{"id":26653,"date":"2023-08-21T15:04:19","date_gmt":"2023-08-21T23:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=26653"},"modified":"2023-08-25T15:11:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T23:11:14","slug":"how-to-track-your-childs-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/how-to-track-your-childs-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Track Your Child\u2019s Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By the age of 14, more than 91% of American children<\/a> own a smartphone.  Of these, a substantial proportion receive their first phone before they reach 10 years of age.  For parents, the most common motivation is to make it easier for their child to contact them in an emergency<\/a>.  That comes at the risk of introducing a child to a vast array of apps, social media platforms and mobile tools that can compromise their safety \u2014 unless, that is, parents are vigilant and involved.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To promote safe online behavior among children, here\u2019s how parents can track their child\u2019s phone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Track Your Child\u2019s Phone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A phone may be a lifeline in an emergency, but there is a dark side.  It\u2019s also a beacon that broadcasts the owner\u2019s location; a gateway to apps that can expose children to predators<\/a>; a camera that can invade privacy; and a potential vehicle for cyberbullying<\/a> or catfishing and scams<\/a>.  Then there are the social side effects, too.  With the average teenager spending 43% of their waking hours<\/a> glued to a screen, mobile access can end up limiting, rather than enhancing, their development.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, a phone is a gift that doesn\u2019t necessarily keep on giving.  Responsible parents understand that they should track their child\u2019s phone use, behavior and location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monitor your child\u2019s whereabouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s every parent\u2019s nightmare: Your child doesn\u2019t turn up at the agreed time and place, and they\u2019re not answering your calls.  Fortunately, parents can track their child\u2019s location via smartphone.  Both Android and Apple phones offer a \u201cFind My Device\u201d feature that can track location via the cloud.  Simply activate the feature in settings (enable location sharing) and you can view, lock or erase any linked device remotely (even if it\u2019s offline).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents can go one step further by installing the Family Link app on Google<\/a>, which not only tracks location but also monitors activity, and approves\/blocks content or purchases.  Apple\u2019s Family Sharing<\/a> feature is the iOS counterpart, giving parents \u201cFind My Device\u201d tools as well as complete control over their child\u2019s online content consumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re worried about the possibility of sex offenders in your neighborhood<\/a> or are looking after a particularly vulnerable child, you can even use the free FBI Child ID app<\/a> to store photos and vital information.  In that way, it\u2019s all ready to share with law enforcement in a crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manage your child\u2019s smartphone activity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Without establishing parental controls on your child\u2019s online activity, you\u2019re forcing them to set their own boundaries.  That\u2019s too much to ask of any child, not least because the apps themselves are designed to be irresistible.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t rely on the customary age restriction (minimum of 13<\/a>) for most common social media apps.  These barriers to entry are easy for savvy children to bypass and offer no guarantee that the platform takes their safety seriously.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install Family Link (Google) or Family Sharing (Apple) if you want a comprehensive view of your child\u2019s online activity, with the ability to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n