[tmarkt]

I'm contemplating getting a tour and giving my curve to my 16 year old son. Our Sprint plan has unlimited data but I don't want him accessing the web.

Is there any way I can block him from accessing inappropriate sites?

I've considered deleting the web browsers and the app store from the phone, this way he couldn't connect to the web unless he had access to a PC with the desktop manager from which he could install a browser?

[cqd24]

I don't know of any parental controls on a blackberry but isn't sixteen old enough to use the internet? I suppose you could request the records of his internet usage but once again, isn't he old enough to drive too? I'd personally pick you battles a bit more wisely

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[dragonsamus]

I don't know about sprint but I think tmo has a webguard which blocks inappropriate sites. You should check and see if sprint does anything like that.

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[egobuster1]

jeez the kis 16 relax and let him enjoy the web because if he really wants to access those sites there are plenty of ways to get to them and i dont know about you but the blackberry screen is a small screen to watch some porn on

[tmarkt]

I don't know of any parental controls on a blackberry but isn't sixteen old enough to use the internet? I suppose you could request the records of his internet usage but once again, isn't he old enough to drive too? I'd personally pick you battles a bit more wisely

Yes, he's old enough to access general sites, but I don't want him accessing inappropriate sites.

I was at a sprint store a little while ago (after I posted this) and the guy assured me that they can turn off the net on his blackberry. So when I go there tomorrow, I'll physically verify that this can be done and if it does work, I'll give him my curve.

And I'll either get a new curve or a tour.

GO REDSOX!!!

[amazinglygraceless]

Simplest solution of all: If you don't want him accessing
inappropriate sites don't give him a web enabled phone. Done.

Oh, and screw the Sox (yeah I'm from CT) Go YANKEES!!!

[tmarkt]

Simplest solution of all: If you don't want him accessing
inappropriate sites don't give him a web enabled phone. Done.

Oh, and screw the Sox (yeah I'm from CT) Go YANKEES!!!

Hard to argue with that.

[Outatime97]

I am not going to stand on a soapbox here and tell you how to raise your kid, or turn this into another 'how old for a Blackberry" thread. (There are way too many of those). Anyway, you know your own child better than any of us here do, if you can not/do not trust your 16 year old to do as you ask with the phone, then he is not responsible enough to have it. My OPINION is: let him have it,(uncrippled) if he learns how to use it's features, it will help him with schoolwork, social activities, everything down to keeping track of birthdays. If he messes up, you have something to take away that is important to him. Most 16 year olds are responsible enough to have a smartphone. (again my OPINION) Do it all the way, or not at all. If porn is what he wants, he will can and will find it elsewhere anyway. Take the internet away from a blackberry and you just have a big phone. (another argument here with 10,000 threads, lol).

Hope this helps and wasn't too pushy.

[leecott]

I'm 16 and I use my web browsing on my BB mainly for Crackberry and Facebook, sometimes Myspace then ESPN in that respective order. Lighten up and let your 16 y/o live freely in the BB World.

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[luvitlo]

Are you trying to disable the web and keep BBM and email open, cause I doubt that is possible, I would ask the rep to be sure.
My wife had a BB with no data cause she would never use it, and she didn't keep it long cause there are too many basic phones with full qwerty boards.
I saying that because you may could sell the old curve and have enough to buy your kid a cool dumb phone and never worry about web.
I sold an old pearl for a hundred in a trader magazine. Just a thought you may like to consider. I am sure if your child wants a BB they are expecting the data so they can BBM and I'm all their friends.
And if you worried about porn, check out the stuff on sexting on the web. It is a new fad among teens to send each other dirty pics of themselves.
At 16 I am sure they know the anatomy of both human bodies. Being a parent is tough in this technical world, they seem to catch on to new technologgy way faster than us adults!

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[amazinglygraceless]

I'm 16 and I use my web browsing on my BB mainly for Crackberry and Facebook, sometimes Myspace then ESPN in that respective order. Lighten up and let your 16 y/o live freely in the BB World.

I am always amused when teens say this. News flash, we are not your friends,
your homies or your dawgs. We are your PARENTS. Many of of us take that
responsibility very seriously. While we can't protect you from everything we do
the best we can. "Lighten up" is not an option for an all day, every day parent.
When you have your own children, you'll completely understand.

[ellegee]

Where did he call anyone a 'homie' or 'dawg'?? He was adding the 16 year old perspective and only reiterated what others said.

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[leecott]

Where did he call anyone a 'homie' or 'dawg'?? He was adding the 16 year old perspective and only reiterated what others said.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Thank you very much for the clarification.

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[leecott]

I am always amused when teens say this. News flash, we are not your friends,
your homies or your dawgs. We are your PARENTS. Many of of us take that
responsibility very seriously. While we can't protect you from everything we do
the best we can. "Lighten up" is not an option for an all day, every day parent.
When you have your own children, you'll completely understand.

A lot of 16 year olds. Actually most, if not all, in the area where I'm growing up so-to-speak are very mature and most parents in this area take pride in this. I'm not judging anyone as a parent. I simply gave my perspective from a young and distinguished teen. I know that some kids aren't as mature as others, but banning access from the internet on a BB is simply unnecessary. From my point of view the internet is what drives a blackberry to its success. Feel free to differ. It's just my opinion. But if the OP think's their teen is old enough to carry responsibility of owning a prestigious device such as a blackberry, then one would think they would have trust in that teen; at least enough to use the internet on it freely without restrictions...

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[GlitchZero]

I love the "until you have a child, UNTIL YOU HAVE A CHILD" thing. I could leap out of a plane with a parachute tomorrow too but that wouldn't make me any more of an expert. Truth is parents don't always know what's best for their teenagers. OP's teen is going to end up possibly needing to look something up quickly in class before a presentation to verify his information some day, but because Mom was afraid he'd check out "Bananarama Slammers 14", he can't.

Way to trust your kid with his / her own independence.

[leecott]

OP's teen is going to end up possibly needing to look something up quickly in class before a presentation to verify his information some day, but because Mom was afraid he'd check out "Bananarama Slammers 14", he can't.

Way to trust your kid with his / her own independence.

Excuse my young age, but nice title haha. 'Bananarama Slammers 14' CLASSIC.

[davidnc]

I think at 16 yo if he was wanting to he has probably looked at those "inappropriate sites" already somehow somewhere you just don't know about it .either on a friends phone or a computer somewhere ,even libraries. They do block some "inappropriate sites" but can still be accessed though other links . .So dont get him a BB if your that worried over it in a few years he could just get his own without your help so whatcha going do then ?

[jlb21]

......Oh, and screw the Sox (yeah I'm from CT) Go YANKEES!!!

I wonder if A-Rod will continue his craptastic post-season performance trend......

[GlenB]

It seems to me that disabling "net" functionality on the phone will also disable it's use for email, BBM, facebook and countless other applications. Without the core functions of email and BBM, why bother giving someone a BB?

[BrassMonkey1010]

I don't want to sound like I'm telling you how to raise your children, but when I was 16, (I'm 19 now) my parents tried to block the "inappropriate" sites on our computers and all it ever did was teach me how to get around the blocks. Every 16 year old is going to look at that stuff, if not at home at their friends houses. Its all part of growing up.

[BrassMonkey1010]

I am always amused when teens say this. News flash, we are not your friends,
your homies or your dawgs. We are your PARENTS. Many of of us take that
responsibility very seriously. While we can't protect you from everything we do
the best we can. "Lighten up" is not an option for an all day, every day parent.
When you have your own children, you'll completely understand.

I think you need to lighten up. Jesus, you are way overprotective.

[KD8CPP]

I don't want to sound like I'm telling you how to raise your children, but when I was 16, (I'm 19 now) my parents tried to block the "inappropriate" sites on our computers and all it ever did was teach me how to get around the blocks. Every 16 year old is going to look at that stuff, if not at home at their friends houses. Its all part of growing up.

Same here. I'm 18 now, and will admit I've looked at porn sice around 12. My mom tried to block them and give me an accoun on the computer and block it from my account, and all it did was teach me to make an erd disc and change the password on the hidden administrator account. Finally when I turned 15 my mom realised that if I'm gonna look at it I'm gonna look at it, and even let me have a computer in my bedroom. A kid is gonna look at things they want to, no matter what. All blocking something is gonna do is teach them to get around thr block. Even if you have your provider block it, all he's gonna need to do is find out your pin or whatever you use to verify who you are with your provider, make up a story, and have them un block it. I'd just lighten up and let the kid have his internet.

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[KillYouWithMyMind]

Don't delete the web browser, I hear that leads to problems down the road.

Your best bet is either don't give him the phone or talk to your provider about parental controls or just getting rid of the data plan on the phone.

[tmarkt]

I think at 16 yo if he was wanting to he has probably looked at those "inappropriate sites" already somehow somewhere you just don't know about it .either on a friends phone or a computer somewhere ,even libraries. They do block some "inappropriate sites" but can still be accessed though other links .

I agree, our next door neighbor's kid had an unblocked iPhone, so I'm sure he's seen inappropriate material on it. And I'm not getting him a blackberry, I am contemplating giving him my used curve (he loves it and I want the Tour). I got my curve new and for free so it's no money out of my pocket to switch it to him.

So dont get him a BB if your that worried over it in a few years he could just get his own without your help so whatcha going do then ?

When he's 18? Nothing. He'll be an adult.

[Hoochie-Coo]

I'm confused. If you don't want him to access the internet, then why even get a blackberry with a data plan? Just get a good feature phone.

@amazinglygraceless I am a full time every day parent. "Lighten up" IS an option. So is "pull your head out". I wouldn't dream of crippling my kids phone once they hit that age. Dream world if you think crippling the phone will mean they never see porn (if they want to see it).