Texting is slowly replacing face to face interactions for many children and teens (and adults!). For teens, phone calls are reserved for very close relationships according to Pew Research Center. Texting for younger children can be a great way for them to express themselves but as we all know (and maybe have experienced), there’s a sense of “protection” when you send text messages. This can result in children pushing boundaries without thinking fully of the consequences. Examples like bad language being texted, abuse in the form of cyberbullying or sexting can occur, arguments can start from something taken way out of context and the potential addiction of having to reply the second a notification occurs.

Real Life Example

One of our users was collecting the content of their child’s text messages and only allowing text messages from numbers on their child’s Contacts. When reviewing their child’s activities in their account, they noticed that a blocked text message was a telemarketer (scroll up to the Featured Image on this post)! This can occur quite often with children’s phones as their numbers may be from a pay-as-go type of plan which was previously used. The outcome? The message was blocked because they only allowed calls and texts from their child’s Contacts app.

On Android devices, Boomerang can help parents in monitoring and filtering their calls and text messages. This includes allowing only numbers from their Contacts on their phone or specifying numbers that are either only-allowed or blocked.

Enable Text Messages Monitoring in Boomerang

1. Login to My Account.
2. Click on a device.
3. Select on Text Messages.
4. Click on Collect Text Messages Logs.
5. Optional: you can collect the content of each text that is sent and received by your child when you click on Settings in the Text Messages tab and check the box “Collect SMS texts”.
6. Select the options you wish and they will apply to your child’s device.

Setting Time Limits on Texting

If you are finding your pre-teen or teen are spending a bit too much time texting, please note that we do have flexible scheduling on a per-app basis. This can be a challenge when you first introduce limits on their time spent on their smartphone – empower yourself as parent and know to stick to your guns while the “change process” works it way through.

You can limit texting (and other messaging apps) to specific times during the week by following the steps below. Here’s how to do this with the Messaging app on Android devices:

1. Login to My Account.
2. Click on a device.
3. Select Applications.
4. Scroll down the list of apps – in this case we’ll visit the Messaging app which is listed under the “System Applications” list.
5. Look for Messaging and click on the Clock icon beside it.
6. Select days and times you want to allow or prohibit use of the Messaging app.
7. Click OK and the policy will get applied to your child’s device.

We’d love your feedback on this and the challenges you may be facing in your household. You can try Boomerang for free with our 14 day trial on your Android devices and experience the above and many features features.

 

Sources:

Compulsive texting takes toll on teens http://www.deccanherald.com/content/508633/compulsive-texting-takes-toll-teens.html

For teens, phone calls are reserved for closer relationships http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/08/17/for-teens-phone-calls-are-reserved-for-closer-relationships/

11 Facts about Sexting https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-sexting