How to Talk to Your Kids about Why You're Using a Parental Control App

Esther Bailey, ParentalControlNow.org

Esther Bailey

March 1, 2024

How to Talk to Your Kids about Using Parental Control Apps

Parental control apps are becoming increasingly popular among parents who want to monitor their children's online activities. These apps can help parents ensure that their children are safe from harmful content and online predators, but they can also be a source of conflict between parents and their children.

It's essential to talk to your kids about why you're using a parental control app and to do so in a way that promotes trust and open communication.

Explain Why You're Using It

The first step in talking to your kids about parental control apps is to explain why you're using one. It's important to emphasize that you're using the app to keep them safe and to protect them from harmful content and online predators.

Open communication with children on smartphone usage
Open communication with children on smartphone usage

Be clear that your intention is not to spy on them or invade their privacy, but to provide an extra layer of protection.

Ask for Inputs

It's also important to involve your kids in the conversation and to ask for their input. Ask them how they feel about using a parental control app and listen to their concerns. Be open to their feedback and try to find a solution that works for everyone. For example, you may decide to set up the app together and agree on certain rules and limitations.

Educate Them About Online Safety

Another important aspect of talking to your kids about parental control apps is to educate them about online safety. Teach them about the risks of sharing personal information online, the dangers of online predators, and the importance of using strong passwords.

Conversations about online safety
Conversations about online safety

Encourage them to come to you if they encounter something online that makes them uncomfortable or if they receive any messages that seem suspicious.

Be Transparent About It

It's also important to be transparent about how the parental control app works. Explain to your kids what the app can and cannot do, and be clear about what information you'll be able to see. You should also discuss the consequences of breaking any rules or limitations that you've agreed upon. For example, you may decide that if your child visits certain websites or spends too much time online, their internet access will be restricted for a period of time.

The Bottom Line

When talking to your kids about parental control apps, it's important to emphasize that you trust them, but that you're using the app as an extra layer of protection. Let them know that you understand that they may feel frustrated or angry about the app, but that your ultimate goal is to protect them from any possible harm that they might experience by using mobile devices and going online.

By having this conversation, you can ensure that your child understands the importance of online safety and that you're there to support and guide them.

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Parental control software is an app that is downloaded to a master phone (usually a parent’s phone), with other apps either secretly (or not so secretly) downloaded to the target (usually, your children’s) phones. The apps then track, monitor and even secretly screenshot or record the target phone’s, with a variety of features to ensure you're kept in the loop of what your children might be doing with their devices.

Because there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and you get what you pay for. To our knowledge, any parental control software that has a free plan either isn't worth the time, or will be so severely limited in what it can do that it becomes useless as a parental control tool.

It depends on the specific parental control software you use, but otherwise, yes. Most devices and operating systems are supported, including our remember parental control software for you, above.

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