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Question

Parental Controls on an Android Phone

Sep 16, 2011 4:25AM PDT

Hi all,

Been a while since I have posted and I'm spinning in circles how to set parental controls on an Android Phone as I have purchased my 12 yr old daughter one, I want to be able to:

Block access to Porn Websites/Pictures
Facebook
Forums in General etc,

All the apps I find are to block apps, but then she will just find another, I want to be able to control her web behaviour without blocking her access or needing a password to websurf/down load a game app,

Any work would be superb,

Cheers

Fw

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Ah, the Parental Control App issue.
Sep 16, 2011 4:30AM PDT

There is no perfect control app. The best I did find did the total lockdown but the parent whined about having to invest time with passwords and installing apps for the child.

Frankly, install and test a few apps then think it over.

Why give them such a device?
Bob

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Parental Con
Sep 17, 2011 6:08AM PDT

Hi Bob,

Im getting a bit concerned as I promised my ex i could add Parental Controls (looking grim), When you mention:

"Why give them such a device?"

Firstly, it is no different than letting her have a laptop or on a desktop, I still setup parental controls & as the smartphone is essentially an option to access the internet, it is no different than an Ipad or tablet )albeit smaller and slower etc),

Plus she is virtually 12 years old, just started a new school (private and lots of hoighty toighty (sorry to hoighty toighty users Happy after coming back to the UK from Australia since she was 6, so she wants to fit in and doesnt want to be different (we all know how cruel kids can be)

Fw


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The problem is..
Sep 17, 2011 6:40AM PDT

I know nothing about such phones as I don't use them myself.

But the problem is, they are not laptops or desktops. The are still phones, but that can access the internet, so they are very different.

I remember when internet capable computers first came out that there were no parental controls at all, and it took a few years before such options became available.

The smartphone community haven't caught up yet, it seems.

However, if these smartphones have commonly known browsers installed on them, do those browsers have their own parental controls? It is just a thought.

If not, I agree this is lacking.

Mark

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I can see how folk think there are like a PC.
Sep 17, 2011 6:47AM PDT

But Android is just a puppy and still growing up. Heck the thing can't print. Here's my point. This is a new OS and it will take time for the apps to do what YOU want. My second point is one from the IT lesson book. Ready?

If IT implements restrictions then that also are going to get to do more support. I've lost count of how many times the (pity the poor) IT folk think that more control will reduce their support load.

So keep trying those apps and if one does what YOU WANT and blocks the install of APPS then that is the ONE. Don't let the kid whine about that. It goes without saying why we can't allow more APPS.
Bob

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Appreciative
Sep 17, 2011 8:27AM PDT

@R.Flex

Cheers for the reply, as you mentioned I thought about trying Parental Controls, locking the apps and using Google (so she cant download another browser),

@Bob, It's an opportunity for the ex to gain anoher point against my access to her (last time I saw her was 200Cool so she is waiting for me to screw up, sending her a smartphone with access to Facebook &Youtube will knock another point off, so this is why Iam so eager to sort it out and I have a day, I thought she would be happy but "No", something must have happened in Australia for ex to ask me to block Facebook, Forums etc
But I dont know what and dread to think as she is so nearly 12,

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I missed that adventure.
Sep 17, 2011 10:21AM PDT

2 boys, one just turning 18, one through college. Oh the stories about the other half. But we'll save those for Hallow's Eve since they are scary.
Bob

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Answer
Here is a solution.
May 3, 2012 7:26AM PDT

There is an app called Smart App Protector which allows you to set a password for access to any specific app on the phone, including the market. So... you lock the browser, youtube, etc and lock the market. Then she can't install new apps without your consent and she can't use any app without your knowledge. Happy That's the best I could come up with for my kids. I tried it on my phone for several weeks and it works every time. It will even let you lock processes internal to the phone so she can't install non market apps... pretty cool.

Hope that helps!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sp.protector.free&hl=en

Melissa