Monitoring Apps?

[Brynna]

After learning a few lessons when our first children got their phones, we did things different when the next child got a phone. We bought a nice phone, then DH downloaded some kind of parental lock. Everything was discussed with our child and we all agreed on things. She had input which apps she wanted access to, and they were ok. So, everything was/is locked up, except for plain old text messaging. At home, she has access to a couple more messaging apps, but no facebook, snapchat, etc. The browser is locked up, as well. When she needs an app unlocked, DH has to do it. She also can ask permission to download apps which are needed. As responsibility is shown, more will be unlocked. Actually she came up with some of this herself as she hates it when people sit on their phones. Any browsing she needs to do is done on our computer, which has a filter.

Also, since she shared my phone with me earlier, I do have access to her phone as well. It was a deal.

[lovinglifeasalinewife]

Hey friends! I was wondering if anyone had good resources for apps that monitor kids phones? I have 11yo D and 13yo S, and they have phones that they don't have access to 24/7, only an hour or so a day unless they're home alone (super rare). They also have very few contacts other than myself and dad...but of course my son, who texts 2 homeschool friends (a boy and a girl) leans towards some inappropriate things AND don't let Christian homeschoolers fool you, the girl has texted my son about how she enjoys strip teases. Shes 14 . Anyway I'd love an app that just mirrors their phone, Bark will alert me if there's something super direct, but the "strip trase" text didn't even register for alert. Any ideas? I'm already over trying to monitor electronics. I regret not getting flip phones. But at the same time, we have to prepare them for this nonsense.

What social media platforms are they allowed to have?

My son looks at IG 10min/day only on my phone and his profile is tied to my account. Other than that nothing at all.

Without access to Snapchat, Facebook, Kik etc I think you will be good with good ‘ol fashioned parental monitoring. If you see big gaps in IG, you might look at if he is using the “disappearing” message feature.

OH ok! I didnt know that was a thing. Thank you!

[lovinglifeasalinewife]

After learning a few lessons when our first children got their phones, we did things different when the next child got a phone. We bought a nice phone, then DH downloaded some kind of parental lock. Everything was discussed with our child and we all agreed on things. She had input which apps she wanted access to, and they were ok. So, everything was/is locked up, except for plain old text messaging. At home, she has access to a couple more messaging apps, but no facebook, snapchat, etc. The browser is locked up, as well. When she needs an app unlocked, DH has to do it. She also can ask permission to download apps which are needed. As responsibility is shown, more will be unlocked. Actually she came up with some of this herself as she hates it when people sit on their phones. Any browsing she needs to do is done on our computer, which has a filter.

Also, since she shared my phone with me earlier, I do have access to her phone as well. It was a deal.

Yeah, I hate when people sit on their phones too so I vowed my kids wont. They dont have them if we go somewhere together or even if we're just sitting at home. The access is super limited. I'd just love an app that allowed me to have control, like yes, you can listen to amazon music but no you cant text. That's probably asking a lot it sounds like you have great parameters in place!

[Nate Othree]

I'd like to bump this conversation back to life. We've got a couple boys that we plan to give a phone to for numerous reasons, but we want to do it safely.

One uses a wifi phone with NetNanny on it and I am not a fan.

A few things we're interested in:
1. We're an Android family and need something on that ecosystem
2. Something to prevent certain apps from being used, or sites from being visited
3. Search tracking or keylogging
4. Monitoring for files, photos and notes
5. Ability to monitor usage without having to get his phone

I'm looking at the Bark Phone, which is a Samsung phone with a unique operating system on it from Bark.us. Since the software is built-in, it has features like never truly deleting text messages, etc.

Anyone have success with what you've used?