iPhone parental control -- questions!

Monitoring text messages on iOS

You are right. iOS is a sandboxed software system, which means there is no universal security app like we have for Windows and Mac. The good thing is that you can limit the apps that are or can be installed (using Restrictions) and setup a Safe Browser (like Mobicip) and thereby create a safe Internet environment. The bad thing is that you cannot limit text messages or other features that are not part of the Restrictions feature (unless you jailbreak, of course, which opens a pandora's box imho).

Now, AT&T does offer Smart Limits, a parental control feature that allows you to setup some additional restrictions on calls and text messages, but it will apply only when the phone is using AT&T's network.

 

What do you want to limit on the iPhone ?

Limit the use of calls, texts and data by imposing an appropriate account with your network.

02 in the Uk limit the access of age restricted material and can only be lifted by the owner proving their 18+ age. Perhaps your network can provide the same.

I agree with jail breaking and the pandora box effect.

 

AT&T offers what you want by doing it from the network level, rather than from the phone. They also offer things like the ability to track your kids on a map, etc.

 

Pardon me for the ignorant question, but why does your son need an iPhone? If it's only for safety and personal tracking purposes there are other options available.

 

I appreciate your time and explanation. I find it rather moving and exciting that a device like an iPhone can give more freedom to someone like your son.

 

I have smart limits for my daughters phone and it's pretty good. The probably about jailbreaking is, if your son is like any normal kid, all he has to do is restore his iPhone and no more parental controls.

 

AT&T has parental controls. I don't know what provider you have. It's called AT&T Smart Controls. Where you can limit the amount of text sent, limit the time when he/she can make calls, limit purchases, and block numbers. Even track your kids. I don't know about iPhone specific though.

 

It's 4.99 a month and I can set limits of all kinds. i can set time limits, text limits, data limits, and I think downloads. Sadly I can't set phone limits (minutes to use), but over all its pretty good. Once I grounded her and blocked everything and they have an "OK" list, and I set up my phone and others that will still work.
I apologies about the "normal kid" comment. I didn't read all the way down.

Also Apple has that one app, Find My Friends. You can use this to see where he is at.

Personally I don't like the jailbreaking side of this. All he needs to do is plug it into iTunes, click restore, and all those settings, apps, and other things are gone.

 

1st of all Sorry about your sons limitations. However it sounds like you and the family are handling it well. I'm also happy that products like the iPhone can help him. In your case I would talk to AT&T and Apple and see what they can suggest in your situation. you might also look to the jailbreak community there are lots of tweaks that ether free a iPhone up or can restrict access to certain areas. To me it's a pleasure to run across someone like you that would rather dwell on what your son can do rather then what he can't do.. One parent to another hats of to you.

 

I completely understand, I have Asperger's (which is on the autism spectrum, but not completely disabling) as well, and completely can understand what is going on. I got my license at age 22, living with my wonderful & caring girlfriend, and currently holding a full time job, pay my(our) bills on time, and now can actually hold onto a conversation normally .

My iPhone has been an invaluable tool (for work & play as well)...plus it's a phone.

I suggest you start looking into switching to AT&T (or Verizon) for that matter, if you don't mind me asking what carrier are you currently on right now? Most carriers that I know of including T-Mobile offers a Smart Limit-like feature. And don't forget that you'd also have the Find My Friends app as well, which you can lock down in Settings > General >Restrictions, to keep him from "going off the radar." ....Provided you also have an iOS device that you can load the app and find out where he is.

Another way to keep track of location would be enabling Find My iPhone, but you may be invading his privacy with full access to his iCloud mail, Contacts, and Calendars, because you'd need full access to his iCloud account for this to work out (unless the others here know of another way). With Find My iPhone, you can use any Mac or PC to load up his location (the location of his iPhone), remote lock, wipe, etc as well as send an emergency message (the real usage of Find my iPhone, but it works). You also can get the respective iOS apps, but if you already are going to use an iOS device, you might as well use Find My Friends.

If limiting web browsing is what you also want to do, you definitely want to restrict Safari and get a "safe browser" from the App Store. I highly do not reccomend the jailbreak route however, as it would cause trouble if he say...click on the Update that Apple now pushes OTA/using iTunes and could possibly cause more damage that, unless you know what you're doing, can't get yourself out of. And let's not forget that the Apple Store would refuse to even look at jailbroken devices.

 

Didn't know you can do that with Find My Friends, I'll have to keep that in mind.

OP-I have AT&T and they have Smart Limits. I attached what you can control with it.

 

I think this Solution + Find My Friends app would be perfect for the OP. You can even go as far as developing a profile in Apple's Mobile Device Configurator for OS X Mountain Lion

 

Nice to see you found a solution that works to your needs and satisfaction!