It’s every child’s dream to have their own iPhone or Android. The games. The chat apps. An instant connection to a whole new world of online excitement.
Whether you think 11 years, 12 years, or 13 years old is the right age, you need to face the facts. They’re going to have their own phone sooner or later, and there’s not much you can do once the floodgates are open.
Adult content. Violent videos. Chat apps that connect them to strangers. Dangerous apps. It’s scary stuff.
That begs the question — should parents monitor their children’s phone? Today, we’ll discuss why we think parents should. Plus, we’ll fill you in on the best solutions to help parents checking child’s phone without them knowing.
Table Of Contents
The Best Apps for Monitoring Your Child’s Phone
#1: Eyezy
If you want to see everything that’s happening on their phone, get Eyezy. The monitoring app includes so many tools to help you see what’s really going on in their world. And it’s powerful stuff. Take Social Spotlight, for example.
The Eyezy tool lets you read their private conversations in chat apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, and others. Even Tinder.
With Magic Alerts, you’ll get notified if they type a controversial word or phrase, and you’ll find out when they arrive at or leave any location you choose. You can even see snapshots of their phone as they use it, view the websites they’ve visited, and more.
Best of all, Eyezy’s Invisible Shield feature means you can monitor them, and they’ll never know about it.
#2: iCloud or Google Sync
Both iOS and Android have built-in solutions that let you mirror their phone onto another one. If you know their iCloud credentials, you can sign in on another device and see what they’re up to. Same with Google Sync, which lets you restore from a backup.
While both methods work, you may be asked to sign into the various apps they use if you want to see what’s going on, so keep that in mind.
#3: The Old-fashioned Way
It’s your roof that they’re living under, so they should obey your rules. Before you give them a phone, consider drawing up a contract that allows you to take their phone whenever you want and scroll through it. If they disagree and refuse to hand over their phone, they lose it.
This method will likely keep them out of trouble — or force them to find a burner phone to use for the controversial stuff. Remember, if they know you’re monitoring them, they might be less likely to be their true self.
Reason to Monitor their Phone
Cyberbullying
Should parents go through their child’s phone to make sure they’re safe? Considering the rate of cyberbullying, we say yes. According to some statistics, 22% of kids on social media are likely to be victims of cyberbullying.
The number grows based on the number of social media channels they use, with YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook being the most popular cyberbullying playgrounds.
Sexting
Got a teenager? Then you need to be worried about the pics they’re sending and receiving. Gone are the days where the most controversial pic in their camera roll is a photo of a kitten on a piano. Today, nudity is a very real possibility and it’s one of the biggest reasons why parents go through their child’s phone.
Predators
Why should parents check their child’s phone? One word: Predators. There are billions of people in this world. And while there are a lot of good people, the world is filled with weirdos who want to connect with kids, chat inappropriately, and maybe even do them harm.
Bad decisions
Are they visiting websites and using apps that they shouldn’t? Are they getting involved with the wrong crowd who are intent on steering them in the wrong direction? Kids are impressionable, so an app for parents checking child’s phone is a great way to keep them on track.
Screentime Management
Not worried about the bad stuff? It’s still a good idea to make sure they’re using their phone responsibly. An app to help parents checking phone activity can help you ensure they’re not spending too much free time on their device or using apps that you don’t approve of.
What the Law Says About Monitoring a Child’s Phone
Is it illegal to go through your child’s phone? That depends on their age and your relationship. If they’re under 18 and you’re their legal guardian, you have every right to monitor their phone without telling them (this is the case in most jurisdictions but be sure to check your local laws before proceeding).
However, if they’re over 18, or if they’re under 18 but you’re not their legal guardian, you’re most likely violating the law by using a monitoring app without telling them.
Our Top Pick for Checking Child’s Phone
Overall, we recommend Eyezy. It shows parents what their kids are really doing. And because it works in hidden mode, kids are free to be themselves.
When kids and teens don’t think other people are watching their every move, they’re less likely to hide their behavior. While that may lead to some poor decisions, at least you’ll know about what’s really happening.
If you want to see Eyezy in action, there’s a free demo to play with. We think you’ll find it’s even more powerful than we’ve described.
