Had to supply proof of age to access most of the internet on my CONTRACT mobile.... (not porn)

[Whatdoesitmatteranyway]

So, had to take out a new phone contract with EE.

All good, or so I thought.

Went to access money savings expert forum - banned as adult content.

Mumsnet - banned

The only sites I could access were obviously childrens sites.

Phone up support who said I had to go through the splash page and provide proof that I'm over 18 for the content filter to be removed as its on automatically.

My issue with this..... to sign a contract for a mobile phone you have to be 18 in the first place. Tried explaining this to them to which I got, but what if you took the contract out and gave the phone to your child.

Erm, surely if I'm doing that I would ask them to put the content filters on if thats what I wanted to do.

It took them three days to remove the block as there was a technical glitch.

Surely this should be opt in not opt out!

It's been the case for quite a while, at least with o2 and T-Mobile - I remember having to do it at 17 and being most annoyed that I couldn't get the lock off! 11 years later and I'm pretty sure every phone I've had has required it.

It is annoying.

Plenty of parents put their kids on contract phones....

Plus a kid might use your phone!

Makes perfect sense to me.

It’s mildly inconvenient but I’d rather protect kids.

With GiffGaff you just go to your account on the website (I bet they have an "app" too ...) and provide your passport number.

Well, a passport number

Worked for me. Block was removed there and then.

If you're a parent giving your kid a contract phone, surely you would add the block on

I don't see why millions of adults have to jump through hoops to deal with irresponsible parenting

I don't see why millions of adults have to jump through hoops to deal with irresponsible parenting

You and me. But it happens.

What amuses me is how hypocritical it all is. When premium rate numbers were more common, you had to pay to block them - they were opt-out, not opt-in. And no amount of my trying to change that had any effect. It was almost as it the telephone companies wanted such a system to be able to make money from it's being abused (writing as a parent whose DS ran up a £200 bill calling a games "cheatline" without us knowing).

Your kid may pick up your phone and use it.

You just never know.

We don’t have porn magazines at eye level in a shop, so why make dodgy content to easily accessible on the internet?

Its not just dodgy content though is it... I had to get the filter removed from my account because it was blocking the weather forecast!

The weather forecast isn't going to corrupt anyone.

I agree with the OP. Filter should be opt in, and it should be very easy to do so.

I agree with the OP. Filter should be opt in, and it should be very easy to do so.

Well our government decided the opposite and that's that. Think of the children and all that. Coming next: speed limiters ....