In a world dominated by acronyms, emojis, and rapid digital communication, the ability to convey messages efficiently is a vital skill. ParentShield recognises this, and its unique approach to limiting SMS messages to a maximum of 320 characters isn’t just about restrictions; it’s about preparing children for a “normal” mobile network. Here’s a closer look at why ParentShield employs this approach and how it equips children for responsible and effective mobile communication.
Multi-Part Messages, Character Limits and Emojis
ParentShield’s decision to cap SMS messages at a maximum of 320 characters isn’t a random choice. It’s a well-thought-out strategy aimed at helping children understand the intricacies of mobile messaging.
- Encouraging Conciseness: ParentShield’s character limit promotes concise communication and protects from abuse. Just like in the “normal” adult mobile world, where lengthy messages might be fragmented or costly, ParentShield teaches children that clarity and brevity are essential. This skill is incredibly valuable in the fast-paced digital landscape that lies ahead.
- Navigating Emojis: Emojis have become a universal language of their own. However, including an emoji in a text message can change the rules. The presence of an emoji reduces the message part to a maximum of 70 characters. By experiencing this limitation in a controlled environment, children learn how emojis impact message length and content.
- Preventing ‘SPAM’: With young children at the helm, it’s often a tempting possibility to send pages and pages of emoji or repeated characters. ( it’s quite a soothing and satisfying activity ) but this can easily lead, unchecked, to sending as many as 255 ‘sms parts’ – meaning your child can use a whole month’s maximum allowance in one go. And encourage the recipient to reciprocate – causing older phones to crash, network congestion and many unexpected problems.
How SMS Works:
To understand the significance of character limits, here’s how SMS messages function:
- A standard SMS messages has a maximum of 160 characters available.
- If an emoji is included, it reduces the maximum number of characters available to 70.
- Consequently, an SMS message can accommodate either 70 or 160 characters, depending on the presence of emojis.
- Two-part messages, as used as the maximum on ParentShield, have a total character limit of 320 (160 characters per part). This becomes 70 per part with an emoji. ( Even a single emoji, anywhere in the message )
- Emojis themselves can count as 1 or 2 characters, depending whether it is an old style 16 bit emoji, or a newer 32 bit version.
Managing Responsible Mobile Usage
ParentShield’s philosophy extends beyond just character limits; it’s about teaching children to be responsible and considerate mobile users. Some children might send an incredible volume of emojis in a single text message, quickly depleting their monthly allowance. By understanding the value of each character, children are better prepared.
For example, on a ‘normal network’, group messages with a pages full of emojis would be allowed through and can result in many thousands of messages in one go. This is not only unnecessary and potentially abusive, but can quickly exhaust monthly allowances or lead them to accidentally breaching fair usage limits.
ParentShield: More Than Protection, It’s Preparation
Now, you can see why ParentShield caps its messages at a maximum of 320 characters. Any message longer than that will result in multiple SMS messages sent in sequence, reducing the allowance much faster and enabling the possibility of abusive communication.
ParentShield isn’t just a protective tool; it’s an education and training platform. It helps children navigate the complexities of mobile messaging, ensuring they are ready for the “normal” mobile network when the time comes. By imparting the value of brevity, teaching the intricacies of emojis, and understanding responsible communications, it prepares for an unrestricted and unmonitored mobile network.