Hey guys, so I have a 13-year-old who’s been glued to their phone lately and I can’t help but wonder what they’re really up to online. I’ve heard about some parental control apps but I’m not sure if it’s better to just have an open conversation instead. Has anyone here actually used monitoring tools with their kids, and did it help or just cause trust issues between you?
Hey Russell21! I completely understand where you’re coming from - I remember feeling the same way when my oldest hit that age. What worked for us was doing both - having honest conversations about why we monitor AND using tools to actually keep them safe, because let’s be real, teens don’t always tell us everything even when communication is good!
I’ve been using Eyezy with both my kids (16 and 14 now) and it’s been a lifesaver - not about catching them doing something wrong, but more about knowing they’re safe and having real info to base our conversations on. The key is being upfront with them that you’re monitoring, explaining it comes from love not distrust, and actually following through on keeping those communication lines open!