When we talk about advanced technology, especially the internet, we can’t help but praise it. The internet has served to be an incredible source of education and entertainment for us. Not only adults but kids are also addicted to the use of the internet.
They can gather all sorts of valuable information, watch movies, play games, interact with their friends, and do so much more by using the internet facility. While they can benefit so much with the help of the internet, they should also be aware of its dark side.
As a digital parent, it is your responsibility to protect your kids from harmful online dangers. If you think keeping them safe from offline dangers is important, then protecting them from online dangers should also be equally important. You can consider using the best free hidden spy apps for Android or iPhone to track their internet use.
Keeping track of your kid’s internet activity may seem intrusive. However, if you regularly monitor their online behavior, there will be more likely to stay away from online risks and threats. According to a survey by GuardChild, it was found that 43% of teens said that they were willing to change their online behavior if their parents were monitoring their internet use.
Therefore, it is essential that parents should know about their kid’s online activities so they can save them from any potential risk. With several online dangers such as cyberbullying, sexual predators, pornography, violence, etc., targeting our kids on the internet, it is time for parents to take a step today to ensure their kid’s online safety.
How to Snoop on Your Kid’s Internet Activity?
Now that you have understood the importance of monitoring your kid’s internet use, it is time for you to learn about different ways to track your kid on the internet. Several ways can be used to monitor your kid’s online activity. Let’s discuss a few of them here.
Track Their Internet History
The first thing you can do to track your kid’s online activity is to look for their web browsing history. Open the web browser your kid is using more and head to the Settings to take a look at their web history. By taking a glance at their web browsing history, you can find out what sites they have been visited in the past.
The sites that your kid has opened will be displayed in reverse chronological order so it will be easier for you to scroll through the list and find out what your kid has been watching. Beware, your kid can delete the internet history before allowing you to monitor their online activity. They can dodge you this way so make sure that you are also considering other ways to monitor their internet usage.
Check the Installed Apps
Another effective way to understand what your kid has been doing online is to monitor all the installed apps on their mobile phone. You can thoroughly check the apps and see for what purpose they are used for. This can be done by installing the same apps on your phone.
When you use the same apps like them, you can get an insight into what the apps are all about and what type of content they are showing to your kids. You can also learn about the possible dangers associated with those apps.
It’s better to familiarize yourself with the apps your kids are using and start monitoring their activities on them. To find more information on a certain app, you can Google search it. You can type in keywords such as reviews, risks, privacy, and usage, and obtain a whole lot of information about the app.
InstallA Third-party Monitoring Software
You can also prefer installing third-party monitoring software to track your kid’s internet activity. There are several options in the market when it comes to monitoring software. Different programs and apps have been developed just so you can monitor someone’s online or cell phone activity.
With monitoring software, you can obtain detailed information on your kid’s cell phone/computer activity. For instance, you can track their text messages, instant messages, web browsing history, call logs, emails as well as location.
Some monitoring apps have been specifically designed to work on a specific operating platform. Android spy apps work on Android phones whereas iPhone monitoring apps work effectively on iPhone devices. Simply install the app on your kid’s phone and remotely monitor their online activity on your online dashboard from anywhere and at any time.
Have a Word About Internet Safety With Kids
You need to have open and honest communication with your kid. It’s important that you make your kid comfortable enough so they can come to you and talk about anything good or bad they see online.
Tell your kid regularly about the internet safety rules and how they can distinguish between what’s appropriate and what’s inappropriate online. You can also discuss the latest internet trends with them so they know what’s happening in the digital world.
When your kid knows that they have your back, no matter whoever tries to belittle or embarrass them online, they know they can reach out to you for help.
It won’t be wrong to admit that monitoring kids’ online activities is not easy. They like to have a private online life and will always hide some things from you. However, the more parents learn about the internet world, the apps, and sites their kids are using, the harder it will become for kids to hide things on the internet.
When kids know that their parents are tracking their internet activity, they will be more careful about what they see and post on the internet. This will also keep them safe from harmful online dangers.