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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask why my sons data runs out on his phone when he is only using WiFi?

68 replies

SpringSunshineandTulips · 01/09/2020 13:23

His data is gone within a day or so and this month he’d been home the whole time and using WiFi. He went out today and I tried WhatsApping and texting him but neither message delivered. I could get through on a phone call though. I couldn’t find him on find my iPhone either when he was out. As soon as he came home again the messages all delivered and I can see him on find my iPhone. Does anyone know why or how to rectify this please?

OP posts:

BarbaraofSeville · 03/09/2020 04:38

Why is DH saying turn WiFi assist on? That could well be the issue.

If your WiFi doesn't reach to all parts of the house you can get a plug in booster.

I posted a link upthread to cheap SIM only deals, if you don't want a contract look at something like Giffgaff where you pay an amount for a month's service. You pay by card and is easy to stop and start and switch between allowances. But if he's not watching videos on mobile data he won't need tens of GB.

ChorltonWheelie · 03/09/2020 05:42

If he is on an iPhone go settings and then mobile data. Scroll the screen and you will be able to see exactly what the data has been used for

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 03/09/2020 05:49

Apps background refresh?

SarahBellam · 03/09/2020 06:00

Look on apps settings for automatic video play on WiFi or mobile data. Change the setting to WiFi only.

MissClarke86 · 03/09/2020 06:47

Is it definitely being used up, as opposed to just not being turned on (resulting in him having no internet access when out and about)?

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 03/09/2020 09:52

Sorry to piggy back OP, I've been having similar with DDs phone.

Barbara do you know, if I've turned off anything that could be eating her data (altogether go I'm going to check here phone against this thread later to be sure), would any IOS updates on an iPhone revert all the settings back needing me to change them again?

Also, on an iPhone, providing there aren't any financial details on her apps and she's not doing anything financial, is it safe for her to use free WiFi when out and above, for example that provided by pubs etc? Thinking out loud I guess they're unlikely to have filters/parental controls on them, so maybe not helpful.

I'm definitely going to look into that WiFi booster as I strongly suspect that's the problem in our case.

Hope you get yours sorted OP.

ChristopherTracy · 03/09/2020 09:56

My DS has less than that for years and coped fine by being on top of it and only using it for bus apps and whatsapp out of the house etc.

They shouldnt really need a ton of data at that age tbh or they will just watch dodgy videos on the bus and who wants that?

RedRiverShore · 03/09/2020 10:08

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

The small iOS updates that you get don’t usually change much, the big one when it goes from iOS 13-14 usually in September its best to check that all is OK as you want it as sometimes there are big changes. I use free Wi-fi when out and about, I just make sure not do financial stuff or buy anything more just general browsing

For the OP, 5-6 gb of data will probably be about right, should cost about a tenner

thedaywewillremeber · 03/09/2020 10:12

Sometimes my phone switches to my data if my the WiFi bars are low.

SoupDragon · 03/09/2020 10:12

I remember DS once used all his data whilst the phone was locked in his locker all day - He had borrowed his sister's phone and it had minecraft running in the background. I seem to remember that we had been able to look in settings to see which app had used all the data.

SoupDragon · 03/09/2020 10:16

How does it use his data if I am looking him up on where’s my iPhone? Someone mentioned this earlier in the thread. I don’t see how it can use his data.

It is "broadcasting" his location and this uses data. Mine has only used 7.5mb since 23 Aug though.

SnaccidentsHappen · 03/09/2020 10:39

My son also 11 had been turning his mobile data off so he didn't use it all, not realising that when out he wouldn't be able to send or receive WhatsApp's

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 06/09/2020 19:42

Ahhh ok thanks Red

EmbarrassedUser · 06/09/2020 19:48

I bet you he’s watching porn Hub (or similar) Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, mum of teenage boy here.

CodenameVillanelle · 06/09/2020 19:50

@EmbarrassedUser

I bet you he’s watching porn Hub (or similar) Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, mum of teenage boy here.

He's fucking 11 stop being so alarmist My DS is 12 and definitely doesn't watch porn. He is scared of the whole concept after being shown some by a little dickhead. 11 is not a teenager. Some 11 year olds might watch porn but the vast majority don't.

Bollocksitshappenedagain · 06/09/2020 19:55

My daughter had 4gb a month .thats been enough for 2 years but now I have switched to sim only I have upped the data as she is out with her friends a lot more watching tiktok videos! Cheaper to buy it upfront than as a bolt on.

Jo0070 · 06/09/2020 20:03

If when he does use data - is he going on a website that delivers the whole of it's site.

Websites should be built to be mobile savvy - so that data plans are not sucked up when we go on them. Unfortunately not all are.

Maybe your son is streaming on his data plan - this would use a lot of his data.

Maybe your wifi is kicking off at lot at home - which forces him to trip over to his data plan

Jo0070 · 06/09/2020 20:06

How many GB should his plan have? And what did he say he went on to swallow it up in one day?

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