Dad Tries to Limit Screen Time for Kids, Accidentally Shuts Down Town's Internet

limit screen time screen-time shut down the internet Messanges France jammer jammer or spammer National Frequency Agency U.S. Federal Communications Commission FCC CTA Red Line Dennis Nicholl American Academy of Pediatrics AAP

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Feb 23, 03:18 am

Photo: (Photo : Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

A frustrated dad, whose kids spend a lot of time on social media, wanted to limit screen time by using a jammer to block their internet access at home. But he ended up accidentally shutting down the connection in his small town, affecting more than 1,000 users.

The unnamed father, who is from Messanges, France, is now facing the possibility of spending six months in jail. He could also be asked to pay a substantial fine of about $34,000 because he used a jammer for their internet access.

According to the New York Post, the use of jammers or scramblers that interfere with the internet or telecommunication networks is illegal in France. After residents reported that services were down, the local carrier raised the odd problem with the National Frequency Agency. They conducted an investigation and detected the jammer at the dad's home.

Dad Wanted Kids to Get Enough Sleep

In his confession to the authorities, the father admitted that he placed the device so that his children would not have access to the internet from midnight to 3:00 a.m. when they should be sleeping. His only purpose was to limit screen time, but he did not realize that his jammer was so powerful it also cut the connectivity of at least two municipalities.

Such an activity would also land anyone in trouble with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has a specific prohibition on jammer enforcement. The FCC said that these devices cut connectivity and prevent people from making calls to 9-1-1 and other emergency services. Thus, jammers are a threat to public safety.

In 2016, a 63-year-old man from Chicago used a jammer whenever he was on the CTA Red Line, a rapid transport system. He blocked his fellow commuters from using their mobile devices because he wanted to ride the CTA in peace. However, after a series of investigations, the Chicago police flagged the guy, Dennis Nicholl, who was charged with a felony.

Meanwhile, parents in a community in Reddit said that the French dad could have just changed the password to their internet access or hid their mobiles and other gadgets before bedtime. Some of the comments also took a shot at the father's parenting style because it seemed like he failed to explain to his children why they needed to limit screen time.

Recommended Screen Time for Kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn't recommend kids under 18 months old be exposed to screen time, though the occasional video chats with family members are fine. The AAP also recommends that kids under five years old should only have a total of one hour of screen time a day.

As they grow older, the parents have to decide how much screen time to allot for kids, depending on their development and activities. There is no one strict rule nor one-size-fits-all approach to regulating gadget use in kids. However, younger children have to be consistently monitored and supervised if they are getting familiar with the internet.

If possible, families must also schedule a day of unplugging, including the parents. The adults should lead by example so that their kids will understand that even moms and dads have to take a break from the internet.