http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/tags/Windows+Live+Family+Safety/default.aspxTags: Windows Live Family SafetyenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP2 (Build: 40407.4157)http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2007/08/06/family-safety-gets-update-contact-controls.aspxTue, 07 Aug 2007 04:52:31 GMT56c526a3-1f9b-4262-a0cc-2de2ce4c7619:3942ScottIsAFool9http://www.liveside.net/main/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=3942http://www.liveside.net/main/archive/2007/08/06/family-safety-gets-update-contact-controls.aspx#comments<p>Last week <a href="http://fss.live.com/" target="_blank">Windows Live Family Safety</a> got updated to allow parents to have some control over who their children can have on their contact list within Windows Live Messenger, so long as you are using the <a href="http://get.live.com/betas/messenger_betas" target="_blank">current version</a> (which for this to work needs to be 8.5).</p> <p>To start off with, the parent will have to change the settings for the child within the Family Safety settings area:<a href="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/fss%20approve%20contact_2.png"><a href="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/image_2.png"><br /><img style="border-top-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;" height="210" alt="image" src="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/image_thumb.png" width="714" border="0" /></a></a></p> <p>The child then gets this when they next sign into Messenger:<br /><a href="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20startup%20prompt_2.png"><img height="162" alt="messenger startup prompt" src="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20startup%20prompt_thumb.png" width="431" border="0" /></a></p> <p>As well as a prompt to show them what they can do.<br /><a href="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20add%20contact%20prompt_2.png"><img height="409" alt="messenger add contact prompt" src="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20add%20contact%20prompt_thumb.png" width="572" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Now, when they want to add a contact to their contact list, they will get a slightly different UI from normal:<br /><a href="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20add%20contact%20prompt%202_2.png"><img height="472" alt="messenger add contact prompt 2" src="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/messenger%20add%20contact%20prompt%202_thumb.png" width="535" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This sends the request to the parent for them to approve, which they can do from the Family Safety settings page again:<br /><img height="238" alt="fss approve contact" src="http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/FamilySafetyGetsUpdateContactControls_12E13/fss%20approve%20contact_thumb.png" width="544" border="0" />&nbsp;</p> <p>It is clear that Microsoft is taking child online safety seriously which can only be applauded as it appears none of the major online players are adopting anything similar.</p> <p>SL</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.liveside.net/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3942" width="1" height="1">Windows Live Family Safety