always call AT&T and have them block texting on the line.

If you really do not trust your child (and that is what this boils down to), either block texting or take the iPhone away from them.
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Text message monitoring

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