Mobile Device Options

Cell phones have all the capabilities of a personal computer, now able to deliver video, data, games, instant messages and more.  These multi-media platforms allows subscribers "anywhere", "anytime" access to information, news and people, making it more difficult for parents to monitor access and creating another point of access to inappropriate content and contacts.

We recommend that parents check with their mobile provider to pick customized resources and limits to protect kids on their mobile phones, including the following:

AT&T Smart Limits: "Smart Limits" brings together information about parental control features across AT&T wireless, wired, broadband and video services.  AT&T's service allows parents to: determine how and when kids use phones; limit the number of text and instant messages; decide when the phone can be used for calling and texting; and limit access to inappropriate content.

Verizon Wireless: Allows parents to determine their child's location—in real time—and notifies parents if their child leaves the parent-specified "child zone".  Verizon also offers tools which filter content (classified by age); set phone usage allowances; set time restrictions, and block numbers.

Sprint: Offers phones with built-in parental controls, which allow parents to restrict incoming and outgoing calls to parent-approved contact lists (located in the child's phone book), and also offers parents other resources to limit a child's access to all other Sprint services.

The following mobile devices are also geared towards keeping children safe:

Firefly Mobile— A voice-only phone for kids with just five buttons. Two of the buttons are pre-programmed to call mom and dad.

Verizon Wireless’s “Migo”— Has limited number of buttons for parents to program with approved and emergency-related numbers.

Tictalk—lets parents enter phone numbers that can be called anytime and restrict numbers that can be called during certain times of the day.