How to monitor your child’s online activity

Technology offers a wide range of benefits that enable children to easily communicate with friends, play online games, and learn more about educational topics. Besides using a desktop computer, many kids have a mobile phone or device that allows them to access the internet from almost any location. Unfortunately, the online world isn’t always a safe place for children, whether it is the risk of being the victim of cyberbullying or an online predator. Discussing these safety topics beforehand with your child is always important, but you also have the option to download monitoring apps that will help you to stay informed, while also keeping your child protected from online threats.

Here are three popular apps and software programs to monitor your child’s online activity.

Bark

Bark is one of the best applications for monitoring your child’s online activities. The software monitors social media platforms, apps, texts, YouTube and emails. Bark looks for indications of adult content, sexting, cyberbullying, drug use, suicidal thoughts and more. You’ll receive automatic alerts when potential issues are detected.

Qustodio

Qustodio is a simple monitoring app that you can install on your smartphone and your child’s mobile device within five minutes. A wide variety of parental controls are available, which include monitoring social network activity, reviewing text messages, blocking inappropriate content, location tracking and limiting screen time. You can also manage multiple devices online from a web-based portal. Qustodio is available on a wide range of platforms, such as Windows, Apple, Android, Kindle, Nook, and iOS devices.

Norton Family Premier

Norton Family Premier is another parental control software program that allows you to supervise your child’s online activities. You have the tools to block inappropriate websites, while also reviewing visited sites from any device. You can restrict screen time for specific days of the week, monitor social media activity, limit personal information, and evaluate mobile app usage. Location supervision is also available for both Android and Apple devices. Detailed activity reports are sent to your inbox, or you can review this information on the parent portal to help you always stay informed.

Many parents struggle with striking the right balance with giving their child freedom, while also protecting them from the vast number of online threats out there. However, discussing these topics with your child is always helpful. For example, social withdrawal, mood swings, and trying to keep things hidden are just a few of the most common signs that you may need to talk with your child and keep an eye on their online activity. Of course, it’s always important to be open and honest about tracking their online activity, whether they are using a cellphone, tablet, or a desktop computer. These tracking apps play a key role in keeping your child protected from many online threats, while also giving you much-needed peace of mind.