If you have children or teenagers, you need to know about parental monitoring software. Monitoring your children’s internet use is an important part of keeping them safe, but it’s a big job, and parents may not be able to handle it alone. Parental monitoring software can be an important tool in your toolbox when it comes to understanding your child’s internet use and heading off potential problems before they become serious. Here are a few things that you should know about this important technology.
Why You Need It
Today’s kids face challenges and dangers that their parents did not, thanks to the internet. Although internet-connected devices have many benefits for children and teenagers, like increased access to educational tools and information and improved communication with family and friends, they also come with a variety of pitfalls.
When your child goes online, they run the risk of finding content that’s inappropriate for their age. They may be targeted by cyber bullies or contacted by online predators that know how to spot, groom, and exploit vulnerable children and teenagers. They may also be victims of online scams, identity theft, or doxxing (the exposing of private and identifying information.)
Keeping your children away from the internet isn’t a realistic solution – eventually, they’ll need it for academic reasons, and once they’re adults, they may be expected to use the internet for work as well. It’s in your child’s best interest to learn how to use the internet safely and protect themselves from potential dangers, and they need your guidance to do that. Parental monitoring software helps give you the information you need to provide that guidance.
What It Can Do
Parental monitoring software lets you know what websites your child is visiting, what they’re searching for online, and who they’re communicating with through email and various instant messaging services. It can also keep you informed about text messages, phone calls, and apps your child installs on their mobile devices.
The World Wide Web is a big place. It’s important for parents to keep tabs on known sites that are popular with teens and known apps that are used by teens, but it’s impossible to know offhand what every single site or app may be for and whether or not it’s problematic. With parental monitoring software, you don’t have to guess – you’ll know exactly what sites your child is visiting and what apps they’re using, so you can focus on what they’re actually doing, instead of on what they might be doing.
Choosing the Right Software
There are many different parental monitoring software packages available, and not all of them offer the same features and benefits. It’s important to know what type of software works best for you and your family.
For example, if your family uses a mix of Apple, Windows, and Android products, you’ll need software that works across all of those devices, not one that only works for a specific brand. If you have multiple kids or multiple devices, you will need a software package that allows you to monitor all devices from one dashboard, rather than having to deal with multiple logins and passwords. You may need 24/7 technical support or want a software that your child won’t be able to remove or disable. You may also be looking for features like keystroke monitoring, GPS, the ability to recover deleted material, or the ability to take screenshots of certain activities.
It’s important to be sure that you’re choosing a parental software package that addresses your family’s needs. A temporary free trial can help you decide whether parental monitoring software is right for you. Get our free trial to find out more.
