A gatekeeper function is employed to control communications intended for a target user, who is associated with an electronic reader (e-reader) device. The gatekeeper function detects an attempt for an originating user to communicate with the target user. Upon detecting the attempt to communicate with the target user, the gatekeeper function determines a communication processing action that controls how to handle the communication attempt based on e-reader session information that is collected while the target user is engaged in an e-reader session. The gatekeeper function will then effect the communication processing action to control how the communication attempt is to be handled.