Kids and mobile internet access - what do you do?

[JackieZ]

I'm a bit of a worrier when it comes to my children and their mobile phones, especially when they are out with their friends. Now that they can get online pretty much anywhere, it feels as though there's no limit to what they can do. It's frightening how much kids know about techy things, and how it's normality for them to be able to walk into McDonalds and expect to get free wifi access. How times have changed

Anyway I was really pleased to read on mumsnet about this scheme www.mumsnet.com/family-friendly/wifi. I find it overwhelming how much kids have access to on the web, so to hear the likes of McDonalds are taking this seriously is music to my ears.

I want my kids to have a mobile in case of emergencies, and of course want to be able to trust them. Besides, I wouldn't know where to start with restricting what they can access (if this is even possible?). Having said that they'll probably find some way around it anyway.

How does anyone else deal with this whole issue? Am I worrying too much?

Most mobile networks restrict access to certain types of sights(18)and you have to ring to prove age etc to get this restriction removed.

I'd be more worried about the data charges if they use the internet over the 3g network rather than wi-fi.

Don't know about other networks but on o2 the restricted access doesn't actually work unless you're using 3g or similar. Mine's still set to restricted because I can't be arsed to go in and get it switched off, but it only restricts sites (and the stuff it restricts is daft anyway - I can't access some of the forums I use and they're not remotely adult related) if I'm away from a wifi connection.

I guess the only fool-proof solution for now is to only provide them with mobile phones that do the most basic functions. If they don't have the capability to connect to Wifi, they can't use it.

Thanks cookie804, good point. I guess in relation to 3g charges, that I'm better getting them to use free wifi when they're out and about. If they're going to use the internet, which I know they do, its better that someone else foots the bill!

I've found a great list of places that offer free wifi hotspots which I've printed off: www.thepizzaslice.me/index.php/my-essential-guide-to-free-wi-fi-hotspots/. (I love how this site calls the wifi symbol a "pizza slice" )

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check with the mobile network (o2) to see what they block access to.

Buy them a shit phone instead?

Thanks CaptainHetty, we're on o2 as well, so I'll definitely have to check that.

I had suggested they use my (very) old Nokia phone, but you can imagine the reaction from a 12 year old who has friends with iphones!

Can well imagine !

12 year olds with iphones??? boggles (I'm a total techno geek by the way, love computers, play xbox, I'm like a kid myself but giving a child a £500+ gadget is a bit much...)

tell me about it! In my day it was who has the best trainers, nowadays it's who has the best phone.

There really is no need for a child to have a phone with internet access. Yes to a secondary school pupil having a phone in case they need to contact you, but why would you want them to have internet access? Do they not have computers at school?

Trouble is that most kids are now too obsessed with getting to the next level of Angry Birds or Doodle Jump than they are with getting schoolwork done and you have to ask yourself, what is most likely to get them a job at the end of their school years, the fact that they are champions at Angry Birds or a good work ethic?

You can change settings on most phones and iPods so that you can restrict content and you can also go into Google and lock Safe Search. But the settings are never going to stop them accessing things they shouldn't at times they shouldn't so the only way to do it is to restrict their usage altogether.

You could argue that the best approach is to give them good self esteem & good sense, because no matter what you do to restrict their own phone you can't stop what they see on other people's.

Well, my 11yo has just been given a phone - it is a phone - it phones and sends texts and has an fm radio built in which I am not telling her about and that is it. If she wants anything else, she can pay for it herself and she knows that.

I think it's all about managing expectations - I expect there will be scenes when she becomes a proper teenager about her friends having better stuff than she has, but my response is, and will remain "Tough. You want it, you pay for it."

But I'm horrible.