Free Android App Allows Parents To Control Child’s Phone Use
- Customise manually
- Is pre-programed with settings
- Has emergency override function
Vodafone Guardian is a new app for Android-powered smartphones that is free and allows families to agree parameters on their children’s smartphone use, including when children are permitted to make calls, receive texts, access the web browser and play games.
The app also features instant override capabilities, so children can use the full functionality of the phone in an emergency. Mum and Dad can select settings which ensure that parents or guardians can, call or text their children at any time.
It is pre-programmed with three age settings for 7-8 year olds; 9-10 year olds; 11-12 year olds, and the ability to customise settings manually.
Key features of Vodafone Guardian include:
- Set times of day your child can use their phone for calling, receiving texts and accessing the web browser (e.g. turn off during school hours, at bed time)
- Bar calls from numbers that aren’t in the contacts list
- Decide times of the day the Internet via browser; wifi; or specific apps such as games and videos can be used
- Unsubscribe from any existing subscriptions to Premium Rate Numbers, helping to control costs
- Give your child the ability to block TXTs from individual contact numbers to help address bullying. Blocked TXTs are locked in a password protected archive
Vodafone Guardian also includes an emergency override function which allows a child to disable all restricted settings, for 15 minutes, in an emergency after which it is automatically enabled again. This function is available just in case the child needs to contact someone urgently and the settings are activated to block outgoing calls. The Parent Contact will be notified by TXT if the Emergency Override function is used and Vodafone Guardian is temporarily disabled.
Vodafone Guardian also has an ‘always allowed list’ – which is a set of numbers that will always be allowed no matter what restrictions have been set. These are emergency service numbers like ‘000’, as well as child support numbers such as Kids Helpline.
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