Kids being blocked from using their phones by Google's Family Link app

[Brenda Holiday]

Poor kids. I remember parental controls on the family pc. Sucked, but as soon as I was given my own laptop it was all downhill from there. Nice to see parents making some sort of attempt, even just the slightest.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

That one child has a valid point, you should be able to make a phone call in case of emergency. Maybe the app should let you make an exception, and it could tell the parents who the kid called and how long. That way if they're really in danger they'll be fine, but it'll tattle on them otherwise.

I use this with my kids and they can still make calls when they are in downtime (ie. When you've set their phone to lock).

 

[EllenDrawsRapeOfHerHaters]

I use this with my kids and they can still make calls when they are in downtime (ie. When you've set their phone to lock).

Am I understanding this right? The kid in the post is lying? Or is it just an option that isn't enabled?

 

[Paper Machete]

If you're really serious about "parental controls" you need to get a dumb phone and have all numbers aside from yours, family/friends, and whatever friends they get blocked. (Emergency numbers are never blocked and always able to be called as long as the phone works.) Have your own servers things run through that aren't accessible on the one family computer in a public spot as opposed to lame proxies on just the browser...and of course ramp up their knowledge at appropriate intervals, teach them about how just because the internet is virtual doesn't mean it isn't all fake and games...

Most parents aren't tech savvy enough to even know that's something they can/need to do let alone do themselves. But they should get there honestly. We live in a tech fueled world and have for a really long ass time. There isn't much of an excuse for it in my book.

 

[THE SUPREME ONION]

Mocking children is gay

I WILL MOCK THE CHILDREN AND I WILL BE HAPPY



CRY HAAARDER LIBTAAAAARD

 

[ToroidalBoat]

A bigger question is why do kids even have "smartphones" in the first place?

 

[nonnita]

A bigger question is why do kids even have "smartphones" in the first place?

Room temperature IQ parents

 

[I hate women (like you)]

A bigger question is why do kids even have "smartphones" in the first place?

There are at least 3 reasons that are often given:
1) Because other kids have smartphones and your kid not having one makes them stand out and not understand topics that the other kids will talk about
2) Because it's hypocritical to be really strict with devices when it comes to your kid but constantly use them yourself
3) Because the tech isn't going anywhere and your kid will have to use them sooner or later anyway
Besides striking a balance between giving them unlimited access and having a little amish running around, there's also the option to make device-use something that you teach your kid and include in your family's life so that they can learn healthier use patterns. Easier said than done, but that's what is often said in discussions about this stuff.

 

[nonnita]

There are at least 3 reasons that are often given:
1) Because other kids have smartphones and your kid not having one makes them stand out and not understand topics that the other kids will talk about
2) Because it's hypocritical to be really strict with devices when it comes to your kid but constantly use them yourself
3) Because the tech isn't going anywhere and your kid will have to use them sooner or later anyway
Besides striking a balance between giving them unlimited access and having a little amish running around, there's also the option to make device-use something that you teach your kid and include in your family's life so that they can learn healthier use patterns. Easier said than done, but that's what is often said in discussions about this stuff.

Genuinely retarded horde mentality reasons these dimwitted parents give, so it’s all about societal/peer pressure. Bootlickers.
If they want to include a device then they should give them a computer with stricter hour rules (e.g 1 hour a day or 1 hour and a half after the kids do their chores/homework/etc or in weekends) and educational video games to play (e.g TuxMath, something by National Geographic, PBS Kids games, Angry Birds, Popcap games etc) or educational worksheets they can print or do on the computer.
Easy-peasy .
Edit: Oh yeah and what @ToroidalBoat said, the computer should be in the living room

 

[ToroidalBoat]

I remember parental controls on the family pc. Sucked, but as soon as I was given my own laptop it was all downhill from there.

"Back in my day" the usual "parental controls" was simply having any computer in a very open room in our house.

When I was younger, my parents put computer in a very conspicuous spot in the house that saw a lot of traffic. Multiple bedrooms lead to there and it's where vidya was too. Also the internet was really slow dialup -- of course this was in the days before "smartphones" and "social media" being a thing. I did not get my own personal computer and unlimited internet access until I was in college. BTW I still like the internet being something one has to sit down to use, and I do not like carrying a "smartphone" on me.

 

[isalaide]

Children don't need to be on devices, let alone the internet, when they ought to be asleep. They actually need that sleep to grow and to be able to concentrate in school. Being a degen who stays up all night and then dozes off all day is the privilege of adult NEETdom.

 

[Chuck McGill]

That one child has a valid point, you should be able to make a phone call in case of emergency. Maybe the app should let you make an exception, and it could tell the parents who the kid called and how long. That way if they're really in danger they'll be fine, but it'll tattle on them otherwise.

I honestly never have understood the "but emergencies!" argument for smartphones. It seems like an extremely specific set or circumstances to imagine my child is stranded somewhere where he would not be able to ask any adult on the street or any random business to borrow their phone. Do that many parents parents regularly let their children wander in the woods unattended nowadays?

If it's that much of a concern, get a dumb phone for them. Then you won't even have to worry about his tech wiz friend cracking it open. As it stands, it reads like cope from parents who want to take the path of least resistance.

2) Because it's hypocritical to be really strict with devices when it comes to your kid but constantly use them yourself

The idea that parents are obligated to give their childrens' impotent cries of "BUT YOUR A HYPOCRITE!!!!!11!!!!111" the time of day has done incalculable damage to society, and I'm not joking. Do as I say, not as I do. I do know better than you actually, you uppity little shit.

 

[peachlover669]

there's also the option to make device-use something that you teach your kid and include in your family's life so that they can learn healthier use patterns. Easier said than done, but that's what is often said in discussions about this stuff.

my children are only getting a front room shared pc with base arch linux as the os and they will only be able to install programs through pacman and i will not teach them how to use it
if they can get to 18 years old without completely bricking the system then they have earned the right to use the internet

 

[I hate women (like you)]

Genuinely retarded horde mentality reasons these dimwitted parents give, so it’s all about societal/peer pressure. Bootlickers.
If they want to include a device then they should give them a computer with stricter hour rules (e.g 1 hour a day or 1 hour and a half after the kids do their chores/homework/etc or in weekends) and educational video games to play (e.g TuxMath, something by National Geographic, PBS Kids games, Angry Birds, Popcap games etc) or educational worksheets they can print or do on the computer.
Easy-peasy .
Edit: Oh yeah and what @ToroidalBoat said, the computer should be in the living room

yeah most parents are retarded or don't have the material or mental means to raise kids right; the upside of technology is that if you can raise a child at least somewhat decently then he's going to run circles around the majority of his peers by the virtue of their retartedness, the downside is that the retards of society are only gonna be more retarded as time goes on

 

[Maurice Maine]

I honestly never have understood the "but emergencies!" argument for smartphones. It seems like an extremely specific set or circumstances to imagine my child is stranded somewhere where he would not be able to ask any adult on the street or any random business to borrow their phone. Do that many parents parents regularly let their children wander in the woods unattended nowadays?

If it's that much of a concern, get a dumb phone for them. Then you won't even have to worry about his tech wiz friend cracking it open. As it stands, it reads like cope from parents who want to take the path of least resistance.


The idea that parents are obligated to give their childrens' impotent cries of "BUT YOUR A HYPOCRITE!!!!!11!!!!111" the time of day has done incalculable damage to society, and I'm not joking. Do as I say, not as I do. I do know better than you actually, you uppity little shit.

Yeah but the problem is when your kid grows up to be a bitter motherfucker like droves of millennials who like to pretend the world started in 1980 (because of pop culture) and denounce everything before. I'm a pretty sketch guy myself but I like to think I am better than them (am I? God knows... my judgement day will be interesting).

 

[Don Yagon]

"Back in my day" the usual "parental controls" was simply having any computer in a very open room in our house.

My mom used to take the power cable to work so that I won't slack around after school. I just powered it with the same cable from the printer instead.

 

[Angry Lurker]

Better for a kid to have parental controls than to see what kids with unrestricted internet access can become. Family Link is a blessing in disguise and they'll figure that out later (maybe).

 

[666NASTYFUCKINGFREAK666]

Poor kids. I remember parental controls on the family pc. Sucked, but as soon as I was given my own laptop it was all downhill from there. Nice to see parents making some sort of attempt, even just the slightest.

I remember being in a struggle with my dad to remove the time constraints on my PC because he used the win 7 parental controls to schedule my computer time. I'd be trolling GMOD servers and the fucker would lock out on me at midnight on the weekends cuz he was a fag.

Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to start learning compsci at the age of 12 to pentest that shit, I only was able to secure temporary victorys when he would do retarded shit like have his password as the password hint or accidentally leave himself logged in and I was able to take control before he noticed and made me switch it back.

 

[EllenDrawsRapeOfHerHaters]

I honestly never have understood the "but emergencies!" argument for smartphones. It seems like an extremely specific set or circumstances to imagine my child is stranded somewhere where he would not be able to ask any adult on the street or any random business to borrow their phone. Do that many parents parents regularly let their children wander in the woods unattended nowadays?

If it's that much of a concern, get a dumb phone for them. Then you won't even have to worry about his tech wiz friend cracking it open. As it stands, it reads like cope from parents who want to take the path of least resistance.


The idea that parents are obligated to give their childrens' impotent cries of "BUT YOUR A HYPOCRITE!!!!!11!!!!111" the time of day has done incalculable damage to society, and I'm not joking. Do as I say, not as I do. I do know better than you actually, you uppity little shit.

I'm not sure a dumbphone is feasible in current day. For one, it's uncool. Your kid will hide it or possibly lose it because they don't want anyone to see it. Smartphones are pretty useful, and accessible for those with disabilities.

This private information is unavailable to guests due to policies enforced by third-parties.

Edit: I'd personally want the games unblocked. I have fond memories of staying up too late playing video games. It's a learning experience.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

Am I understanding this right? The kid in the post is lying? Or is it just an option that isn't enabled?

Either lying or, more likely, just doesn't realise that calls can be made (although it does show on the lock screen).

Interestingly both my kids still have it on, despite my son now being over 18 and my daughter is nearly 16. They are just used to their phones locking at night as I've done it for years now.