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Mobile devices are the driving force for both adults and children. When it comes to kids, we may require far more parental control in order to avoid the slightest chance of mischief, inappropriate and sometimes even risky communication via various online platforms.
A mobile device provides a free access to tons of resources around the web. Some of them may contain harmful information that actually spoils kids. However, parental control applications come as effective tools when it comes to providing safe and secure mobile web browsing and internet usage. Not only do multipurpose mobile apps let parents limit online access to inappropriate websites, but also control kids’ every action performed via mobile devices.
Monitoring children’s mobile activity has turned into a necessity in the age of modern technologies. All you need is to choose a perfectly SMS tracker that will operate smoothly on various mobile platforms in addition to desktops. In this article, we will speak of some vital features and functions delivered by parental control apps.
What are parental controls?
A parental control app is a specially designed software. Its main mission is to deliver a range of control features that typically include:
- Time Limiting & Management – keep in touch with the time spent by your kid on particular websites and resources;
- Geofencing – location tracking is a feature that will let you know the exact location of your children as well as set restricted areas to void;
- Web and Social Filtering – prevent your children from inappropriate content whether provided by a web page or a social network;
- App Blockage – block any type of application you think may do harm to your child.
You should note the majority of parental control applications are available mainly as mobile solutions. They can still be linked to a desktop. However, they initially come as mobile software.
Some award-winning products provide flexible settings. It means you can easily customize a specific feature or option in accordance with your needs. For instance, an app blocking function can refer to a specific type of content. You can tune the control service to block apps related to offensive or mischievous content.
Time management function makes it easy for parents to set necessary bedtime as well as indicate timeframes for homework. Location tracking is an ultimate feature for parents who want to track the routes of their children on the way home from school. The functions let you set restricted areas. The app will notify you every time your kid enters that area. It may sound a bit too hard to cope with all those features, especially for novice users. It may require some time from parents to get involved in the parental control service.
Your Child’s Security? Priceless.
Parents usually do not care about the cost of such apps, because for their kids; safety is priceless. However, some applications are overpriced. You can easily choose an app at a reasonable cost considering tough level competition in the niche. Most products are based on subscriptions or monthly fees. All you need is to choose a suitable package with a list of features for a given price. Once you need an advanced access to app’s functions, you can select an advanced subscription. If you do not want to pay on monthly basis, you can simply purchase an app. It will cost you from $10 to $50.
Always keep in mind, that a parental control app price depends on the number of devices you need to track. A couple of your kids’ smartphones will hardly cost you more than $40. If you need to track more devices prepare to pay starting at $100. The fees may vary depending on the operation system, type of device, mobile carrier, and other essential parameters. Read all terms and conditions rather carefully to make sure a chosen service will provide you with all features you require.
Web and Social Media Filtering.
Despite all the great features like location tracking or time management, web and social glittering is probably the most important one. Free access to a range of websites and social platforms can probably be the main threat. For this reason, you can evaluate a chosen app by its ability to filter your children’s online browsing.
A growing number of dangerous websites make it obligatory for parents to track and manage their children’s online activities. Whether you want to prevent a user from installing a potentially harmful app or simply restrict the access to a particular website, parental control applications will be a good tool. They generate a detailed report that includes a list of domain names and resources visited by your child within a given period. You can set the timeframes to benefit from a bigger list of platforms. However, keep in mind you will have to pay more for an extended feature.
Exclusive Android Features.
The rumble between iOS and Android will never end. We are not going to discuss the benefits of both operating systems. However, when it comes to parental control apps, there are some evident benefits for Android devices. They have proved to be a better option for mobile tracking software. Android lets applications perform a more powerful output compared to iOS devices. This is due to the fact that Apple typically limits device access as well as app permission. In some cases, you will need to additionally complete the MDM installation. Otherwise, your parental control application will not be able to operate at its fullest.
Won’t Somebody – Think of the Children?
One would hardly underestimate the whole bunch of security features delivered by a parental control app. However, no software is perfect. Children are often more experienced mobile users than their moms and dads. If they really need to access a particular website, they will access it in spite of restrictions and filtering.
You need to talk to your kids and explain what is good and what is bad. Once you have installed a tracking software, you hardly solve all the problems. Digital security is only a part of a proper upbringing. Do not just set the rules and obligations. Discuss them with your children, as you are the only to think of your children, aren’t you?
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