Help please - what do I need?

watchingthepennies_2

Hi, Can anyone tech savvy help here, I have given my son a new phone and want to make sure that when he is using wifi at home that is filters out adult content. My broadband is with plusnet and we have a thomson router, it seems with this router I can block individual urls but not adult content.

Is there another inexpensive way of achieving this?
Thanks in advance

oneblondebrow

Most mobile phone network providers have parental controls on their network in which you have to verify your age to access adult content. Problem is that over wifi he wont be using the network.

Some routers have the ability to stop certain words but it doesn't sound like yours does. If he was surfing the internet on a computer you can use parental controls but on a mobile phone this is not as easy, there are parental control mobile phone apps but no idea how good they are.

Or company's use specific network hardware but that is very expensive. Maybe block him access to the wifi and call the mobile network provider to make sure they have parental control switched on, this will mean he will be using data on the network though.

Im_just_careful

As far as I know, not easily with the router you have sadly.

http://community.plus.net/library/dns/how-to-change-the-default-dns-servers-in-a-thomson-speedtouch-router/

will tell you how to use Open DNS which can then be set to filter various sites but there is a certain amount of messing around first.

If you bought a replacement modem/router (for example a Netgear) it would be easier to set up.

Do you know anyone who is "good with computers" you can ask to set this up (either following the instructions above or by installing a new router with Open DNS) ?

watchingthepennies_2

Thank you both for replies, we have turned off the wifi connection on the phone - he can use pc, laptop and ipod when home which im happy with how they are set up. Bit of a learning curve for us, we had a sky supplied router prior to this and had better options for safety etc. Will consider next router more carefully!

scooby359

I'm afraid there's no absolute answer to this as its very easy for him to turn the wifi back on, or to use any other open wifi network if he's out and about.

The other problem is that content filters provided by any network are very easy to work around - just googling it will bring up many websites telling you how to do it, and there are apps available for Android and iOS which will allow it too.

The government are blindly trying to force content filtering on all internet providers, only to be turned off where requested by the controlling adult, despite there being so many ways around it which leaves parents with a false sense of security.

Although you can make it more difficult, I can assure you that you can't stop him accessing adult material if he wants as long as he has access to any internet connected device. And to be honest, other mates with gadgets who'll share stuff.

The best solution is to have an open honest conversation with him about the birds, the bees, relationships and pornography. You also have to accept that this is the culture we have now with such open access to media of all kinds and the normalisation of sexuality in pop culture.

Chickabiddybex

How old is he? If he's gonna visit dodgey sites then the phone is the best thing he can use as he can't download an awful lot, the screen is small, don't have to worry about viruses, etc etc.

How computer savvy is he? I've never met a block I can't get around and I'm no pro. (No, before anyone asks, not for !!!!!!!)