Boomerang uses the Call Logs and SMS permissions in a transparent manner (discloses & prompts for access to them on install) as we need these permissions for our safe calling and safe texting features.
Google is proposing that Boomerang stop using these permissions effective March 9th otherwise they will remove Boomerang from the Google Play store.
We believe that Boomerang deserves an exception under Google’s permitted use of Caller ID, spam detection, and spam blocking. We totally fit into this exception; No parent wants strangers to be able to call their young child!
We have filled out the paperwork and await Google's decision. However, we are mystified at what Google means by stating that this must be Boomerang’s “core” functionality. That’s like having 3 kids and Google asking, which kid is your favorite!
We love all the features in Boomerang equally and I am sure that you do too. If you use our safe calling and safe texting features, please make a comment below and tell us (and Google) that you deem this “core” to Boomerang.
Note: To make a comment, you have to sign in and this support system is separate from Boomerang's Login so requires a separate sign up. If easier just email your feedback to us at: support@nationaledtech.com; Thanks!
Comments
75 comments
As a dad, I need to be in the loop of my minor children's communications so that I can help them learn to be use tech responsibly *and* safely.
I use Boomerang's ability to monitor SMS messages and call logs to support parenting in the 21st century
I've been using Boomerang for a few years now. It has been essential for the safety of my daughters that I have access to know all their activities on their phones. I have full confidence in the developers of this app, that is both safe and secure and should definitely be exempted from Google's policy against malicious apps, and continue to be offered in the Google Play app store.
These features are absolutely essential and should not be forced to remove. Through this feature, I got to know that my kid received harassing SMS from unknown person and I am able to work out a plan with school officer. Please KEEP it. Boomerang should be exempted from this policies.
Completely Agree. This is the best parental app out there. Please do not remove it from Play Store and continue to allow Boomerang to continue to access call logs and SMS messaging. This is invaluable to keep our children safe! It give our kids freedom, yet allows us as parents to know they are safe. Do the right thing.
This tool is invaluable. I use it on 3 different devices to monitor my kids. It's how I learned my daughter was being bullied and had a possible stalker. Google, leave this application alone and give it the permissions it needs.
Boomerang definitely deserves an exception under Google’s permitted use of Caller ID, spam detection, and spam blocking. The safe calling and safe texting feature is essential to the app, and is one of the reasons I use Boomerang. This app has allowed our child to safely use electronic devices!
Please give Boomerang the exception! We paid for the app for those essential features.
I also support the need for the Boomerang App to utilize the Call Logs and SMS permissions for its safe calling and safe texting features.
Just the other day, my 11 year old son's friend included him on a group text to solicit donations for a school fundraiser. Many of the kids did not know who the others were on the thread and were questioning who each kid was. A number of the kids disclosed their names and schools to complete strangers and then it took a turn with kids insulting and cussing at each other. Fortunately I was able to see the situation unfold by receiving warning emails from Boomerang about all of the unknown people texting my son (over 50 texts) and was able to talk to him before he got involved.
Google, we need Boomerang and ALL of its features.
GOOGLE needs to pull it together, we as parents need this app to fully function to keep our children safe. This app should and must be core as anyone who love their child or children in general should understand. There are child predators among us trying to get to our children every single sec. This app helps minimize the threat 1000% with all of it control over our children phones that we as parents can can control and the notification boomerang sent and soon as something is not right. Google pull it together and help us keep our precious children safe from predators.
Message to Google:
Boomerang has been great.! Please do not take this app away from us! Work with Boomerang so that we can keep using this app to monitor our child's phone.
Thank you!
This should absolutely be an exception.
The safe calling and safe texting feature is core to the app, and is one of the main reasons I use Boomerang as well. It was
because of this feature that I was alerted to my teen daughter sharing with someone she was suicidal and we were able to get her urgent help. This is a feature that is essential in being able to monitor our kids appropriately. The increase of technology has also brought increased risks in so many ways. I thank God I didn't have this technology growing up and because of Boomerang I feel safer allowing my child to use it in ways that don't make her vulnerable to predator's. Predator's who change their tactics as often as technology advances.
Boomerang is the one app we have found that has all of the features that we want and consistently works. The safe calling and safe texting functions are essential. Being able to monitor these activities is core to keeping children safe in this world. Time limits and app control are wonderful, but being able to check in on who is contacting our children and why is primary!
I use this feature, and I want to continue with this feature. Boomerang deserves to be allowed to run under this exception. This is a crucial piece in keeping our kids safe. So much goes on on text. Boomerang understands that need and doesn't do anything that would violate it's terms. I love this app and would be very upset that these features were changed. Allow Boomerang to continue without disruption.
The safe calling and texting feature is exactly why I can trust my son to have a phone. We've already lived through our daughter being bullied and harassed before knowing Boomerang existed. Boomerang truly does deserve an exception.
This functionality is one of the main reasons I love this app. With predators using online means to stalk kids, having something like this to protect them is essential to keeping them safe. I understand their concerns that malicious applications could use the permissions without a person's awareness if it is not a 'core functionality' of the app, but I believe that it is a part of the core functionality of Boomerang.
I fully support the Boomerang app. I researched several others and selected Boomerang because it had the best collection of features that I wanted. I am seriously disappointed in Google's approach to interacting with the Boomerang developers. They need to have a team in place to have conversations with developers rather than making them fill out a form, which they then ignore. If Google continues to operate in this manner, it will cause dissatisfaction and will open the doors for someone else to come in and provide a better solution. Google should treat smaller developers with the same respect and attention that they give to larger developers. The call and SMS permissions features are critical / core to the Boomerang app and the features that I want for my children. Google's reluctance to address this issue effectively makes them anti-family.
This makes me angry with Google. Boomerang is the only reliable parental control app for Android, with its amazing first class support and excellent reputation. Now Google wants to effectively take it away, which makes me reconsider whether Android phones for my kids are a good idea.
I am so grateful for this app. My kids hate it but I feel better knowing what's going on with them. This app has allowed me to find about about things my kids are doing and permitted me to shut it down. Please dont shut this down!
I am happy with the features that boomerang app has, including the safe call and text functionalities, these two functionalities were part of what I was looking for when I made the research to buy a parental control app.
Safe calling and texting features in Boomerang are the whole reason I use it. No functionality is more valuable and I don't know if I would even have enough reason to use it if that was removed.
Call and text monitoring is why I chose Boomerang. It's an essential feature when trying to keep your child safe on their phone.
I concur with many others who have also commented. The ability of Boomerang to allow my wife and I to track our son's activity with SMS and phone calls allows us to provide him with a smartphone. Otherwise, I would not allow my teenage son to have an Android phone. We cannot get this functionality on iPhone, so Android is our preferred option. If Google takes this away from Boomerang and other legitimate vendors, then our only recourse will be to drop Android and move him to a dumb phone. Not what we want, but necessary in this current society. Being able to monitor my son's activity and what others share with him is necessary to provide us confidence he is being smart and not being led down a path of undesirable behavior. He is a good kid, but they all make dumb choices at times. Knowing he is being monitored is what helps keep him 'smart'.
Please don't remove this valuable features from Boomerang!
This app has been a life saver for our family! It puts our minds at ease to know we can monitor the phone calls and text messages of our kids so strangers aren't trying to contact them. If we didn't have these features, our kids would probably not have a phone. Please allow Boomerang to continue using the app for it's intended purpose so we can keep our children safe is this technical world. Parents need a way to monitor texts and phone calls. It is at the "core" of what Boomerang does for us as parents
Thanks!
Monnie B.
Boomerang is installed on all our children's devices as part of our approach too keep them as safe as possible, through monitoring and limiting their screen time and content access, but also ensuring their safety from inappropriate contact.
Google should be helping parents in any way possible to keep our children as safe as possible, not be making it harder and more difficult to protect them.
Google don't provide this feature to keep my kids safe, so Boomerang needs to be able to continue requesting permission to access Call Logs and SMS. I'm worried about the environment my kids live in and need to know they are safe at all times.
Google, don't remove Boomerang. Give them an Editor's recommendation!
Boomerang is the best app for parental supervision on Android. Now that Apple killed all these possibilities, the parents really look up at Google to help us. Blocking this feature in Boomerang, will put our children in danger. This is an app that can not be abused for as might be other apps. This control is clearly for parents to make sure their children are safe. Google - don't Apple it and keep this great app intact!
I find the potential negative outcomes of technology in youth culture to be one of the most pervasive forces that parents, youth, and schools contend with. Because of concern for their children's well-being, parents go to Boomerang's parental controls to still allow their children to engage with peers, while limiting the unhealthy effects to the extent possible. In our current world where issues such as teen suicide, self-harming behaviors, and destructive social behaviors affect all aspects of youth's lives, parents want and need to know with whom their children are communicating, and to be able to monitor the content of their children's exchanges. Without Boomerang, I likely would not allow my child to text others. Please consider the "Big Picture" and allow an exemption for Boomerang!
it have a great functions for children's and can be used for children daily time schedule i am appreciative for it
This functionality is so vitally important to us to help limit the amount of inappropriate behavior that our son experiences. Please do not allow this to be removed.
This feature of Boomerang is invaluable and gives me a great deal of peace of mind. I feel it is important for my eldest child to have a phone and access to social media communication with his friends, but this feature of the app allows me to continue to develop open discussions with him about how to manage those resources responsibly and safely. It is one of the most important reasons why I use Boomerang and will continue to use it for my eldest child and for my two other children as they get older.
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