Ok, first: who is your ISP? Verizon? Xfinity?

Many systems now have "profiles" where you can log into the router (via an app or directly) and look at all the devices that have connected to the router. You can create a profile 'kid #1" or whatever and then create some rules, such as no connectivity after 9:00 PM or something. It's very easy to do.

If they are using LTE on their phones to connect, then you should look at creating a 'Family' group via say Apple ID and once you have done that you'll have the ability to set screen time to the children's accounts. This will limit access to their phone from certain hours or for certain apps.

Anonymous wrote:If the router is in his room, expect him to do a hard reset, load his profile so he can be on the internet, and then reload your profile.

The parents should really log into the router and change the password from the default password or the one that is written on the side of the router. Then, even if he does do a hard reset, the password will remain.

Most modern routers (especially the ones that you get from Verizon or Comcast), will have settings that will allow you to set parental controls to switch the router off at night.

However, be warned that you cannot stop the data plan on the phone. I've known some parents to find out the hard way that their child just switches from WiFi to the data plan at night and they are in for a rude awakening when they get a huge monthly bill from the child using the data plan at night.

Talk to your child and set up rules including rules for if they use the data plan at night and go over the data limits. It can be a very costly lesson for some families.

Can’t you control access to the Internet from your service providers app? Pretty sure I can do that with my xfinity app

Put a switch somewhere before the router, if you can get to the cabling somewhere. Just turn it off or unplug the cable as needed.

If the router is in his room, expect him to do a hard reset, load his profile so he can be on the internet, and then reload your profile.

Log in to the router and it often has a setting where you can lock the internet out during a certain time period.

Of course, you can disconnect from the internet provider through your router settings. Every router has a different menu/interface but usually wherever it shows your external IP address and DHCP information (some routers will have this under the "WAN settings" others under "internet settings" and still others under something generic like "settings") you can usually just disconnect or release the IP address. No internet. Make sure you're the only one with the router login password - most are set generically (e.g. "admin" "password") or have the password written on the back of the router. I'm sure your teen will be able to login easier than you unless you change the password to something only you know.

Anonymous wrote:You could just unplug it. But then he might just use phone data instead of internet.

The router is in his room! We've found that we get the best signal from there. I'll always collect his phone anyway.

You could just unplug it. But then he might just use phone data instead of internet.

I wasn't sure where to post this question but I'm sure some parent of a teen knows the answer. If I want to switch off the internet at the router, how do I do this? Is it simple? Instead of collecting all of my son's tech at night, I thought this might be simpler.