Calling Smart Phone Controls Experts Please!

[mikado1]

No plan to get a smart phone for ds but it has been thrust upon us without warning but out of necessity. We have disabled app store etc but wondering will he be able to text and call from abroad without any what's app etc? I think he can use phone and sms function as normal without any need for an app but would love to be sure. Thank you.

Hi,

I’m a bit confused what you’re asking. Are you asking if he can text and call? Or if he can what WhatsApp without the App Store?

Surely just download the apps he needs then disable it.

Make logical choices rather than knee jerk ones re what he has access to.

Honestly, you should (and need) to have a better grasp on this. Never be in the position where your child is more tech savvy than you, it'll end in tears.

Have you set him up as a child on your apple account? If you do you will have a good control over anything he ever wants to download, be able to block content etc.

He doesn't need any apps.

He's not more tech savvy.

Thanks for your help!

Yes we've done that. I just wanted to check he can still call and text via phone and sms without apps while abroad.

If he can just regular text and call?

Hi
yes he will be able to you don’t need the internet. Im assuming it’s an iPhone so he won’t be able to iMessage if you’ve restricted internet access…ie he has no data so he will be charged as SMS. Also be mindful that if he has no data he can still connect to WiFi networks and use the internet. He can’t use WhatsApp without the internet.

Thanks so much for that. I haven't restricted Internet, just app store. I'm all set so!

Sorry to hijack. Do you know why in spite of having "downtime" set, my son can still use his phone after this time? And if there is a way to set a cumulative maxi time per day?

@Snappyteabread you need to check in the setting if any apps are set to ‘always allow’. For example, on sons phone music is set to ‘always allow’ so he can relax with music after downtime.

Yes, you can also set daily cumulative time limits for each app and even individual websites

Also ‘phone’ is not able to be switched off even in downtime but you can restrict which contacts are able to be contacted during downtime. So my son can only phone me or his dad during downtime

The apps set to "always allow" are the "boring" ones like Word, calculator, clock etc
This is what the limits are for the problematic apps but how do I can the total at say, no more than 3 hours per day?

@Snappyteabread Sorry to hijack. Do you know why in spite of having "downtime" set, my son can still use his phone after this time? And if there is a way to set a cumulative maxi time per day?

You can lock down the apps so he can use the phone but they should all grey out x

I would check the sim provider but yes if you allow him access to calls and texts he should be able to do that while abroad via the mobile network.

Thank you. Yes he's just texted! :)

What a relief!