Phone with only whatsapp

tekie

Is there a straightforward phone that supports only essential apps like WhatsApp? I need a device for my secondary school-age children to use WhatsApp for basic communication, without access to other apps or the app store. WhatsApp is convenient for organizing family discussions and sharing PDFs or images. Despite trying parental control applications on Android and iPhones, the children always manage to bypass them. A phone limited to specific apps removes this issue and is relatively easy to manage.

please share your thoughts and suggestions.

flaneurs_lobster

This device doesn't exist. If it did exist your kids would find a way to hack round the restrictions.

If your kids can't be trusted with smartphones then get them "feature" phones with just phone + SMS. 

You won't win this tech battle, apart from anything else their friends will have full access smartphones which can be borrowed. 

born_again

Really need to look at old school phones such as Nokia 3310? But will not have whatsapp.

Or maybe they do?

https://steemit.com/steemit/@droeithoexz90has/nokia-3310-4g-official-can-wifi-and-whatsapp-use-1a3db447d7f65

oldernonethewiser

Can the children not use SMS messaging?

Is Whatsapp needed in some way, I've never thought of it as essential but then I don't use it .

Neil_Jones

tekie said:

Is there a straightforward phone that supports only essential apps like WhatsApp? I need a device for my secondary school-age children to use WhatsApp for basic communication, without access to other apps or the app store. WhatsApp is convenient for organizing family discussions and sharing PDFs or images. Despite trying parental control applications on Android and iPhones, the children always manage to bypass them. A phone limited to specific apps removes this issue and is relatively easy to manage.

please share your thoughts and suggestions.

Any parent controls installed will be bypassed by the kids in two seconds.  And if they don't, they'll know somebody who can.

Either use a normal Android/iPhone phone and trust the children, or use a "dumb" phone that is text only.  Yes it won't do PDFs and images, but you run the risk of it not being used at all by the children.

DigForVictory

Neil_Jones said:

Any parent controls installed will be bypassed by the kids in two seconds.  And if they don't, they'll know somebody who can.

Either use a normal Android/iPhone phone and trust the children, or use a "dumb" phone that is text only.  Yes it won't do PDFs and images, but you run the risk of it not being used at all by the children.

And how, the young are formidably bright en masse.

A dumbphone may not be used but at least is something, or you can go full Luddite & send them to use charm and knock on a stranger's door & say "I need help may I please use your phone?".
There's at least a generation who survived on that, even if todays children seem to think a smartphone is a human right. They can share info by dumbphone, they can bully & be bullied by dumbphone.

This isn't a battle you can win, you just have to chose the least bad options. 

moneysaver1978

Maybe I am overlooking but how would a child bypass the app store (your account) for downloading additional apps?

I am not familar with Android but Apple devices seem to offer a robust parent control settings https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121

macy08

On Android there is this https://families.google/familylink/ which will allow OP to restrict which apps can be used and for how long.  Can also set it up to ask for parental permission to approve (or not) downloads from the play store

Neil_Jones

macy08 said:

On Android there is this https://families.google/familylink/ which will allow OP to restrict which apps can be used and for how long.  Can also set it up to ask for parental permission to approve (or not) downloads from the play store

Potentially no good once the kid turns 13 as documented on the FAQ:

https://families.google/familylink/faq/ - "When your child turns 13 (or the applicable age in your country), they have the option to graduate to an unsupervised Google Account. Before a child turns 13, parents will get an email letting them know their child will be eligible to take charge of their account on their birthday, so you can no longer manage their account. On the day they turn 13, children can choose whether they want to manage their own Google Account or continue to have their parent manage it for them. As a parent, you can also choose to remove supervision at any time when the child is over the age of 13."

No self respecting 13 year old would want their phone under their parent's supervision, surely?  Although that being said, probably nothing to stop little Johnny signing out and into another account which isn't protected.... or maybe just resetting the phone and using their own account.

As I say, the kid will find a way round whatever you put in place.

spile

As others as others have said, attempting to restrict access to technology with teenagers is a fool’s errand. A more effective approach is to engage with them and agree an appropriate “contract“.

Rob5342

moneysaver1978 said:

Maybe I am overlooking but how would a child bypass the app store (your account) for downloading additional apps?

I am not familar with Android but Apple devices seem to offer a robust parent control settings https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121

That's what I was wondering as it seems to be quite comprehensive. I'm not sure if it would stop then signing out and creating a new account to sign in with though.