Monitor phones, locations & apps
You don’t need to read every single message your child sends. Instead, set up tools that track screen time, app usage, and location, and send alerts when something looks wrong.
Location tracking
Life360
Family-location app that shows where everyone is, with driving stats and geofence alerts.
- Real-time map
- Arrival & departure alerts
- Driving behavior reports
Apple Find My
Built into iPhones. Lets you see where your kid’s device is at any time, and play a sound if it’s lost.
- Use the “Family Sharing” feature
- Great for Apple households
Google Family Link
Tracks Android devices, shows location, and lets you lock a device remotely.
- Free from Google
- Integrated with Play Store
Screen time & app usage
Apple Screen Time
Built into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Lets you see how long each app is used, set daily limits, and approve or deny new apps.
- “Ask to Buy” for app installs
- Downtime for sleep hours
- Content restrictions (web & media)
Google Family Link
For Android and Chromebook. Shows screen time, lets you set limits, approve apps, and lock devices.
- Per-app time limits
- Bedtime schedules
- Activity reports
Text & social media monitoring
Some tools go beyond web filtering and can scan texts, DMs, and social-media posts for signs of bullying, self-harm, explicit content, and more. Instead of reading everything yourself, you get alerts when something looks serious.
Bark
Monitors texts, email, YouTube, and major social apps using AI. Sends alerts with context and guidance.
- Bullying, self-harm, predators
- Custom sensitivity settings
Qustodio
Tracks calls and texts on some platforms, plus web and app activity, giving you a clear picture of usage.
- Call & SMS monitoring (Android)
- Social and web activity reports
WebWatcher
More intrusive monitoring (screenshots, keystrokes on some platforms). Use with clear family agreements.
- Advanced monitoring
- Best for specific high-risk cases