Lilia2

Q: Parental controls/time restrictions on iPhone

I can safely say that my daughter's iPhone has ruined our lives.  We've had it for five days.  Yes, there are some built-in parental controls, but Apple has blocked anybody from offering a software program that will turn the dang thing off (I'm talking about texting and calling) at a certain time every night.  I have a daughter who is addicted to her phone and the battles are humongous to get her to do anything but text. 

 

There are plenty of good programs with good parental controls for the Android and Blackberry, but thanks Apple for not allowing us as parents to turn the phone off at night.  I know about Mobicip, which is a great company, but they can only turn the internet off, not texting or calling.  When you have a kid who can and will text 5,000 texts a month, we need something that eliminates the battles at home and can automatically turn the thing off when it's bedtime.  We're all losing sleep.  Most parents, when they get an iPhone for their kid, don't realize that Apple, unlike Android, has chosen to place more importance on children's privacy than parent's ability to place restrictions on their kids' phones.  I plan to take the iPhone back and get her an Android.

iPhone 4S, iOS 4.3.3, Time restrictions?

Posted on Mar 27, 2012 7:49 AM

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Q: Parental controls/time restrictions on iPhone

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  • by modular747,

    modular747 modular747 Nov 30, 2013 1:37 PM in response to chattphotos
    Level 6 (19,343 points)
    iPad
    Nov 30, 2013 1:37 PM in response to chattphotos

    It's not just the online lifestyle, but their world view of entitlement - they are owed whatever they want. 

     

    It's clear that they learned entitlement from their parents, who post here demanding that Apple provide features that were not present or advertised when they purchased the phone, in order to do what they are unwilling/unable to do as parents...

  • by hedda3000,

    hedda3000 hedda3000 Dec 27, 2013 11:53 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2013 11:53 AM in response to Lilia2

    I'm a PC. Nerd glasses and all. Not a hip, sarcastic kid. I have a Lumia 1020, and before that had a Samsung with Android OS. I'd never have an iPhone for myself, but unfortunately my son wanted to be like all the other kids. I'd like to set some restrictions so that he doesn't inadvertently misuse his device, although I monitor and stay on top of his usage, like a good parent. There are many valid reasons for wanting technological restrictions.

     

    This is my first foray into the iPhone forums and I must say I am not very impressed.

     

    <Edited By Host>

  • by chattphotos,

    chattphotos chattphotos Dec 27, 2013 12:09 PM in response to hedda3000
    Level 4 (2,447 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 27, 2013 12:09 PM in response to hedda3000

    Always reference an old thread when asking for help on a similar issue. Do not bump it, make a new post instead.

     

    The problem comes in that Apple designed the phone for an older market (Assume 18+)

     

    The second issue, it's not possible to do some of the stuff the parents were demanding/asking for/seeking out.

     

    Third, teach kids to stand up to peer pressure. They can get their own phone when they are responsible enough for it. This worked great in the 90's... and we've lived without the iPhone for some 2000 years and have made it pretty far eh?

  • by Enamellist,

    Enamellist Enamellist Jan 19, 2014 3:57 PM in response to hedda3000
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2014 3:57 PM in response to hedda3000

    1. You can control acess to explicit content, in-app purchases, etc. within the 'Restrictions' settings (Settings->General->Restrictions).

    2. If you have Verizon service, you can pay $5 per month to set the days &amp; hours (you can set emergency numbers that can be called during restricted times), amount of data, and amount of minutes/texting (if plan is not unlimited).  You can even set specific phone numbers (including 411) to be blocked.

  • by Wessider,

    Wessider Wessider Jan 22, 2014 8:05 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 22, 2014 8:05 PM in response to Lilia2

    Hi lilia2, if you have sprint as a carrier you can download the sprint zone app and it will allow you to stop texts, calls or web access right from your phone. So when bedtime comes you can stop the texting and web(Facebook) and you can get your nights sleep without the worries. Just tell her the reception must be bad from time to time or must be the weather. Don't let her know you have the power of the sprint zone app in the palm of your hands. Works for me when I got my son an iPhone for his birthday. He complains he don't get good web reception most of the time. What he don't realize is it only happens when his priorities is out of whack and grades dropping every now and then. Also he claims sprint is the worst carrier. Ok whatever, until you pay for your own phone bill, I hold the power of his phone in my hands. I'm this way cause I'm a parent just like you, I totally understand where you coming from. Props to you for voicing your concerns.

  • by chattphotos,

    chattphotos chattphotos Jan 22, 2014 10:04 PM in response to Wessider
    Level 4 (2,447 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 22, 2014 10:04 PM in response to Wessider

    Wess,

     

    Or you know... just do not give kids smartphones, it would save a lot of extra work on your part (and other associated parents)

     

    But overall, Sprint does have some good parental controls.

     

    When it's my turn for such, mine will probably be buying their own services as age permits.

  • by GamerParent,

    GamerParent GamerParent Feb 9, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Feb 9, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Lilia2

    I would suggest looking at our new app in progress! We are planning to take all of these problems away with one single app. The app is called "Inspire" and is in the beta phase on Android. I am in talks now with a firm to complete the iOS version which will hopefully soon follow!

     

    The video focuses on the learning aspect but the parental controls give the power back to the parents!

    -Play time allowance

    -bed time

    -start time

    -Lock out

    -messaging to device

    All happens on a notification so that we know the child has seen what we have to say.

    Please give it a look!

     

    www.GamerParentsInc.com

     

    I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by GamerParent,

    GamerParent GamerParent Mar 17, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 10:30 AM in response to Lilia2

    Also as well as an application for iOS, we also have a "black box" that can be plugged into an xbox or any other video feed to take over any electronics that a child may have!

    Knowledge Beyond Imagination

     

    Coming soon!

     

    www.gamerparentsinc.com

     

    I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by Tresbonguy,

    Tresbonguy Tresbonguy Mar 17, 2014 10:19 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 10:19 AM in response to Lilia2

    You seriously need to stop smothering your kid, just trust them.

  • by WeLoveAppleProducts,

    WeLoveAppleProducts WeLoveAppleProducts Jun 1, 2014 3:27 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2014 3:27 PM in response to Lilia2

    I'm having similar problems with my 14 year old son. I took his iphone away a few weeks ago and told him he wouldn't get it back until his grades came up. He stayed up late the last two nights on Skype with friends he made online in Australia (it's daytime there).  I heard him talking on his iPod last night.  So, I took that away too!

     

    Today, I figured out how to put time restrictions on his iPod while he is at home by setting them up on my Apple Time Capsule. But, that won't help when he goes to school because he can use their wifi to log in. So, I am keeping the iPod until the semester is over.

     

    I was looking for a way to restrict the iPhone and came across this posting. I knew that I could not place restrictions on the actual phone that would do any good. So, I followed KiltedTim's advice and went to the Verizon Wireless website and was able to sign up for FamilyBase. It costs $5 per month (first three months are free!) and can control up to 10 devices (including iPhone's 4, 4S, & 5s with IOS 7.1.1).

     

    I was able to set up blocks on my son's phone for iMessage/texts, phone calls (incoming/outgoing except for a few designated callers), and web surfing in a few minutes. I get reports emailed to me regacrding calls and texts he receives or sends. I tried it out on his phone and it does work!

     

    I will be giving him his iPhone back now that it is restricted. I can further restrict his games from the iPhone if it becomes necessary with a restrictions passcode. Now, I can send him to school and know that I can get in touch with him when I need to and he will not be able to communicate with any of his friends or surf the net. I will keep the restrictions in place until he proves by his grades that he is responsible enough to have them removed or reduced.

     

    It would be great if I could do the same restrictions (as far as time limits are concerned) on the phone, but for $5/mo for all three kids, I am willing to do this on Verizon's website.

     

    Good Luck!

  • by chattphotos,

    chattphotos chattphotos Jun 1, 2014 8:20 PM in response to WeLoveAppleProducts
    Level 4 (2,447 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 1, 2014 8:20 PM in response to WeLoveAppleProducts

    The genral consensus is that you're on your own for giving kids a smartphone...

     

    When I was 14, it was still expensive to send text messages. I think I turned out alright.

     

    Keep the kiddos off the screen and digital world and encourage them to live life!

  • by Drspoons,

    Drspoons Drspoons Jun 2, 2014 4:23 PM in response to chattphotos
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2014 4:23 PM in response to chattphotos

    I am from the UK and our services providers have no features to block 3G

     

    The next person to say "Just take your phone of your teenage kid " !! all teenagers are different, why do we as parents want conflict every night, and I would of expected more from Apple Staff.

     

    All this is simple If Apple would develope time clock restrictions on the IOS all this could be solved. Apple have a duty to give parents more options. Children are staying up later talking to friends on facebook, facetime,  snapchat etc etc and struggling with tiedness at school.

     

    Apple are missing a trick if they embrace this idea and advertise this feature all parents would purchase Iphones not Android

     

    Example NEW Function: Iphone/Ipad  has a countdown to lock up at 10.30pm school nights, after lockdown  only parent contact numbers are displayed on the front screen.These are the only numbers that can be called or texted

     

    Along side these numbers the parent entry code  as well this will give the phone 5 minutes countdown so alarms times can be changed or even just allow access to alarms fro front screen

     

    Weekends again we can change time to suit. The phone will reactivate in the morning with the alarm

     

    again we could take it one step further an lock it up durring school times .....Schools would love that infact let schools send a signal with shutdown  signal.

     

    They would need to make teenager proof . eg no clock changes to by pass it

     

    Why does this sound so easy and nobody at a apple is listening.....

     

    Can we all email this suggestion to the CEO of Apple please

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jun 2, 2014 4:32 PM in response to Drspoons
    Level 9 (59,674 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 2, 2014 4:32 PM in response to Drspoons

    Drspoons wrote:

     

    Can we all email this suggestion to the CEO of Apple please

    You may write to whomever you please.

     

    Or, submit your feedback directly to Apple using the appropriate link on the Feedback page:

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback

     

     

    The next person to say "Just take your phone of your teenage kid " !! all teenagers are different, why do we as parents want conflict every night, and I would of expected more from Apple Staff.

     

    No one who has answered in this thread works for Apple. We're all users, just like you, some with children. And, yes, I think you should just take the phone away if the child is abusing the privilege.

  • by Drspoons,

    Drspoons Drspoons Jun 2, 2014 4:41 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2014 4:41 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Why was your response to my post so predictable, Some 15 year old teenagers do not even know what the word privilege means. Before anybody says take the phone of your child, you need to wear there shoes first.

     

    All circumstances are different.

     

    If i did need my children to keep in touch or track them they wouldn't get a phone.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jun 2, 2014 4:45 PM in response to Drspoons
    Level 9 (59,674 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 2, 2014 4:45 PM in response to Drspoons

    Drspoons wrote:

     

    Why was your response to my post so predictable, Some 15 year old teenagers do not even know what the word privilege means.

    Hmm. I wonder why those teenagers don't know the what privilege means? Perhaps someone should have taught them?

     

     

    If i did need my children to keep in touch or track them they wouldn't get a phone.

     

    Basic phones can fill that need of yours just as well.

     

    Best of luck.

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