Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Preteens

Anyone with experience of Whatsapp appreciated please.

12 replies

AugustRose · 26/12/2013 18:15

My DD (11 almost 12) got her first phone for christmas. It is pay as you go with a bundle that includes unlimited texts (5000), 250 mins and internet. Her friend who also has a new phone has told her to download whatsapp so they can talk for free but I'm unsure and have read some negatives about safety and bullying.

Also does anyone know about parental controls for a Nokia Asha 201?
Thanks

OP posts:

Report

ThinkPossitive · 26/12/2013 19:53

I'm not sure about the phone but with whatsapp you can only talk to people through it who have your phone number so it's a lot safer than say Facebook where anyone can add you as a friend, hope that helps

Report

sebsmummy1 · 26/12/2013 19:55

Yep agree with above.

I have a few people I talk to on it. They are contacts in my phone book. Whilst strangers can contact you I think, I've never had it happen. I wonder if there are some settings that would only allow people in your phone book
to message you?

Report

paddythepooch · 27/12/2013 07:55

Same rule as for everything on line. Never contact direct or have as a friend someone you don't already know in RL. One thing to avoid on whatsapp is letting others join you to groups. You can end up with tons of messages from people you may not know.

Report

tribpot · 27/12/2013 08:13

It's not inherently bad but I would want to check on what groups she was in / who her contacts were.

It means they will be able to share photos and voice messages as well as texts and so she will need to keep an eye on how much of her monthly allowance of internet she's using when she's not attached to wifi (i.e. in your house).

With 5000 texts (and presumably the friend has likewise) they can talk to each other for free anyway. Whatsapp is nice for having group conversations and sharing photos, but these are two things I'd be a bit more wary of with a teen.

Report

AugustRose · 27/12/2013 13:48

Thank you, I think 5000 texts is enough and she will have to learn how to manage her own usage - I'm pretty sure her friend will be on a similar deal so I don't think I'll let her use whatsapp for now. Anyway I've just discovered her phone isn't wifi enabled.

OP posts:

Report

CremolaFirCone · 27/12/2013 13:53

Dd uses whatsapp to chat with friends in Europe and USA . That's the main advantage of it I think.
Her phone is capped and so she can't text people abroad .
No more 'unsafe' than anything else online.

Report

MummySantaHoHoHo · 27/12/2013 13:55

whatsapp is much better, can send photos for free, is usually limited to your friends anyway

Report

Rosencrantz · 27/12/2013 21:12

Bullying is nothing to do with WhatsApp. It's to do with her friends.

No different to texting. Why would you contact people you don't get along with?

Report

JohnnyUtah · 27/12/2013 21:15

How can it not be wifi enabled if it came with an Internet allowance? Have you just not connected it yet?

Report

DameFanny · 27/12/2013 21:15

We use Whatsapp in the family as a kind of private Facebook to keep in touch with extended family around the UK and Europe. So much more private and only gets PA with one of the aunts

Report

tribpot · 27/12/2013 21:18

JohnnyUtah, I couldn't figure this out either - why on earth would a phone with a data connection not be wifi enabled? But it is so, I checked the spec of the Nokia Asha 201. Seems bloody odd to me. It will be slow as buggery, unfortunately.

DameFanny, I have a good group on mine as well - nice to be able to chat about random things. Yesterday the sales and today the fact the wind has ripped some tiles off the roof and done mega damage to a friend's car. I think this is where OP's dd will find text lacking, if everyone else is doing group chats on Whatsapp.

Report

AugustRose · 27/12/2013 23:06

Thanks again everyone, to be honest I just assumed any phone with internet access would be wifi enabled, but as it's just a cheaper first phone I'm not too bothered about that. Up to now she's only had internet access on the one PC at home with access which is in the main living room.

I will look into whatsapp more, she will have a few friends to add but I was just worried that her details could be passed on by someone else but I know that could happen with texting too. I'll just have to make sure she understands to be careful who she gives her number to.