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Monitoring the costs of service doesn’t take care of monitoring your kids’
mobile phone behavior, such as which services or information they access
on their mobile phones. Even though the task requires a bit of finessing, it
must be done — just as monitoring their Internet access must be done Here
are the differences in mobile phones and mobile Internet services versus
Internet services:
- Mobile screens are smaller.
- Mobile keyboards are smaller.
- Mobile devices can be used in any room of the house or in any park or
public space to connect to whoever and whatever users want.
Keeping tabs on your kids definitely isn’t as easy as looking over their
shoulders while they’re sitting in front of the family computer in the dining
room, is it?
After providing kids with mobile phones and Mobile Internet service
access, parents need to do their best to stay aware and maintain control of
their kids’ mobile Internet lifestyles. You need to keep a close eye on these
individuals:
- The people your children call and the people they get calls from:
This strategy is one of the simplest ways to keep tuned in to your kids’
mobile phone use. Listen in on a few conversations and ask questions
about who usually calls them. You can also always look at their mobile
phone call logs and their phone bills (usually available on the carrier’s
Web site). If you don’t recognize the names or numbers listed, place a
call to find out. Just be conscious of your children’s own respect for
privacy when doing so — you don’t want them to be upset that you’re
checking in on their call activities.
- The people in your children’s mobile phone Contacts lists or buddy
lists: Another simple way to check in on your kids is to look at their
Contacts list on their mobile phone. Some may have nicknames, so
make a list and then spend time with your children to discuss who those
contacts are and whether they’re friends or people they usually communicate
with. Don’t be offended by the nicknames your kids may have for
their peers and other people — remember kids will always be kids. If
you’re offended by some of the names listed, talk with your children
about changing them to something better or putting real names in their
contact lists.
- The people your kids receive text messages from and the ones they
reply to: You can always check your children’s message logs to view
sent or received messages. Out of respect for your children, you should
also let them know that you will do so periodically so that they’re aware
of your interest in their text messaging use. If you’re concerned about
the frequency of text messaging or the types of reactions your children
make when text messaging, let them know.
- The people (and services) your kids are connecting with in mobile
Internet cyberspace: Again, all mobile phone transactions are kept in
various logs and reports on your kids’ mobile phones. Just like your
computer, most mobile phones have history, cookie, and bookmark
capabilities for you to view what your kids are doing on their mobile
browsers. Some mobile phones have more detailed reports than others.
Check the mobile phone user manual for details on what’s available on
your children’s mobile phones. Don’t forget that some kids may clear
their messages and browsing histories so that they don’t leave any
unwanted cybertrails of their activities, just like they probably do on
their computers. Our best advice for mobile Internet use, as with
Internet use on a computer, is to keep an open dialogue with your kids
to let them know they should be as careful surfing the mobile Internet as
the computer Internet. You may also be interested in restricting your
children’s access to mature content on the mobile Internet.
Another way to find more detailed information on the time, date, and duration
of mobile phone activities is on your children’s mobile phone billing
statements. Here are some tips:
- If you’re uncertain about the numbers on the billing statement:
Write them down, ask your children to help identify who they belong to,
and, if you feel that you must know right away, call or text the number
yourself to identify the person at the other end of the line.
- If this monitoring approach upsets your children: Be aware that
they may not necessarily be hiding anything, but may more likely be
embarrassed by the possibility of their friends finding out that you’re
checking up on them. Be sure to explain to your children why you’re
checking, if you do, and be careful about the calls you make just to
say hello, in a friendly manner, on behalf of your children. Or, send a
simple text message just to confirm that you know who your children
are communicating with.
- If you don’t like the response or the people your children are communicating
with: Talk to your children first to try to find out what the problem
is, and report any suspicious activities to the authorities (and your
wireless carrier) if you feel that something isn’t quite right about the
types of people or communications going on.
Wireless carriers also make details available about mobile phone activities,
and you can request a report detailing your children’s mobile-phone voice,
text messaging, and Web browsing use. You may spend some time obtaining
the report, and you may be required to request the information by e-mail or
letter with complete copies of your and your children’s identification. This
strategy protects not only you but also your children from the release of any
other nonauthorized information about either of you.
An excellent way to change your kids’ behavior is to set a good example for
them. Monitor your own use of the mobile phone, and share the results with
your kids. This way, you treat them as equals. You can also offer a deal with
your kids: If they will adhere to the guidelines that you have agreed on, you
will too.
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