[vanrunner]

Dear Blackberry Community

Recently I caught my 14 year old Son using his Blackberry to view pornographic material using a Adult web site ****** for which he purchased a membership too using my Master Card. I was under the impression that the Telephone companies controlled what sites could be accessed by our phones much the same way as I can control what my Son views on our computer but I was Very Very Wrong! All of his friends use Blackberry's to keep in touch for school and our Church and after taking it away from him for a week I can already see the negative social effect it's had on him.

Now I have no issues with Adults viewing pornography and this is not what this is about. I think we need stronger controls on what is viewable from the Blackberry phones so that we can keep our children away from inappropriate content. There is no net nanny for the IPhone or Blackberry.

If you are against pornography being accessible to your child's cell phone please visit my New Facebook Group ... so that we can show the government that we need safeguards in place for our children's sake.

Thank you,
A Concerned Parent

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure I did receive an apology letter from ***** and a full refund. I'm still not happy that our Telephone companies can let this happen though!

[danhclare]

this is America, and in America people are allowed to view what they want to view no matter what. This falls on you for getting your child a phone that is internet capable. Don't come here preaching that we should make the internet safe, while the sole responsibility relies on you. It is your job, not ours, to make your child safe on the internet. You have the authority to take the internet off your child's phone.

[drichhhh]

better porn than something way more stupid i think

[vanrunner]

danhclare -You obviously don't have children.

[danhclare]

No, but i do believe Government restrictions is a slippery slope down the line to fascism. I am quite anti-government intervention. That website is somebodies business, and to restrict them is cutting into their "american dream". which is unconstitutional.

[vanrunner]

Look I'm not a blackberry user but I thought I could talk to the Blackberry Community as a whole who's best interest would be served in banning pornographic material from the Blackberry internet. Pornography is already on everyone's PC, but why does it have to be so readily available on your Blackberry as well? Let's think of the greater good here. I know that in a court of law the Porn King Pins would win but that doesn't mean we can't change the law and force carriers to be more morally conscious of what is viewable and what is not. Just look at what they've done in Australia!

[chaszone]

He's 14... if he doesnt get Porn on his phone, he'll get it from somewhere else (if not already). I am pretty certain that almost every male on this site, when they were 14, was looking at porn from anywhere they possibly could. It's called natural progression. If he wasnt looking at Porn at 14, then I would be worried. I would be more concerned over how he go your credit card than anything else. Sorry... im with Dan on this one. Turn the internet off his Blackberry, problem solved... for now.

[danhclare]

Look I'm not a blackberry user but I thought I could talk to the Blackberry Community as a whole who's best interest would be served in banning pornographic material from the Blackberry internet. Pornography is already on everyone's PC, but why does it have to be so readily available on your Blackberry as well? Let's think of the greater good here. I know that in a court of law the Porn King Pins would win but that doesn't mean we can't change the law and force carriers to be more morally conscious of what is viewable and what is not. Just look at what they've done in Australia!

Australia is not the land of the free. And who are you to say what is moral or not?

[alleycat0124]

Is it April Fools Day again already?

I agree that children should not be allowed to view pornography; this is why I, in an attempt to be a responsible parent, have not provided my underage child with a Blackberry, I actively monitor my child's internet access, and I keep my credit cards secure. But perhaps that's just me.

By the way, I do not ever remember seeing any claims on either my terms of service agreement with my phone service provider, or the parenting manual that came with my child, that the phone company is supposed to provide a surrogate parenting service, or be held responsible for any lack of parenting on my part.

Thanks for the invitation, but I think I'll pass on this and continue to support free speech in America.

[vanrunner]

Ok I agree with you danhclare in the this point about restriction but see it from my side, until Net Nanny or whatever is available for Blackberrys, iPhone, etc... then what as a Parent am I supposed to do? Take away his Blackberry? I'm at a loss here.

[joefalco]

Dear Blackberry Community

Recently I caught my 14 year old Son using his Blackberry to view pornographic material using a Adult web site called PINOTA for which he purchased a membership too using my Master Card.

This doesn't sound like a need for more Government controls......

Before you jump on the 'you must not have kids' wagon, I have one son, two step kids, and 3 grandkids. I prefer our families to teach, not the government to control.

Joe

[aimetti]

...

If its that big of an issue buy your son a regular phone. Sounds more of a parenting problem rather than a blackberry issue.

[danhclare]

Ok I agree with you danhclare in the this point about restriction but see it from my side, until Net Nanny or whatever is available for Blackberrys, iPhone, etc... then what as a Parent am I supposed to do? Take away his Blackberry? I'm at a loss here.

he doesnt need a blackberry to be social. Tell him to go to the wonderful outdoors and play some sports with his friends. It's much healthier.

[chaszone]

Blackberry Community as a whole who's best interest would be served in banning pornographic material from the Blackberry internet.

That is absolutely Ridiculous.... and i am referring to the banning of ANYTHING on ANY phone. I pay fo service, I wil choose what I want to see or not see. And I would take responability of what my child sees. Its called Parenting. Furthermore, your opinion of greater good, is just that, your opinion. I disagree very much. Personally, I think a 14 year old with a blackberry is ridiculous, but thats besides the point.

[vanrunner]

Obviously stealing my credit card is the least of my worries.

Wow I thought I'd find more support here. I'm not against free speach or the constitution. I'm just a parent looking for help here. Please be kind.

[chaszone]

Ok I agree with you danhclare in the this point about restriction but see it from my side, until Net Nanny or whatever is available for Blackberrys, iPhone, etc... then what as a Parent am I supposed to do? Take away his Blackberry? I'm at a loss here.

Your credit card should be at the TOP of your issues... HE STOLE FROM YOU....
TURN OFF THE DATA SERVICE FOR HIS PHONE = no more more internet. Just watch out for the Pornographic MMS messages he is going to get in replacement now...

He looked at Porn.. Big Freakin Deal... would you rather him look up how to build a bomb?

[danhclare]

Obviously stealing my credit card is the least of my worries.

Wow I thought I'd find more support here. I'm not against free speach or the constitution. I'm just a parent looking for help here. Please be kind.

no stealing your credit card is a felony, watching porn is not.

[jackie treehorn]

You got your 14 yr old a bb that was your first problem, second he stole your credit card. Take freaking thing from him and quite complaining

[LDubs]

make it stop. OP, are you serious? a 14-year-old doesn't NEED a device that allows him to go to the internet. You knew the blackberry had an internet browser, didn't you? If not, that's on you. If yes, then what websites did you think he was going to go to?

It's called parenting. Teaching your kids what's right and wrong, what's appropriate at what age and what's not.

Disable the browser if it really bothers you, or get him another device that doesn't have a browser, but don't come in here and spout off about how upset you are that your son looked at porn on his blackberry. I'd be much MUCH more upset that he charged something on your credit card without permission, but that's just me.

[SevereDeceit]

This will wind up closed along with all the other porn threads...

[vanrunner]

um I hope he hasn't been looking up how to build bombs! Why would somebody post that? I feel like I'm loosing it here. Does nobody else see the issue with giving uncensored access to Pornography and Bomb making to untraceable Blackberries a NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT??? What kind of site is this anyways? I thought this was a community?

chaszone -How do I turn off the data service on his phone? Does that mean he can still send messages to his friends? I don't understand what the difference is?

[godofdeath]

This will wind up closed along with all the other porn threads...

agreed, shouldnt get him a phone you cant monitor like the computer

[chaszone]

P.S.... that site is great!!! lol jk

[vanrunner]

This will wind up closed along with all the other porn threads...

What? Why would it be closed?

[Reed McLay]

Obviously stealing my credit card is the least of my worries.

Wow I thought I'd find more support here. I'm not against free speach or the constitution. I'm just a parent looking for help here. Please be kind.

This is not a porn link thread, it is an honest question from a concerned parent.

We would all appreciate you keeping the response on topic.

The issue is important to many parents. Why are there no content filters?

How do I turn off the data service on his phone? Does that mean he can still send messages to his friends? I don't understand what the difference is?

That is done through your carrier. It will impact his BlackBerry Messenger contacts and his Email, but will leave SMS text message enabled. It will also save you about $30 a month.

The job could be done on an external server after installing the tamper restiant client. It's not rocket science and I am sure there are developers looking for an marketable product with big potential.