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Parental Control

TODO

This article is a work in progress.

The document for this roadmap item is structured as follows;

  • one or more problem spaces need to be articulated,

  • one or more contexts within which the problem spaces exist need to be articulated,

  • one or more elaborations on various aspects relevant to resolving the problem spaces (within certain contexts) need to be articulated,

  • candidate solutions need to be proposed, and evaluated (against the extent to which solutions resolve problem spaces), including ultimately invalid solutions.

Problem Space(s)​

Parental controls provide guardians the means to control, restrict, permit or validate the applications installed on, and usage of, a child's mobile device.

If not properly implemented, parental control features could quickly and irrepairibly damage a trust relationship built up carefully over years and years, or inadvertently under-expose children to the experiences and tools they will undoubtedly encounter later in life.

For example, if the child is not aware of the extent to which guardians have control and/or insights, but discovers it having happened, it could be experienced as a betrayal.

Further consideration should include varying guardians' attitude towards raising children, such as cultural and societal differences, and changes therein, as well as an ever-evolving technology landscape (including the rise and fall of platforms, good and bad).

Children are uniquely positioned to find factory resetting their devices to bypass parental controls, even if a solution is used preventing the standard course of action to factory reset (i.e. through Settings > System > Reset Options), such as pressing and holding "Volume Down" and "Power On", or switching the SIM card to another device.

Context(s)​

The mobile device is an Internet-connected smartphone.

The guardians buy the device for their children, but want to be able to avoid some if not all of the negative aspects of a child's online exposure (i.e. privacy, cyber-bullying, body dysmorphia, grooming, brain-rot, pay-to-win in-app purchases, homework assistance, ...).

Common parental control methods include;

  • application activity reports
  • limitations on screen time
  • managing content and purchases (approve / decline apps, in-app purchases)
  • restricting which applications may be installed on the device
  • monitoring the location of devices
  • capturing the contents of communications

In other words, existing technology does not provide sufficiently specific controls to provide guardians and children a trust-based, cooperative environment.

Elaboration(s)​

This section of the document elaborates on problem spaces and candidate approaches to resolve the problem space(s) (semantically, not technically).

In designing a solution, we would likely also need to take in to account that guardians may not always know what's best. Psychological and physiological developments in young brains are impacted by the use of certain applications and platforms, but not others, both negatively and positively -- there's probably a difference between "TikTok" and "Curiosity Stream".

The Dinner Table​

This approach would focus on the concept of "having a dinner table conversation" between parent and child at all stages of whatever implications the parent's policy has on the abilities of the child (in the operation of the mobile device).

The child might wish to install something, or register to a platform, or add a contact to their address book (including but not limited to a new WhatsApp, Telegram, (...) contact).

It should largely be left to the parent and child, what policy facilitates a "dinner table conversation" -- meaning, the parent could choose a policy of "inform and consent", resulting in a parental approval block, or the parent could choose a policy of "unleash, but inform" (or possibly, anything in between).

Guide the Child, Inform the Parent​

This approach would interrupt the installation routine of an application (or registration routine to an online platform) with an advisory to the child, possibly ranging from "Don't do it!" to "Please be aware that (...)", and maybe including a sort of congratulatory message.

The child would thus be more informed, and could still choose to continue.

The parent would be informed.

This approach would, in general form, not be mutually exclusive with the "Dinner Table" elaboration.

Questions to resolve;

  • Would the parent also be informed about subsequent application usage (in terms of "hours per day")?

  • Would the parent be allowed to list "absolutely not under any circumstance" applications/platforms?

  • Would the parent still have an opportunity to "revert"?

Solution to Factory Reset Vector​

There are two ways to prevent a device from being factory reset circumventing parental controls:

  1. Remove or prevent access to all exposed surfaces to factory reset functionality
  2. Replace running software such that it can only enroll in to a parental control program

Solution to Second Device Vector​

Assuming that it is the guardian who, on behalf of the child, purchases service from a mobile telecommunications provider, the service entitlement should probably be an eSIM, so that children can not bypass parental control through a second device.

Incentive Program​

TL:DR; Somehow reward desired behaviour (as opposed to punishing undesired behaviour)

Solution(s) & Validation(s)​

The following components are necessary / need changing to complete delivery of the solution;

  • a SetupWizard that allows guardians to enroll in to a parental control service

  • a subsequent (OTA) replacement of the software on the device (preventing factory reset vectors)

  • a SetupWizard (or alike) first-start boot mode, that requires the device to be re-enrolled,

  • a remotely configurable LPA for eSIM (re-)provisioning,

  • some communication facility between the device and the parental control service allowing for reports, notifications, etc.

  • TBD