OT: Pausing the Internet

[cookderosa]

Does anyone have feedback or comments on the Torch Router? It's a new product that I've seen a lot of advertising for and probably appeals to other parents besides myself. I'm considering getting it for the start of the school year, but since I'm not especially tech-savvy, I'm not sure if it is as good as I think it will be for the price. It's a $250 router.

Here's their pitch:

Torch is a smart, WiFi Router, here to help parents harness the power of technology.

• Pause Button. Pause the internet with the push of a button for the whole house or for specific profiles.
• Bedtimes. Set customized bedtimes for each child.
• Filtering. Block inappropriate content.
• Reporting. See your children’s browsing history in real-time, and how much time they spend online.
• The very latest in wireless standards. Enterprise grade technology.

Successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter and named a “Staff Pick” by the Kickstarter staff!


https://mytorch.com/


So I love the concept of customizing profiles. I have a huge age span here: 11, 15, 17, 21, and obviously they have different rules and expectations. I'd love to be able to put a bedtime on the 3 school age kid's devices. They don't have computers in their rooms or cell phones, but they all have hand-held things like Kindle, iPod, etc. and so I know they all browse endlessly.

Anyone else see this product or have experience with it?

[SweetSecret]

I'm loving that you can pause specific profiles & set bedtimes! We just had a house full of children visiting, along with S.O.'s college freshman daughter for the summer. The latter stays up all night on the internet and sleeps away most of the day. We've been teaching her how to drive, and her lack of sleep actually worries me with the driving.

[Prloko]

Are you going to be able to see the browsing habits of your 21 year old? To me personally, that is an invasion of their privacy. Not sure if you can turn it off for them. But it's your home, your rules, and your business. Just something to consider.

[SweetSecret]

Are you going to be able to see the browsing habits of your 21 year old? To me personally, that is an invasion of their privacy. Not sure if you can turn it off for them. But it's your home, your rules, and your business. Just something to consider.

She's 18, and it's not my daughter (S.O.'s who treats her like she's 12) so it's not really up to me to decide what she's looking at per say. On the other hand, the situation is a bit complicated since I'm the only one in the house with a valid driver's license. I'd have no problem instituting a "no internet after midnight" policy to get her to sleep if she wants her morning driving lessons from me. SO is more a back seat instructor since he doesn't have a valid driver's license.

[Prloko]

She's 18, and it's not my daughter (S.O.'s who treats her like she's 12) so it's not really up to me to decide what she's looking at per say. On the other hand, the situation is a bit complicated since I'm the only one in the house with a valid driver's license. I'd have no problem instituting a "no internet after midnight" policy to get her to sleep if she wants her morning driving lessons from me. SO is more a back seat instructor since he doesn't have a valid driver's license.

I was actually responding to Jennifer.

[timblackwell]

These two devices seems like it does the same thing but cheaper

KoalaSafe costs $99, with no additional monthly fee.

Learn more: https://koalasafe.com/

Circle costs $99, with no additional monthly fee. At this time, Circle is only available to be shipped within the US, and also requires an iOS device or Android to run the parent management app.

Circle recently added Circle Go, so that devices can be managed with the same settings even when out of the home, over 4G or other Wifi networks.

Read my full review of Circle
Learn more: http://meetcircle.com

[cookderosa]

Are you going to be able to see the browsing habits of your 21 year old? To me personally, that is an invasion of their privacy. Not sure if you can turn it off for them. But it's your home, your rules, and your business. Just something to consider.

Probably. There is no privacy in my house, sorry lol. You know where there is privacy? His apartment. As soon as he moves there, he'll have all the privacy he wants.

EDIT to add: this doesn't upset him, he has no expectations of privacy.

[dfrecore]

Probably. There is no privacy in my house, sorry lol. You know where there is privacy? His apartment. As soon as he moves there, he'll have all the privacy he wants.

EDIT to add: this doesn't upset him, he has no expectations of privacy.

I'm with you!

My kids are younger, but I have set them up with the expectation that "to be considered an adult, with all of the adult privileges, you have to have the adult responsibility - which means moving out on your own and supporting yourself!" Until then, my house, my rules...

If they got to live with us and HAVE adult privileges already, there would not be a lot of incentive to leave!!! I want to give them a LOT of incentive to go. :-)

[videogamesrock]

Parenting, I don't know how you guys do it.

[LaterBloomer]

Ditto, videogamesrock!

Is it true that groups like AA recommend that you not enter into relationships until you can keep a plant alive for one year? If so, I've never passed that test. Just think of the lucky children that I didn't birth!