Vodafone UK has launched a free Android app called Vodafone Guardian that’s designed to help parents and carers protect young people from inappropriate use of the internet and unwanted calls and texts.
Children and parents can arrange for certain calls or text messages to be blocked - and internet access can be restricted at certain times of the day. Individual applications can also be blocked. The Guardian application can be password protected, with unauthorised changes sending a text alert to the parent or carer.
Vodafone Guardian has been developed by Vodafone’s charitable arm, The Vodafone Foundation. It’s been announced at the same time as a new Digital Parenting app that tells tells parents everything they need to know about a child’s digital world.
Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Young Families, said “I warmly welcome both the Vodafone Guardian App and the Vodafone Digital Parenting App as they are important tools that will help parents to protect their children. This is an excellent example of business playing their part and working with families to restrict children’s access to inappropriate content on the internet. The apps will also help improve parents’ confidence and knowledge of new technology so they are able to talk to their children and warn them of the dangers in their digital lives.”
Figures from Ofcom indicate that 18% of 5 to 11 year olds in the UK now own a smartphone, rising to a third of 12 to 15 year olds.