Hi! My less-than-10-year-old has their own iPad (registered under my apple id) and wants to be able to “text” with the rest of the family. Most of us are not Apple people though: Android phones, using some combo of SMS, Discord, and Signal. The little one doesn’t have a phone, so I think that prevents us from signing them up for Signal. I could probably install Discord on the iPad, though it doesn’t feel ideal. They use iMessage (or whatever it’s called) to text a couple other friends/grandma/etc who also have Apple stuff, but what should we use for our mostly-non-Apple family that wouldn’t require a phone number?
An internet search pointed me to WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber… stuff I’ve never used but it seems popular. Facebook Messenger also, but screw that. Google Chat/Hangouts (or whatever it’s called now) is another option, which would require creating a google account.
If nothing else appeals to me we’ll probably go the Discord route, and I’ll just have to be clear, don’t join random servers :) But, anybody out there use WhatsApp with your kid, and does it not require a phone number? I’m open to other ideas! Thank you…
You could use Matrix. https://matrix.org/ecosystem/clients/ if you’re trying to not sign up for an account on the big platforms.
Matrix is the best
Step 1 - create a child account for them. Do not share an AppleId with them.
Second - this may feel a bit old fashioned - but have a look at downloading Skype
- Free
- Cross platform
- No phone number needed
- chat as well as audio/video calls.
Ok, I took your advice, bit the bullet and created the child account. Much better! I now have “Ask to buy” set up, and screen time and all that good stuff. I should’ve done this earlier. thanks for that! Skype seems like a decent alternative too… I’ll definitely consider it (though the easy option right now is seeming like Discord, just because the rest of us are on it already). Thanks!
Enjoy. Feel free to message me if you get stuck. Also check out the screen time and parental control options in iOS Settings - they are pretty good for setting limits on what a little’un can do and for how long.
Yes! I’ve started using those already. Good stuff. Unfortunately the Content Restrictions seem to block Roblox completely, no matter how I configure it… so I’ll have to leave those off, but that’s probably ok. The iPad is mostly used supervised anyway. Thank you again!
Slack? Threema?
Second Threema, just username and it generates ID
Edit: its only 2 * $3ma dollars
Signal, if you are looking for secure 1-1 and small-group chat & voice/video. Matrix if you are looking for community group chat stuff, like slack.
Simplex.chat might work for you.
I would suggest Element (Matrix) and if you want to step it up you can host your own server (synapse) for your family and still be connected with other servers through federation, just like with Lemmy. The good part is that your kid does not need a phone number to use it.
Other good alternatives like Signal do require a phone number.
Matrix could be nice, it’s similar to Discord but it’s private. You can even set up your own server. Signal is another great option, very secure and user friendly, but IIRC it needs a phone number (unless something changed).
Matrix via Element
If you’re ok with signup by phone number (can be burner phone number), Telegram and Signal are options. Depending on country, if you’re unlucky you’d need to cycle through a few numbers that works for Telegram, Signal has no such problems
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Session.
Looks cool… a fork of Signal without the phone number requirement. I’ll consider it, thanks!
WhatsApp is owned by FB btw
If you guys have gmail accounts, use Google Chat.
I’m a big fan of Microsoft Teams; full featured chat with easy voice and video calls, and you can sign up with any e-mail address (even non-Microsoft accounts).
