Forum Discussion
Family Allowances seems to be some kind of joke
I'm looking into Family Allowances because I want to restrict my 10yo daughter from using her phone until early hours of the morning. She seems to be addicted. We take it away from her in the evenings, but she quite often finds it (she's very intelligent and sneaky). We tell her she isn't allowed to use it at night, but she seems driven to use it. So I decided to look into just shutting down her ability to use it.
I've heard from other parents that they can restrict all accesses based on time schedules (with their providers). T-Mobile doesn't seem to have that possibility. After reading through Family Allowances it seems it can solo restrict calls and messaging? That is useless for this situation.
I read this in T-Mobile's family allowances description:
Cronograma
- Puedes autorizar o bloquear el uso de dispositivos de tu hijos (líneas administradas) durante periodos de tiempo predefinidos, por ejemplo cuando están en la escuela (9 a.m. a 2 p.m.), mientras hacen la tarea o cenan (4 a 9 p.m.) o cuando deberían estar durmiendo (9 a 11 p.m. y 11 p.m. a 6 a.m.).
This indeed makes it sound like the "device" can be restricted, but this appears to be an outright lie based on everything else in the description. Everything else only talks about calls and messaging. Blocking the use of their "device" would mean everything can be blocked, not just calls and messaging.
Does T-Mobile have the ability to "allow or bloquear when your children (managed lines) can use their devices" as described, or are they far behind other carriers in this area?
Just so I'm on the same page with you @rglaus, are you looking for something that'll block the devices built-in functions to be blocked? Nuestra Permiso familiar is designed to restrict the phone from using services on the network. Unfortunately, we don't have a feature that we offer if you're trying to block them from accessing the phone's internal features.
Marissa,
Am I reading this correctly in that the app needs to be installed on the controlled phones as well?
That's probably not exactly a "solution" to a lot of these problems as kids are smart enough to uninstall or disable apps if they realize "Oh hey -- that's what's keeping me from getting online!" -- the solution needs to be at the network level.
Routers are now being designed with the ability to turn off devices (or groups of devices) at the network level - no way around it because it's hardware address. I think T-Mobile's solution needs to similar -- where a family can block access at the level where savvy kids cannot uninstall apps. If I'm correct in my assumption that the app is required on the child's device, the workaround is way too easy.
(Yes, there's the additional monitoring parents should do on their kid's phones, so this is a "start", but it's not particularly what I feel [as a parent of only the fur kind of kids] should be the solution T-Mobile would have brought to this request.)
I have said the very same thing, some have voice their opposition to my suggestion. I replied back stating, how I thought it was funny how they could stand up to me using a keyboard, but not their own children. I'm like you, when I disobeyed my parents I learned real quick there was consequences for my actions. They do make dumb phones, I'm willing to bet after a few times of using a "dumb" phone they will think twice about using their phones during times they are not supposed to. A point of note none of my children started out with I-phones or A-Droids they all started out with a Bar(dumb)phone and had to earn getting a touchscreen or what the latest and greatest was during that time period. .
¡Hola, @smplyunprdctble!
Your read is correct -- the app must be installed on the parent line's device and all of the devices that they wish to manage. The parent line does get a notification on their app if the app is removed from a child line's device. You're right -- it's a start! I know this isn't the place for a deep convo about personal parenting styles (I mean, what is, really?) but speaking as a parent I think it's better to think of FamilyMode as a parenting tool -- I think you're right that families will still need to have their own conversations about what their rules are and why the app is on a device in the first place.
I hadn't heard of the router scenario you mentioned, that's interesting!
Marissa (I can't tag you)
Personalizing and Controlling Your Home Network with Xfinity xFi -- that's Comcast's options. It's built into their router. The same functionality is available in my Google WiFi router, along with many other newer routers. The logic is to start controlling screen time, which the app T-Mobile is providing can do as long as it's still properly parented. I do agree that one shouldn't 100% rely on technology to parent (even though the television was my babysitter growing up).
When it's built in to the system, it's harder to circumvent. When it's an app, kids will circumvent. It's a start, but not the best. But, with it being an app, I don't know how T-Mobile's solution is any better than the other apps out there that offer similar results.
I'm not in a position to debate the options (I'm not the target consumer), but I would have thought T-Mobile would have come up with a network-side solution before (what appears to be) re-branding a third party software-based solution (that is a one-time cost of hardware vs a monthly fee).
Forget everything suggested here if your phones are Android based... just use Google Family Link. Search for it in the Google Play Store. You're welcome... *drops mic*
Yes. Family allowance is a joke. I was controlling phone calls, text, and internet with AT&T. It was free with account with their interface before I switched. I was controlling WIFI through my router. TMobile charges $5 per month for something totally useless. The only option is to take the SIM card off, I guess. Guys provide a total solution for something you are charging as a service.
Times are put in place to restrict calls?
I.e.
I blocked calls during school hours for my child but there is a gap in the time frames....
9am-2pm (where's 2pm-4pm)
4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
2 year old thread, problem still exists. What's the latest there tmo?
I have an 8 and 9 year old and decided to get them cell phones. I signed up for the Family Mode and immediately installed the apps on both phones. I then set bed time and wake time limits on each phone through the app. And what do you know...at 9pm nothing on their phones worked. Even connected to Wi-fi they weren't able to text, watch youtube, play games...nothing. They were not happy but I was oh so happy.
Mark this as not resolved. Family allowances doesn't block anything. I have the Wi-Fi well managed to shut off completely on demand. However, the internet still works for the phone via T-Mobile's network. Also, the tethering of said data to downstream PCs that would not work otherwise, because the WI-FI is shut off.
Turning the line off via Family allowances only operates on the calls and texting. The internet access achieved though T-Mobile's network is NOT disabled, despite what they say here and what the buttons & documentation say. Doesn't matter if it is Apple or Android. It shouldn't matter. The data should be stoppable at the T-Mobile server end. Otherwise, the phone user can download a free phone app (Snapchat for example) and continue on as if nothing happened.
It would be better if the phone and text messages still worked, but the Data shutoff did not. At least we can track phone calls and text messages.Being a single parent, I need to be able to locate and communicate with my teens.
Please stop advertising that the Family allowances provides any kind of useful service.
