Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: cell phone parental apps

This topic has 5 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 1 month ago by CrystalN.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

Author
Posts
March 8, 2022 at 2:29 pm
rhondajennings68
Participant
I have Verizon Smart Family but don’t care for it. I want something that will let me control his apps and also tracks where he is.

Thanks,
Rhonda
March 10, 2022 at 10:05 am
CrystalN
Participant
We dont use any apps, but iPhones have many controls built in. We use findmy on iphone. We add all family members and then you can find them real time wherever they are. We also use all of the “screentime” features to set time limits or ban apps. You can ban all websites except what you allow. Or just ban particular websites. It allows you to set age restrictions and require adult approval for installing anything. Our internet router also has parental controls so we can use that as well when they are on wifi. Another thing we do is require all electronic use to be done in common areas, also we require all phones in one community location after dinner. I have researched a lot of apps and never found one that seemed any better than the built in iphone ability. Not sure if android offers the same features, but you could poke around in settings.
March 10, 2022 at 10:11 am
rhondajennings68
Participant
Thanks for the information. I have an Android but my son has an iPhone so I don’t have access to the controls for his phone.
March 10, 2022 at 10:42 am
CrystalN
Participant
One of the requirements in our home is that we have the passwords for all phones. They also know I will review it any time I feel the need. With iphone most parental control apps are pretty lacking, apple is difficult I guess with that sort of thing. You will need access to his phone to install any app since it will need to be installed directly on his phone. Even my 18 year old shares his passcode with us. Or we dont pay for the phone. I respect his privacy, but I am also responsible for guarding his mind while he is under my roof. I have only “spied” on his conversations when I noticed something was amiss. And it was good that I did. And he got over it. You will have to gain access to his phone if you want any sort of parental monitoring to happen. I have heard of Covenant Eyes, but I think it is more of a report you get rather than a control. And it doesnt play nice with iphone I heard. Here are so many out there, but always their is little functionality with iphone,
March 10, 2022 at 12:17 pm
rhondajennings68
Participant
Thanks for all of the great responses. I read his texts either on his phone or online. I have his password and I can block most things, but it won’t let me block things like a football app. I know that isn’t a huge deal except video games make him angry and they are a distraction for him.
He is 14 years old. I would love to trust him entirely, but I tell him that trust is earned, not given. Unfortunately, he has a bit of an issue with lying so I can’t trust him and he is well aware of that.
March 10, 2022 at 4:04 pm
CrystalN
Participant
Dont know if this will help, but my youngest has an iphone x and I can block an individual app
in settings go to screentime
app limits
add limit
click the arrow to the right of games
select the game
click next
select the time limit, you can select 1 minute, block at end of limit
you can get pretty specific about what can be used and when
or you can just delete the app and set the phone so apps cannot be installed without the parent passcode.

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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Best Parental Apps for Teens Cell phone

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