Family account in Gmail

[sramamur]

This may have been asked here before. Is there any way to create a family account in Gmail similar to what Yahoo offers to US residents? If there is a way, can people in Canada create one as well?

Thanks a bunch,

Sri.

[DrakeWurrum]

No, there is no special Gmail family account. Really, all you need to know is the child's password and you can go into their account. There isn't any way to block e-mail addresses, but when your child gets one of those bad e-mails, (and they shouldn't get one unless they go to those bad sites and sign up with their e-mail), you could just check the box next to the message and then click the 'Spam' button.

[CryptoStorm13]

No, unfortunately there is no "family" feature to use on Gmail. An interesting idea, however, would for such a feature to be made available-for example, have Gmail accounts where your account is oriented for a family and offer parental controls, or to think in a different perspective, oriented for a work environment, and have a more business oriented tools and themes available with the Gmail service. Such customization that you suggest would be interesting to view in use for Gmail.

[cvrk3]

good suggestion! request post the same in the google groups also in gmail group! there is a possibility that it may be listened to!!

[dude66]

It would be quite good but then again i don't want anyone reading my mail for special people

[sramamur]

Haven't checked this newsgroup in a while and thanks a lot for your comments. As kids grow up, they may change the password to their email account so that parents may not be able to see what is going on. One advantage with the family accounts is that it restores parental control so that parents can check their children's accounts even though passwords may have been changed.

I am all for respecting kids privacy, but (in my humble opinion) it is worthwhile to keep an eye on their email correspondence.

Cheers,

Sri.

[Gooooogler]

Well you can opt for other softwares. there are a lot of parental control softwares around. Having a parental control email wont hurt either. But its better to get a software if you wanna keep tab on your kids overall brosing habbits.

[snafu]

Originally Posted by CryptoStorm13

No, unfortunately there is no "family" feature to use on Gmail. An interesting idea, however, would for such a feature to be made available-for example, have Gmail accounts where your account is oriented for a family and offer parental controls, or to think in a different perspective, oriented for a work environment, and have a more business oriented tools and themes available with the Gmail service. Such customization that you suggest would be interesting to view in use for Gmail.

I think this might be against Google's anti-censorship philosophy

[Miliardo Peacecraft]

Originally Posted by sramamur

I am all for respecting kids privacy, but (in my humble opinion) it is worthwhile to keep an eye on their email correspondence.

I strongly disagree. Things like pornography spark curiousity in children. If you halt them from learning more, their curiousity will develop into an obsession. It's an integral part of growing up to discover such things. You can't hide the truth. While I do believe pornography may lay a lasting negative influence and impact on a child's psyche, if you try to reason with your child and tell them exactly why they shouldn't view pornography, instead of commanding "DON'T WATCH PORN", they are less like to disobey you than if you were to block access to those sites since the children of today can easily find work-arounds to these.
It is natural for growing boys to be fascinated with the features of the opposite sex. I would advise my son against pornography, since I myself am against it however I would leave it up to his own free will.

[Arisna]

Here's a workable hack you guys can use until Google introduces family accounts:

1.) Teach children right from wrong before they learn how to type.
2.) Back off and give the kids some respect.
3.) ???
4.) PROFIT!