No Ability to Block Explicit Websites/Apps on my child's smartphone!!?

[kelloggs]

I am shocked that ATT does not offer parental controls for websites visited and apps downloaded that have explicit or 17+ content.  Sprint had this and it was great.  I just assumed ATT would too.  They allow parents to set time limits, but what about content limits!!?

[ATTDelia]

Hello kelloggs.  Thanks for your post.  The current Smart Controls from AT&T are  consistently being updated.  Thank you for your feedback.  I am certainly going to pass it along!

~Delia

[purplejar]

I would like to know why ATT has discontinued web filtering. My son has a Samsung Rugby II phone and I cannot block porno sites from his phone. I am not concerned with the amount of  time spent on the web as I am with the content!!! I cannot even download an app for it. Because it is  not an i phone or smart phone. He has found a web site that has all the free porn video you can imagine. and you don't have to buy it or download it! Porn Hub has it all. I am very disheartend about this and may have to change wireless carrier. I have been with ATT for a very long time. Why would ATTeven stop such an option!!!!!!!

[purplejar]

Are we the only ones that would like to see web filtering brought back to att wireless????

[purplejar]

It seems like no one else cares if their teenager has the ability to view free porn videos on their phones. My sons phone is not a smart phone but you can view videos. It is a Samsung Ruby II flip phone and I cannot filter what he looks at. WOW WHAT A JOKE

[virgodee]

I just asked about this today. I totally agree. This is a much needed service!  I cannot believe AT&T is lagging with this technology!

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kelloggs wrote:

I am shocked that ATT does not offer parental controls for websites visited and apps downloaded that have explicit or 17+ content.  Sprint had this and it was great.  I just assumed ATT would too.  They allow parents to set time limits, but what about content limits!!?

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[r.ashley]

Just so everyone knows the service they have to block explicit content costs quite a bit and only works on certain phones. My son pointed that out to me not too long ago on his phone. It's not worth the money. Sad but true. At&t is severely slacking.

[r.ashley]

Oh for the moms whose kids have smart phones there's a free app the android store has its called kids place. It doesn't block porn but you can choose to not list internet as an app they use unless ur by them. Also just an fyi they can use Facebook now to view explicit images as well

[PK070205]

It amazes me that people think blocking explicit websites is just for children.

If your looking for FREE no strings attach content filtering the other 3 big carriers offer it for free.

Verizon: Family Safeguards & Controls - Content Filters = FREE

T-Mobile: Web Guard = FREE

Sprint: Content Filter = FREE

[alohatony]

We NEED the web guard feature that Tmobile has - to block all pornography on cell phones. I just switched from Tmo and didn't know that AT&T doesn't have this feature. 

I will have to switch my 4 lines back to Tmobile if you don't have this. 

[Busternutt]

Why not just be a parent? If you know your kids are going to porn sites (and it sounds like you do), take the phone away.

Why is it ATT's responsibility to keep your kids away from porn? Keep blaming others and your sons are going to end up in a courtroom just like those guys at Vanderbuilt........"not my fault, it was the culture I was raised in".

[PK070205]

Maybe ATT and other corporate entities should show a little corporate responsibility and filter porn by default (which is nothing more than the exploitation women). Then if they still want it they can ask there wives and daughters if it would be okay to remove the filters. The harmful effects of porn are real (do a little research on the harmful effects of porn).

[Busternutt]

I'm not arguing the effects of porn; I'm arguing that the parents need to be the filter, not ATT (or Verizon, or TMo, or Sprint). Be a parent. If you KNOW your kids are viewing porn on their phone, take it away from them. My kids grew up before the era of mobile phones, but I took away the car keys when they went somewhere I told them not to.

Where do you want ATT censorship to stop? Just with porn. Maybe I want Mormon sites filtered (who wants more than one wife anyway?). Maybe my neighbor wants Islamic sites filtered. What about the guy that wants anything to do with recreational drug use filtered? Contraception? Alcohol? STD's?

You can't shelter your kids from that stuff. But you can teach them the difference between right and wrong and to make the right decision, even in the face of peer pressure.

[Anonymous]

This isn't a content filter but if you log into your att wireless account and click view details under your sons wireless number you can click turn members data on/off. That is what I do for my kids when they abuse their privleges. I rule with abuse it you lose it policy. 

[lizdance40]

I agree. There is no substitute for supervision and consequences.
When my kids first got cell phones (just before smart phones) we had an excess text problem, I took away the phone.
When data was no longer free and one kids was YouTube crazy, I turned data off on his phone.

Talk about a punishment worse than death! The pier pressure and teasing is tremendous on kids. Losing their phone or having data turned off is mortifying for kids.

I also turned off wifi and Internet access at a certain hour each night.