T-Mobile has just unveiled a new feature called FamilyMode. This service basically offers a couple of things -- to serve as a parental control mobile app that allows moms and dads to monitor what their children are doing online with cellular data in or out of the house, and as a means for managing their kids’ Wi-Fi connected handsets (smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, and even smart TVs).
Upfront, the new FamilyMode service costs $20, and then ten bucks each month. It should be noted that those availing of the feature will get to receive the home Wi-Fi device that tracks various web connected gadgets, and of course, the aforementioned FamilyMode mobile app that allows parents to manage and supervise Internet usage and access. According to the official press release from T-Mobile, the device and app FamilyMode bundle should start to become available this coming June 29th.
School nights are always a concern for parents, especially if their kids appear to be more eager to play mobile games than do their homework. One of the things that make the FamilyMode service so cool is that it allows grown-ups to set daily web limits on various mobile apps or platforms. For instance, they can choose to give their kid Internet access for just an hour on every weekday.
The FamilyMode feature also lets parents decide which websites, apps, and platforms their children can access at any given time. Facebook may be the most popular social media platform in the planet, but kids at a certain age may not be ready for it yet. Parents should be able to restrict Facebook access in favor of, say, YouTube Kids.
As for those kids who need web access to complete their homework, the FamilyMode service should help their parents grant them access to the right websites. The feature happens to come with tools for pausing and resuming web access. Moreover, moms and dads also get to filter out any content or app that is not appropriate for young audiences. For instance, Minecraft and other educational apps should be good, but Steam and Twitch not so much.
Parents also can use the FamilyMode feature to determine which websites their kids are frequenting, or which mobile apps routinely attract the most level of usage. While it is true that the information superhighway does offer websites that are genuinely good for kids, too much of a good thing can still lead to harm. This should apply to mobile app usage, too.
Lastly, T-Mobile’s FamilyMode service also can provide assistance in locating kids. Via real time location information, parents can rest assured that their children are where they should be.
