Mobile phone 11 year old.... what parent apps to use

[ibizacalling]

Hello! DS will be getting a phone after Xmas (This isn’t a light decision!)... he’s a mature, sensible kid but still I want to be able to see what he’s doing on the phone / what apps he’s using / talking too etc. Please educate me in the best app to have on my phone in order to keep track of his usage. I’m aware there are such things but I don’t know where to start. Do we link our phones for starters? I think I heard of an app that can mirror their phone in yours? Or did I dream that!

its not an app but parentshield sims are great (you can read about what they do on their website). the 'teensafe' app is also good

Thank you @sleepismysuperpower. I should probably edit my post to read ‘software’ too! I’ll take a look at the Parentshield. Many thx!

we initially got a Monqi phone for DD but it was so locked down with parental control stuff that nothing worked. now DD has a regular phone with Quostdio which monitors time spent on different apps and prevents her installing new apps but doesn't do much else. So most of the control by direct monitoring (i.e. I read the messages in whatsapp after she goes to bed in the evening).

Thanks @parietal.

Before I get lambasted for being either overprotective or spying I should also add that I don’t intend to forever ‘spy’ on my child’s online usage and will be instilling and talking about good online behaviours as well as what’s not acceptable. But he’s still young and it’s a first phone so some monitoring is appropriate IMO

Yes we use Qustodio as well, not really for spying but to block unsuitable content and to limit time spent. it's good, the other one that was recommended to us was OurPact, and they have different features, so worth looking to see what does more of what you want.

Also, Google Family Link isn't bad and is free.

If you have an iPhone and they do too, you can control everything and it's free. Discovered this after shelling out for Qustodio for a year 🙈

Thx so much @damnilovejam ! Kind of thing I do too . Would you mind giving me a brief idiots guide as to how I do that? Thx v much

@somekindofmagic set your child up with a child's iTunes account. Do this from a PC. You can then add them to your "family group" from your own iTunes account, and then you'll be able to set up all their restrictions from within your own iPhone settings.

Google family link. Its the best I've found. Sets hourly limits per day, bedtimes (can be different each day) and how long they can have on each app if you want to control it that much. It age restricts the apps they can have and also asks for parents approval to install. There's also a gps on there so you can track them.