Do you give out your WiFi password to your children's friends?

[Lindy2]

DS11 has had some friends over this weekend. They were mostly playing some board games, watching films, eating all my food etc.

One of them asked for our WiFi password within a few minutes of arriving. I didn't really feel comfortable giving them our password so I told them I had forgotten it.

That particular friend didn't stay very long as apparently they had planned to play on their phone for their entire visit but couldn't do that without our WiFi password.

The other kids visiting all seemed fine without it and it was actually very nice to see them doing stuff other than being on screens all the time. DS does lots of screen time but did actually want to do other things with their friends this weekend.

DS is my eldest and due to all the Covid stuff it's been quite a while since he had a group of friends together in the house for a longish visit. Therefore, possibly I'm out of touch with what most other people do for teens/preteens but is everyone else handing out WiFi passwords on request or was it a bit of a cheeky request?

It felt a bit cheeky but I can't really pinpoint why. The only other house that I have a WiFi code for is my mum's house. I wouldn't ask friends for their passwords if I was visiting.

As long as you don't have a restricted data device then I think just give them the password too. My dc are always running out of data, and sometimes the WiFi in a home can block mobile data. Anyone in my home is welcome to tap into the WiFi. They might be using their phones to game together, they might be doing homework together, they might be doing tiktoks or sharing silly memes, playing music, phones are just part of life now.

Thr other thing is you lied op rather than just own the fact you didn’t want to give them the password for some unknown reason, and your son and other kids will have known you were lying and could easily have got the password.

I think that’s the bigger issue, adults should lead by example. If my child came home and said you’d refused to give the password so they couldn’t use their phone and you then lied about it rather than jist being a grown up and being upfront I’d defintely think it wasn’t the worst crime but really not a good way for an adult to behave.

I think however you treat your guests, and these children were guests, be it refusing wifi, water or the toilet, then it’s basically better not to obviously lie about it. It’s one thing to lie when the people being lied to don’t know it. It’s a whole different ballgame when they do and it’s an adult to kids.

Yes of course. I don't see the issue at all and wouldn't want them not to be able to message their parents if they don't have data.

Is it just because it is a password?

Just make sure your WiFi password isn't a password you use for other things and it would be fine. Maybe asking as soon as they entered the house wasn't great, but kids of that age haven't yet fine tuned their social skills...

Many routers allow you to set up a guest network with its own password if that helps.

When ds 2 had a 16 th birthday party it was the first thing they all did

They usually play some online guessing game together when they come round these days . As well as card games, the guitar , get the vinyl out and have a few beers. They are 19 nearly 20 now

Yeah, this is normal. We just have it written down where dd can access it so that they don't have to ask.

Of course! Why wouldn't you?

Of course. It costs you nothing extra for guests to use it. I would encourage kids not to spend time with their friends staring at their phones though but if there's lots of chatting and giggling going on they are interacting together so who cares.

I always tell my kids to ask for the WiFi whenever they go somewhere eg when the eldest babysits. Otherwise they use up their phone data.

No because I can never remember it.

My kids have unlimited data on Voxi so have no need to ask.

It’s very normal. I’d think it rude if I visited a friend and they didn’t offer me a drink. Tweens and teens feel the same about WiFi passwords.

We have a guest wifi.

Why would you not share your Wi-Fi password? Ours is on the kitchen notice board for anyone visiting to use. I have passwords for everyone I visit regularly on my phone so it just connects automatically when I visit. I don’t understand the need to be secretive and possessive about it!

We have a guest network - we don't give out access to the other networks

Out of interest why do people have a guest network?

When someone uses your WiFi password their device has not only access to the Internet but also to your entire network. You have no control over what their devices can and can not do on your network. In theory, the guest could be hacking your photos and your banking info. And you have no idea what your guest has been doing online, what dodgy apps they may have downloaded. Apps that could be harvesting info from any network they join. In our case, DH's work pay for all our internet so we can't just give access to the main WIFI but guest access is fine.

Oh please, what a load of bollocks! How can someone logging into your network on their phone hack your banking info? They can't, unless you use your banking password as your wifi password as well.
Plus who are you inviting into your home?

What, an 11 year old is an elite banking hacker? I think not...

Yes in theory you could be opening your network to that kind of thing but I highly doubt teenagers are robbing their friends' parents.

Our WiFi password is written on the whiteboard in the kitchen. Never understand why people are so weird about guests having it!

I genuinely can't think of a reason why you wouldn't give the password.

Our WiFi info is printed and on the board for this exact reason, dd knows it is there and can sort herself/friends out and I don't have to worry. It's usually to keep in touch with parents so I'm more than happy for that to happen.

My friend will have a No Tech time for her children and close friends if there is something specific for them to all be together. So they know there is a focus and once that is done they can carry on. It seems to work well.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t?

I am mid 30s and I ask for Wi-Fi password when I walk in if I’m hanging out at a good friend’s house or family member. Just scroll or laugh over videos together whilst relaxing.

I got about it, I haven’t asked recent or newer friends as I’m at their house for the “occasion”, by that I mean just a catch up or meal or the babies playing together. When I had people over for my birthday, I was a bit taken aback when someone asked for Wi-Fi password cos it’s like but it’s a party? But they wanted it for WhatsApp updates from their DH on the kids. So I think it’s pretty normal amongst 30-40yo, let alone 11yo.

I’ve seen things like the attached at people’s houses. www.cardfactory.co.uk/wifi-password-hanging-plaque-and-chalk/65838.html

I would be careful, as I think members on the Wi-Fi can log into the network settings (I think the ip addresses are generic for each provider). What @MajesticElephant does sounds ideal, how do you set up a guest network with white list? I can’t see it in Wi-Fi setting options, do I need to purchase a separate Wi-Fi booster?

@MissusMaisel Someone upthread asked why people would use guest access rather than sharing their WIFI details.You may sneer that it's a whole load of bollocks but if any illegal activity happens on your main WIFI, good luck with proving that it wasn't you or your family. If you can be 100% sure that your guest aren't posting anything malicious, racist or anything else that's illegal, I guess sharing your WIFI password is fine. Also, most apps access all sorts of sensitive data when connecting to a network, if you are happy with your guests' apps harvesting data from your home network in this way, that's of course your choice. We are encouraged to teach our children Internet safety, guest WIFI access is a very simple, basic precaution. But then we are parents who don't allow our kids unlimited unsupervised access to anything digital and monitor their group what's app message so that we can step in if anything untoward is happening.

@BertieBotts , maybe not 11 year olds but teens are most likely more savvy with digital media than you unless you are an IT professional.

Guests at my house are welcome to use the WiFi, same as they're welcome to using the water and electricity. Having people in your space and using your amenities is part of hosting, if your not willing to share, don't invite people over. The age of the guest or which family member they're visiting doesn't really come into it.

Yes normal to give out WiFi password to visitors.

I wouldn't want them on screens much either but you have no idea if that would have happened or not.