Communication app for kids

Speedster

Speedster

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My kid and her friends are looking to install an app to allow them to chat to one another on their devices. I'm hesitant to use something public (snapchat etc) where some random stranger can contact them. Also, they don't have phone numbers so number based apps aren't an option. Does anyone have a suggestion of an app they could use?
 
Speedster said:
My kid and her friends are looking to install an app to allow them to chat to one another on their devices. I'm hesitant to use something public (snapchat etc) where some random stranger can contact them. Also, they don't have phone numbers so number based apps aren't an option. Does anyone have a suggestion of an app they could use?
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Google Hangout/Meet?
 
Speedster said:
My kid and her friends are looking to install an app to allow them to chat to one another on their devices. I'm hesitant to use something public (snapchat etc) where some random stranger can contact them. Also, they don't have phone numbers so number based apps aren't an option. Does anyone have a suggestion of an app they could use?
Click to expand...
Google Hangouts will probably do the job.

 
Telegram? Safety in obscurity.
 
Our daughter and her friends do Whatsapp.

Pre-paid sim with no data and no airtime. Simply used to activate Whatsapp.

They can only use it on home Wi-Fi. We logged into her account with Web Whatsapp so can check up on the conversations and activity if needs be.

She has 3 friends, her grand parents, my wife and myself to chat with currently. Mostly very irritating voice notes the whole time.
 
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APoc184 said:
Our daughter and her friends do Whatsapp.

Pre-paid sim with no data and no airtime. Simply used to activate Whatsapp.

They can only use it on our home Wi-Fi. We logged into her account with Web Whatsapp so can check up on the conversations and activity if needs be.
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Up to what age are they monitored?
 
RedViking said:
Up to what age are they monitored?
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My 14 year old is still monitored - and a good thing too.

Monitoring resulted in a complete loss of cellphone privileges due to various 'out of hand' conversations and interactions (3 strike rule).

She now uses Hangouts on her PC to communicate with her close circle.

She is a happier child since the phone was confiscated. Hated it at first, but a couple of weeks ago 'confessed' to me that she's glad we stepped in so drastically.

School marks have improved too as a nice bonus.

Phone time was controlled via the Parental Controls (I think it was 2 hours per day max allowed time, may even have been less) but automated controls only go so far - it doesn't allow you to evaluate the content of their interactions. Will probably get her phone back after final exams but will continue to actively monitor until at least age 16 (depending on the maturity level reached).

Edit: My wife doesn't take kuk - as she says to me "You're a man, you have no idea what we women get up to so you just leave me to enforce discipline with our daughters - ja nee, I'm not going to argue :laugh:"
 
APoc184 said:
Good question. Honestly, I don't know the correct answer.

We have only checked up once and never again. It has been 3 months now since she started.

We would rather build a trust relationship with her.
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Ja nee - that was my approach too - my wife humoured me for about 4 months but then started picking up stompies from the girls and overruled my 'liberal tendencies' - unannounced phone audits were conducted :ROFL: much to the chagrin of the girls.

In hindsight, I'd say it was good that we went the 'trust' relationship route first to allow for exploration but the establishment of boundaries that are enforced and have consequences after it was clear that my kids are 'dead normal' ie they catch on all the same kuk that we caught on when you thought you could get away with, has also worked very well.

Gave them enough rope to hang themselves with :ROFL:

We have a good balance now and I stay out of the way when my wife does the disciplining :laugh:
 
Speedster said:
My kid and her friends are looking to install an app to allow them to chat to one another on their devices. I'm hesitant to use something public (snapchat etc) where some random stranger can contact them. Also, they don't have phone numbers so number based apps aren't an option. Does anyone have a suggestion of an app they could use?
Click to expand...
Zello
 
Setup a Discord with a role gate and you are the only admin, Give them a role that can access one channel, disable the ability to invite to the server only you can do that.
 
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