Safety Net
Do your children use Vodafone live! Mobile Internet? Find out how to filter inappropriate content from their mobiles by registering them as under 18.
What is Safety Net?
Safety Net is Vodafone's access control system that filters out inappropriate mobile internet content for users under 18 - provided they have been registered as under 18 with Vodafone.
You can register them:
- At any Vodafone store (with photo ID)
- From their My Vodafone account (sign in required)
Our filtering system is maintained by one of the top classification companies in the world, which assesses millions of websites.
I am trying to access a site and it is blocked - why?
Sites may be blocked if the filtering company has given it a classification that would make it unsuitable for under 18s. If you are not under 18, your profile may need to be updated - you can verify your age with photo ID at any Vodafone store.
If you believe a service or website is being filtered incorrectly, you can report the website URL here, along with your comments.
How does Safety Net work?
Safety Net blocks genres of content to under 18s, rather than individual websites or services.
Our international classification company attributes a genre (such as 'shopping') to each website it assesses. If that genre is regarded as inappropriate for under 18s, then the website or service will be filtered.
Typically, the websites and services filtered for under 18s are categorized under these genres:
- Alcohol/tobacco
- Gambling
- Illegal drugs
- Pornography
- Violence/hate/racism
- Weapons
Are there different controls for different ages?
Yes.
The 'Child' profile is the most restrictive profile - for example, it blocks sites classified as 'Social Networking'.
Parents can select a 'Teen' profile for children between 15 and 18 if they feel it is more appropriate. This profile allows access to social networking services.
I don’t want my child to see certain web pages. Is Safety Net a net nanny?
Safety Net works like a net nanny in that it filters internet content whether it is designed for a mobile phone or a PC.
If you want your child to have their mobile internet access filtered, you should first check that their correct date of birth is registered with Vodafone.
To ensure they benefit from future Safety Net service upgrades, verify their age by bringing photo ID to a Vodafone store.
This will also give you 'Parental Access', allowing you to see billing and other information related to your child's account - even if they have a prepay phone.
How do I know that content on YouTube and MySpace is suitable for my child or teenager to view?
You should have a look at the service provided by YouTube and MySpace and specifically look at the advice for parents on these sites. Only you can decide whether you are happy that your child has access to the type of content that may be available there.
Expert advice suggests you sit down and discuss web and mobile usage with your child and come to an agreement. You can get good advice from independent websites like Webwise.ie.
Even if your child is aged 15 to 18, they will not get access to YouTube or MySpace unless you choose a 'Teen' profile for them. And you can still choose to attach a 'Child' profile to your older child's phone.
Report a site
- You feel it should not be accessed by those under 18
- It is blocked to you when you should be able to access it
What else can I do?
Control who can call you or your child's mobile with Safety Net Mobile Manager.