Introducing The ‘First’ SIM Card That Deters Child Bullies

In this day and age of modern technology, some argue that possession of a mobile phone by older children brings many security benefits, like keeping tabs on their whereabouts, checking who they’re interacting with and being able to contact them whenever you like. However, most parents will probably also be conscious of the “darker side” of mobile technology, such as the malicious use of social media apps like Facebook or Twitter, or just abusive texting. Increasingly there have been some very distressing incidents where trolls and cyber bullying have had terrible consequences for the victims. As all this data exists “in the ether” it’s very difficult if not impossible to control. However, there is a solution now, in the form of a new SIM card that allows both control of contacts and when the phone can be in used.

Vodafone has become the first network to help parents control their child’s mobile phone, by using a SIM card which is remotely managed by computer. The system, developed by Bemilo, allows parents to control when their children go online, text or places time restrictions on calling. The service works by the means of a safety pack that has a special PAYG SIM card inside it which parents can buy from £2.95 a month.

SIM Card Safety

The chairman of Bemilo, Simon Goff explained that it operates just like any other type of SIM card but just allows parents to take complete control of their child’s mobile safety. Parents can choose who contacts them, read their texts and even switch the phone on and off remotely. The beauty of this system is that the child won’t be able to turn the SIM card off. However as a safety precaution the child will always be able to contact their parents and vice versa, even when the phone is disabled.

According to a report by the NSPCC, teenage girls have increasingly come under pressure to perform carry out “sexting” which involves sending sexually explicit images of themselves via their mobiles. It would also stop a child or teenager from visiting offensive or inappropriate web sites. Dr Rake from the Family and Parenting Institute said she thought the initiative was a step in the right direction, and that this new SIM card would help protect more children from mobile bullying.

There are also some other aspects of teenagers behaviour that this SIM card will undoubtedly improve. It’s easy to assume that when your teenager has gone to bed, that they’ve gone to sleep. Finding a sleep deprived child in the morning having been texting and on social media sites well into the night. Of course there is another cheaper and simpler solution, take your teenagers mobile away from them at night and give it back to them in the morning!