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 Lilia2,

    Lilia2 Lilia2 Mar 27, 2012 2:42 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 27, 2012 2:42 PM in response to KiltedTim

    You all who think cell phone carriers such as AT&T or Verizon or Sprint can put blocks on texting, calling, email on the iPhone need to be the ones to confirm that they can not!  I've already confirmed it with AT&T and Sprint (our carrier).  Apple does not allow it.  I'm surprised an Apple representative doesn't jump in and give you the facts.  They cannot touch the iPhone SMS, email, etc. from 3.0 and later. 

     

    I have called and confirmed with AT&T and I've worked with Sprint.  Sprint just came out with Mobile Controls, but they do NOT work on the iPhone because (again) APPLE WON'T ALLOW IT!

     

    ngmach, if it were that easy just to take it away, there would be no need for parental controls anywhere, right?  Just take it away....  No need to put parental controls on the phones, the computer, the TV...?  Just be a parent and control it yourself.  We're working with a social 14 year old brain that is not fully developed until about age 25.  So simple, so simple.  I am completely shocked at the responses that I'm getting here.  You don't have my kid and you have no idea what kind of parent I am.  You don't live in my family.  I'm doing the best I can and that is pretty darned good.  Shame on you for judging me.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Mar 27, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 9 (55,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 27, 2012 2:54 PM in response to Lilia2

    It doesn't matter what version of iOS you are running or whether you have an iPhone, Android Phone or plain old dumb phone. Smart limits shuts down the ability of the device to send SMS/MMS messages, transmit/receive data or transmit/receive calls at the carrier level. Whoever told you it wouldn't work on 3.0 or later is just plain wrong. You can not manage smart limits from the phone. The limits do work on the phone.

     

    Whatever. You obviously don't actually want a solution.

  • by jorge290,

    jorge290 jorge290 Mar 27, 2012 2:59 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mar 27, 2012 2:59 PM in response to Lilia2

    Easy should have bought an iPod touch!

  • by jorge290,

    jorge290 jorge290 Mar 27, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mar 27, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Lilia2

    Ok! it is not Apple's fault that is sure, and I don't know what kind of parent you are, and not planning to judge, but I believe that most parents are held like hostages by their kids, when I was a teen I've shared a ZX Spectrum with my sister, but after school and before finishing my homeworks it was closed in a closet (also at night).

  • by modular747,

    modular747 modular747 Mar 27, 2012 7:11 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 6 (19,343 points)
    iPad
    Mar 27, 2012 7:11 PM in response to Lilia2

    You all who think cell phone carriers such as AT&T or Verizon or Sprint can put blocks on texting, calling, email on the iPhone need to be the ones to confirm that they can not! 

     

    They cannot touch the iPhone SMS, email, etc. from 3.0 and later.

    100% wrong (but at least you're consistently wrong about everything you post).  The carriers block at their end, and it doesn't involve the iPhone at all.  You repeatedly confuse the app on the phone that activates the service, with the service itself.  The phone app may not work anymore but I know for a fact that you can arrange for blocking texts, numbers, etc.

     

    Another misconception you promote is to evaluate the quality of parenting, with the child's grades in school.  Unforutulately, the overabundance of over-achieving, over-entitled, narcissistic psychopaths in our society blows that theory out of the water.

  • by Laurakcb,

    Laurakcb Laurakcb May 3, 2012 9:13 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 3, 2012 9:13 AM in response to Lilia2

    Lilia2, Found this thread while looking for something similar. I've got 4 boys including two teenagers so I understand the phone issues---and they are different for each kid! One of my teenagers has an iPhone 4. He sleeps with it next to his bed. No bad parenting comments please! He has health issues and he needs to be able to text me from his bed during the night so for us the cell phone is a life saver.  However, I obviously don't want him texting friends all night. We use ATT Wireless and their smart limits (I think that's what it's called) work on his iphone 4. It's a few dollars a month. But, it turns off texting (incoming and outgoing) and outgoing calls.  You can set the time to turn the limits on and off each day. You can program certain numbers that can be called or texted though regardless of the time limits. So, although my son can't send and receive texts from friends at night he can text my husband and I at any time. These settings are all done from the ATT website. I didn't have to even touch his iphone. There is also some other type of ATT parental control feature on their website but it's useless. Hope this helps!

  • by mnthomp,

    mnthomp mnthomp Jun 24, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jun 24, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Lilia2

    Not sure why people need to be mean or rude. This was a legitimate question from a concerned parent looking for lector if help. I am sorry. It with seven kids it's great to have control because kids are kids and while they should listen or lose the phone the extra help is good. I had AT&T and now Verizon and with both for 5.00 a month you can control all access.

     

    My daughters phone shuts down at bedtime. Back on in the morning before school and off during school hours. I love Verizon's interface as I can set as many restrictions as I want for phone, text or both. To shu down her wifi my wireless router also shuts down her wifi at bedtime.

     

    There are controls out there and those that truly don't know or understand should keep to themselves and not bash the parent. We all have struggles in our parenting in one way or another. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

     

    Michael

  • by Tawnii,

    Tawnii Tawnii Jul 7, 2012 6:30 PM in response to mnthomp
    Level 2 (190 points)
    Jul 7, 2012 6:30 PM in response to mnthomp

    Michael,

     

    Very easy solution for you. Your child comes home, they hand you the phone. You put the phone in your room. The child will receive the phone back from you when they leave for school. The child will then accomplish homework, chores , and any other responsibilities. It requires physical parenting and I am not being rude but that is your responsibility. Verizon gives you tools to parent, as do software companies but it is your responsibility to make sure your child is doing as you wish. No company or tool can replace speaking to your child and physically taking devices away from them

  • by Michigander36,

    Michigander36 Michigander36 Jul 25, 2012 6:19 AM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 25, 2012 6:19 AM in response to Lilia2

    AT&T Smart Limits do NOT work on iphones after ios 3.0.  At least for data restrictions.  My daughter kept going over her data limits,  and I had to keep calling customer service to get the overage fee abated.  The fourth time I called, I was transferred to Tech Suport who told me flat out the the Smart Limits do not work on iPhones with ios 3.0 or newer.  I told them there should be a disclamer on the web site,  and sales people should not be telling customers that it does.  I had them terminate the Smart Limits and refund me the payments I made for Smart Limits.  This is why I want a working limits program placed on the phone,  and not because I am a bad Parent.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Jul 25, 2012 6:27 AM in response to Michigander36
    Level 9 (55,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 25, 2012 6:27 AM in response to Michigander36

    Get your facts straight.  It DOES work. The version or iOS, or even what kind of phone you have, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, does NOT matter.

     

    What does not work is the old app they used to offer to manage the smart limits settings.

  • by sfx3200,

    sfx3200 sfx3200 Jul 29, 2012 10:35 PM in response to Lilia2
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Jul 29, 2012 10:35 PM in response to Lilia2

    I could argue the points of being a parent, but no one here is looking to be lectured.

     

    Addressing the actual question, all of the previous responses directing you to your carrier are 100% correct. Regardless of what phone, software, apps, etc. the carrier has complete control over the flow of information. Think of your phone like a bucket, and the carrier a hose. The carrier can, at your request, cut the flow of data into the phone. This has NOTHING to do with installing an app or the limits Apple places on developers to access the private APIs (SMS, email). Sprint definitely has a service that can control SMS and calling at night. Then you just have to control Wifi by switching off the router. Just ignore the fact that the app to manage the service isn't compatible and manage it from your desktop.

     

    Regardless of your parenting style, the facts here are simple. The carrier CAN CONTROL the flow of data. Just talk to them.

  • by Michigander36,

    Michigander36 Michigander36 Jul 30, 2012 5:04 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 5:04 AM in response to KiltedTim

    Hey Buddy!  What part of AT&T Tech Support said that smart limists cannot limit data on iPhones with IOS 3.0 or later,  are you not understanding? It's AT&T,  you know,  the Service Provider telling me this. I got my facts straight.  So,  Please call AT&T Tech Support and tell them that they need to get their facts straight.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Jul 30, 2012 6:21 PM in response to Michigander36
    Level 9 (55,946 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 30, 2012 6:21 PM in response to Michigander36

    Call them back. The individual who told you that is wrong. That's what happens when you either outsource support or pay your people minimum wage.

  • by sfx3200,

    sfx3200 sfx3200 Jul 30, 2012 6:37 PM in response to Michigander36
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 6:37 PM in response to Michigander36

    Michigander36,

     

    This is not the first instance that AT&T had some very mixed responses. I dont doubt that AT&T told you that, as se features of the Smart Limits do not work... But don't assume others are misrepresenting anything; clearly some of us have had success with this feature. Smart Limits should still be able to set time restrictions and block numbers, as is the real requirement of the OP. You may not be able to block features separately, but disabling all access based on time should be possible.

  • by Tawnii,

    Tawnii Tawnii Jul 30, 2012 6:47 PM in response to Michigander36
    Level 2 (190 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 6:47 PM in response to Michigander36

    Michigander36 wrote:

     

    Hey Buddy!  What part of AT&T Tech Support said that smart limists cannot limit data on iPhones with IOS 3.0 or later,  are you not understanding? It's AT&T,  you know,  the Service Provider telling me this. I got my facts straight.  So,  Please call AT&T Tech Support and tell them that they need to get their facts straight.

     

    AT&T can control data but so can you as the parent. Kid I expect you to stay within XX of your data plan or face XX consequences. That way you have the kid watching it and you use AT&T as the safety. Parenting kids in this technology is not easy but just as TV was not a babysitter in the 70's a smart phone or a computer are not a babysitter today. There is no substitute for actual parenting and communication.

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