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Android Phone Usage/Monitoring - Parental Control

VMuser

Well-Known Member
Oct 7, 2011
124
3
Is there an app that will allow me to review (ie send an email) the activity of an android device?

I would like to be able to monitor my young teenager usage of the device. My ideal app will send me an email, with voice usage, web-browsing activity, sms/mms activity, etc.

This is for my technically savvy teenager so it cannot be limited to the default browser or the default texting app, and it should let me know other apps (facebook, etc) accessing data, or at the very least let me know the apps downloaded into the device.
 
You trust them that much eh? Take their Droid away and give them a regular phone then.
For Tmobile you can log onto the website and set parental access for each line on your plan.
Or grab your trust-worthy teens phone, get onto the Market and search "Parental Controls"
There is an app called "Android Parental Control" and it is free.
 
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I don't know of a single app that does all that, but there are monitoring apps. they must be installed with direct access to the device and for a technically savvy teen it would pretty easy to disable.

My carrier provides me with detailed information about my son's texts and calls, but not the content. And just general data use. I could track him too, if i paid for it.
 
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depending on your carrier you can get full detailed billing so yo can see the # of calls and minutes used as well as data and txt use usage. most of them you can see in your account profile not long after the call or txt is made, sometimes is a few hour delay before it hits your account

some carriers like AT&T have whats called smart limits where you can restrict specific lines on your account to a variety of options, but its a additional service you have to pay for on the account.

James
 
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Thank you for the prompt comments, this is not a matter of trust, because I trust my kids, but rather a matter of parenting: The statistics of cyberbullying are unbelievable, the number of porn sites being established on a daily basis is astronomical, etc, etc.

I could go with a non-android phone, but all the phones/services have texting, and most phones have internet access. I am hoping that a smartphone will have this ability.

Thank you again for the prompt responses.
 
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There is probably and app for that but that is only part of the solution. Please see my and EarlyMon's response to a kid that somehow got porn popping up on his phone. He claimed he wasn't surfing porn, and I have seen devious apps in the market that could cause his problem, so I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. Anyway, I would recommend any "app" solution ShinyDreams or VMUser use is coordinated with communication with the child. I know I would give the same recommendation that trying to sneak something by will be harder to explain if it is found out after the fact. I think EarlyMon was more eloquent in his explanation.

A: I am the parent of a 17 year old boy let me give you this advice. If you are telling the truth in your post, let your mom know what happened. If the it shows up on the bill or she finds out because it keeps happening, she will be more upset finding out after the fact. This stuff can happen and if again, if you are being honest in your post and she is still upset let her see my reply to your post. If she wants to IM me to confirm, I will give her my personal email in an IM and I can explain.

B: Stick with this forum, there is a no porn, no pirating, no illegal stuff forum. If this thing is stuck on your phone (your post implies you haven't seen it since the factory reset) then let me know and I'll search around and let you know how to get rid of it.


Welcome to the forums!

I think your mom will be proud of your honesty.

I would also have a chat with your mom about installing an app for your security like Lookout. It's very easy to download bad apps, like some of the live wallpapers that are really out to get you and can make you an unsuspecting target for this sort of thing. Lookout is a protection app, similar to an anti-virus for your PC.

Also, you sound like the sort of great younger person who really cares about doing the right thing. There are some good parental monitoring apps available, and plenty of stories of younger folks and parents working together with those apps. That sort of thing can remove all doubt for mom, and make you part of the solution rather than a kid on a leash. With some help from a good monitoring app and mom, you'll gain the skills needed for safe phone use, and I know a lot of older folks who learned about unsafe phone use the hard way.

If that sounds like a good idea, have your mom chat with us. If she would rather talk privately, have her click on my name and send me a private message, or chat with pupkact by doing that, either way.

And good for you for looking for the right answer and being honest rather just hiding. :)

Naturally, mom is going to be a bit unhappy when you tell her but that's really ok. Mom knows you best and she'll get that you're being honest.

Always trust your parents. After all, we were kids ourselves, so we really do know what it's like. ;) :)
 
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