There is no getting around it: the world can be as dangerous as it is exciting, and technology only deepens that potential! For parents, having a child with access to the world of the internet at their fingertips can raise very rational concerns. The best way to combat these concerns is to take advantage of the leaps tracking and parental control technology has made in recent years. Select the best app or method for parental phone tracking after examining our guide below!

Balancing Trust and Monitoring in Parental Control

As much as monitoring a child’s phone activity may be beneficial for the child and the concerns of the parent, there are some concerns with trust in the parental relationship. It is difficult to balance keeping trust between the parent and the child while continuing to monitor their activity.

However, with the right app or method and clear communication, trust can not only be established but strengthened when a parent uses a tracking capability. As we’ll discuss further in this guide, communicating clearly with a child about boundaries and how the tracking will be used for their safety is key.

With that in mind, let’s discuss the top apps and methods for parental phone tracking!

Top Apps and Methods for Parental Phone Tracking

#1. Family Orbit

Family Orbit is an app that can be downloaded onto any phone but accessed through the Internet on any device and is used to track children’s activity on their devices. Not only is tracking available but through Family Orbit’s easy-to-use platform; parents can even control some of the online activity a child can access.

On the target phone, Family Orbit runs in the background. It sends regular reports of activity on the Internet, as well as photos and contacts, to a parent’s account. This account can be accessed easily on a mobile device or on a desktop device through the Family Orbit website.

#2. Eyezy

Eyezy is another easy-to-use and easy-to-install family tracking app. Once it is running on a child’s target phone, it is entirely hidden using an “Invisible Shield” feature so that there is no trace of tracking.

It is downloadable on iPhones as well as Android; and has features that can record the screen of the target phone; monitor text messages as well as social media platforms, and pinpoint locations.

#3. Mobile Spy

Mobile Spy is meant primarily for tracking the mobility of a phone; which is very useful in the case of a lost phone or even a lost child. However, it is capable of tracking all SMS messages, phone calls, and some third-party apps without being traced. Depending on the plan that is purchased, Mobile Spy can monitor multiple children’s devices at once.

Setting Up Effective Parental Controls

Setting up parental controls may sound like a good idea; but sometimes the amount of tracking any of the above apps give you access to can be so overwhelming that it isn’t as effective.

To get you started, we recommend starting with the following essentials after you’ve downloaded; installed, and set up your account on the parental control app of your choice:

• Screen Time – Managing how often your child is exposed to the blue light of their screen is not only helpful for their physical health but also their mental health. It should be one of the first things you consider setting a limit on, or at least being aware of.
• Location – The safest feature to track on your child’s phone is their location. Whether they’re out with friends or taking time for themselves, it is key to their well-being that you have a way to know where they are and where they’ve been.
• Social Media – Scam artists and other shady characters are resorting more and more to social media as a way to cause harm to kids through their phones. Instead of focusing too exclusively on SMS and calls (though these are important) set up monitoring on Instagram, WhatsApp, and other social media messaging for a child’s phone.

Addressing Privacy Concerns in Parental Monitoring

As much as we want to keep our loved ones saf; it must be done in a way that is reasonable toward the rights of privacy. Walking this line between trust and protection can be difficult, but with a few tips; it is possible to make the most of your ability to control your child’s safety without breaking trust!

Communicate Often

The frequency of communicating with your child helps you to stay in touch with what’s going on in their lives. You may be tracking what they do on their phones for your child’s safety, but keeping up with their emotions; and their experiences can help to communicate that you care about how they feel and what they’re interested in; not just what they’re doing.

This is an important step in making sure your child knows that you’re keeping track of their activity for all the best reasons.

Communicate Clearly

Communicating clearly is a great way to manage privacy concerns with your child. As the child gets older, they may both need and want more personal privacy, and this is completely natural. However, to make sure that your child does not feel that this privacy is being threatened; it is important to let them know how you’re tracking their activity, and most importantly, why.

Manage Expectations

As part of that clear communication, privacy concerns often arise due to unclear expectations. If your child is not expecting your interest in their activity on their phone; they may not be able to help discover the use of the tracking apps and feel that it is a breach of their privacy.

It is important to clearly communicate not only why and how you are using a tracking app; but to ask your child what they think of it and how they feel about it. Even if you must be firm in keeping track of phone activity, allowing your child to be heard is important to helping them understand that you’re examining private information out of concern.

It is also helpful to establish ground rules. Just like you may have an understanding with your child that you will not enter their room without knocking; it can be helpful to explain how the privacy of their phone works with the tracking app you choose. Open communication is the key to connecting with; and maintaining trust with your child as you look out for their safety.

Conclusion

To sum up, everything we’ve learned; it is fully reasonable for a parent to be concerned about their child’s phone use. Using phone number tracking can be a great way to monitor not only the activity of a child but the activity of those trying to get in touch with or influence your child, too.

Third-party apps like Family Orbit or Eyezy are renowned for a reason; with simple, user-friendly controls and a wide range of functions; they can keep track of how a child’s phone is used as well as their location for their own safety.

Though you can pick the right app for your own personal needs and resolve the question of safety for your child; don’t forget to set clear boundaries and communicate clearly so that the use of these apps does not infringe on your child’s privacy and instead fosters trust!