I'VE JUST BECOME AWARE THAT MY 12 YEAR OLD'S CELL PHONE PLAN PROVIDES
NO SECURITY LEVELS FOR THE INTERNET OR AOL INSTANT MESSAGING. I AM
VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE MY SON AND HIS FRIENDS CONTINUE TO LEAVE
PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION (CELL PHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, ETC) ON
THEIR MYSPACE POSTINGS. TMOBILE (MY CARRIER) TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING
THAT CAN BE DONE AND THAT ANYONE CAN IM A CHILD AND PROBABLY BE
UNTRACEABLE. FURTHER, ON A COMPUTER THERE IS A HISTORY OF WEB SITES
VISITED AND THERE IS NO HISTORY ON THE CELL FOR ITS INTERNET ACCESS.
MY SOON-TO-BE EX-HUSBAND FEELS THAT "ALL THE KIDS HAVE THIS AND
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT AND WE'LL JUST TELL HIM TO BE
CAREFUL AND HE'S NOT AN IDIOT." WELL.DATELINE JUST DID A PIECE ON
INTERNET DANGERS AND THE IGNORANCE OF PARENTS AND I AM VERY CONCERNED.
I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THERE SEEMING TO BE ONLY TWO OPTIONS: NO
INTERNET AND NO IM'ING OR JUST HOPING FOR THE BEST, HAS ANYONE COME UP
WITH A REASONABLE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS BEYOND THE ALMOST FRUITLESS
ADMONITIONS OF "BE CAREFUL AND LEAVE NO PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE
INTERNET OR WHEN YOU'RE IM'ING".  IT SEEMS THAT THE POTENTIAL TO
ENGAGE KIDS ON A CELL VIA MYSPACE INFORMATION GLEANED IS NOT BEING
ADDRESSED BY THE FCC OR CELL PHONE COMPANIES. I'M GOOD WITH MY KID
HAVING PRIVACY BUT NOT ABSOLUTE PRIVACY AND YEAH, I WOULD WANT THE
OPTION TO CHECK UP IN THE EVENT I BEGAN TO SUSPECT DARK STUFF LOOMING.
THANKS.

You could get them phones that do not have Internet access, or allow
you to block the access, and tell T-Mobile you do not want the phone
to be able to send text messages, only allow incoming.

THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE. MY KID, PROUDLY, WON THE PHONE FROM HIS
MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGAZINE DRIVE FOR SELLING THE MOST MAGAZINES. WE'RE
SIMPLY CHASING AFTER NEW TECHNOLOGY AND HOW TO MANAGE.