2. contact your cell phone carrier and ask whether the data plan can be removed from your child’s phone. if you can turn off your internet (or data plan), be aware that wifi will still be accessible through public portals. if you have an iphone, you can put restrictions on the device, which block data, internet, and most of what is wifi- accessible. before adding the restrictions, delete all social media apps on your child’s phone. for the iphone: go to setting, general, then restrictions. click “enable restrictions.” you will be prompted to set a four-digit passcode. turn off safari, installing apps, deleting apps, & in-app purchases. then click websites and choose “specific websites only.” it is best to change the four-digit passcode regularly to prevent your child from guessing the code. you can impose these restrictions on other mac/apple devices. warning: there is at least one way to disable restrictions. it is called a jailbreak tweak and can be downloaded and applied through itunes. if your child employs this tactic, i recommend taking the phone away from them. if your child has a different type of smartphone, please contact your carrier about setting restrictions. 3. turn off the camera on an iphone (and other mac/apple devices) through the restriction settings described above. once you are prompted to set the four-digit passcode, scroll down and click the camera icon to turn it off. 4. only give your child their phone and other devices when they are with a trusted adult. this means that your child will only use the phone while they are home with you. they will not take their phone with them when they leave the house, including school. this may feel inconvenient because you won’t be able to get a hold of your child as easily. as with all rules, limit the time to what works best for you and your family. 5. no doors closed while using any devices. if your child has been taking “nudes,” they should not be able to take any more with the “doors open” restriction. this restriction also helps your child make more thoughtful decisions about what they will text, post, say, or photograph because they know they are being monitored. please refer to maintenance, rules #1 and #2, for more explanation. some families choose to remove their children’s bedroom doors to enforce this restriction. 6. consider replacing your child’s smartphone with a basic call/text only phone, also known as a flip phone. unfortunately, a “call-only” mobile phone does not exist. if you choose to give your child a flip phone, texting will be one of the features included. however, your child will not have access to the internet through their flip phone. monitoring texting on a flip phone in real time can be more challenging than a smart phone although you can verify texting activity through the bill. people who share apple id’s with their child find it easier to monitor their child’s iphone texting. parental controls on smart phone and some flip phones also facilitate text monitoring. information and services are always changing so please verify these recommendations with your cell phone carrier. 7. if all else fails, take your child’s phone away completely. if you tried to enforce the rules and restrictions, and your child continues to break the rules, they should not have a phone for a minimum of one to three months. the length of restriction will depend on how your family can manage. if you removed your child’s phone, consider letting them use a landline with parent supervision. you also may consider allowing parent-supervised calls (approximately five to 10 minutes a day) for homework questions or making plans. this will require you to be sitting or standing next to your child while they are on the phone. taking your child’s phone away is usually a last resort. it is best to give your child time to learn how to use a device with limits and in moderation. banning phone use as your first choice of punishment can drive your child to become sneakier and hide even more from you. in this fast-paced, warp speed, technology-driven culture, parents must work more thoughtfully using family structures, rules, and sometimes restrictions to help their children navigate the multitude of pressures and distractions in today’s world.