Although Apple already has plenty of customers who enjoy its mobile products, its latest move might get plenty more fans hopping on the company's bandwagon, especially parents. Keep reading to see what Apple is doing to give parents another tool to help them protect their children.

This week, Apple received good news when it secured patent 7,814,163 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent was applied for in January 2008. It is formally described as the company providing systems, devices, and methods that allow users to control the content either sent or received in text messages. While many youngsters may find this to be a negative move and an invasion of privacy, there are undoubtedly many adults who feel it is a necessary tool when it comes to parenting.

The new patent's timing could not be any better. Many news programs have highlighted the current troubling phenomenon known as sexting, in which sexually explicit content is transmitted via text messaging. Last year, Pew Research studied the texting habits of 800 teenagers over a four-month period. The study's results revealed that 30 percent of 17-year-olds received sexually explicit images on their phones. 

The exchanges do not only take place between couples who are romantically involved, however. In many cases, explicit photos are forwarded to others as well, some of which are sent by individuals over the age of 18. This can cause legal troubles for some, such as Philip Alpert. Alpert, an 18-year-old Florida resident, was convicted of sending nude images of his underage girlfriend to others after an argument. He is now listed as a registered sex offender due to the event.

The patent will supposedly give parents plenty of control over the texting content their children can or cannot receive. They will have the choice to block certain parts of messages that contain forbidden content, or block some messages in their entirety. The content will be filtered according to whatever criteria parents decide on via a parental control application. 

For example, the user's school grade level or their age could determine what types of content and language are allowed to be sent and received. Should a text contain something forbidden as defined by the application, it would notify the parent or other person in charge, making it essentially impossible for children to use their phones to text in an inappropriate manner.

Apple's new patent is not solely intended to monitor texting, however. The company is also looking at ways to use it as a teaching tool to improve students' grasp of languages, both English and foreign. For example, parents or teachers could text students a question regarding a study lesson. If the student responds with incorrect spelling or grammar, the parent or teacher would be notified of such mistakes, allowing them to monitor any progress or lack thereof.

Although it is not yet known when Apple will make its new technology available to the public, it will likely see widespread use. Whether it be for monitoring or educating purposes, patent 7,814,163 is one that parents and guardians should see as a welcome addition to the mobile landscape.

For more on this issue, visit http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20019442-17.html   

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