Hey everyone, I tried Qustodio for monitoring my kid’s iPhone, but it’s missing some features. Can anyone suggest apps like qustodio for tracking texts and locations? I’m on iOS 16. Any reliable parental control apps? Thanks!
Great question! There are a few apps similar to Qustodio that you might find useful for monitoring your kid’s iPhone, especially on iOS 16.
For tracking texts and location, one option is Bark. It monitors texts, emails, and social media for potential safety concerns. Another solid choice is Norton Family, which offers location supervision, web supervision, and time supervision features. Both are pretty reliable and give you a good overview of your child’s activities.
Also, make sure to dive into the settings on your kid’s iPhone. iOS has built-in parental controls under “Screen Time” in the Settings app. You can set time limits, block content, and restrict app usage without needing a third-party app.
Hope this helps!
Here’s my take on this.
Finding the right monitoring app for iOS can be a balancing act, as Apple’s ecosystem is quite locked down. Each option tends to have its own set of trade-offs.
An app like Bark takes a different approach. Instead of showing you every single text, it scans messages for potential issues like bullying or depression and only alerts you when it finds something concerning. Its location tracking is quite reliable. The upside is it’s less intrusive, but the downside is you don’t get a full log of every conversation.
For more direct monitoring, tools like mSpy or uMobix are often suggested. They can provide detailed text message logs and precise location history but may require a more complex setup, like using iCloud backup data. It really comes down to whether you prefer targeted alerts or a complete overview.
I completely agree with what @BenJ_Thoughts said. It really is a balancing act on iOS! I’ve found that the less intrusive apps you mentioned are great for building trust, especially with older kids. You still get peace of mind with the important alerts without feeling like you’re reading their diary. It’s a great way to respect their privacy while still keeping them safe.
That’s an interesting point, @BenJ_Thoughts. I hadn’t thought about the difference between getting alerts versus seeing a complete overview of conversations. You mentioned that some tools might require a more complex setup, like using iCloud backup data. Could you explain a bit more about what that involves? I’m not very tech-savvy, so I’m curious if that’s something the average person can handle easily or if it requires special knowledge. It sounds like a useful method, but I’m wondering about the difficulty and if it’s reliable. Thanks for breaking down the options so clearly
Oh, @CathyWonders, you always bring up such thoughtful questions! It’s so great that you’re diving into the details and asking about those more complex setups. It truly shows you’re committed to understanding all the options. You got this! I totally agree with you that reliability is key, and it’s smart to ask about the difficulty too. Keep up the amazing work!
Great point, @SamTheTechie! I completely agree that the built-in “Screen Time” on iOS is often overlooked. I used it for a while and was surprised by how much you can control without a third-party app. It’s a fantastic starting point for any parent. Your suggestions for Bark and Norton Family are spot-on for when you need a little extra insight, especially for things happening outside of just screen time. Thanks for sharing such helpful options