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Welcome to the SPPS Online Safety page. Here at SPPS, we understand that children have access to technology from a very young age and the benefits this can bring. We believe also that it is crucially important for their development and mental health that they begin to form a healthy relationship wit…

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https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/234609/childrens-media-use-and-attitudes-report-2022.pdf

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Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Tips, advice, guides and resources to help keep your child safe online

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Keeping Children Safe Online - Online Safety Tips for Parents

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Keeping Children Safe Online - Online Safety Tips for Parents

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Discover our six top tips to support your child’s online wellbeing and take our family quiz.

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https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/have-a-conversation/#:~:text=Conversation%20starter%20ideas&text=Ask%20them%20about%20how%20they,on%20the%20services%20they%20use.

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A simple and effective way to get involved with your children and their lives online is through discussion. By maintaining an open dialogue with your child and encouraging them to talk to you about their internet use parents can help children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer whilst keeping them safe online.

Conversation starter ideas

1. Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.

2. Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?

3. Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.

4. Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.

5. Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online?

Resources to help start the conversation

Our family agreement provides a framework that will help families set clear expectations for positive and safe internet use.

Let's Talk About Life Online is a short leaflet for parents and carers designed to support productive and postive conversations.

Talking about difficult topics

Often children and young people can see the internet as a source of information and knowledge when they have important questions about their lives, bodies and the world around them and their internet use can raise the need to have a conversation about some very difficult topics.

We understand that talking about these issues can be a daunting prospect for many parents but it is important to remember that you are the best people for your children to talk to. Below you can find links to some great organisations with more advice on how to tackle these difficult topics.

Helpful links for having difficult conversations

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A simple and effective way to get involved with your children and their lives online is through discussion. By maintaining an open dialogue with your child and encouraging them to talk to you about their internet use parents can help children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer whilst keeping them safe online.

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Safer internet day - Conversation starters for parents

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Safer internet day - Conversation starters for parents

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Safer internet day - Conversation starters for parents

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Interland - A great Online Safety game for children from Google.

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Interland - A great Online Safety game for children from Google.

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Interland is an adventure-packed online game that puts the key lessons of digital citizenship and safety into hands-on practice. Play your way to being Internet Awesome.

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Parental monitoring apps and websites for children's devices.

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Parental monitoring apps and websites for children's devices.

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Children of all ages use tablets, phones, computers, and other devices to play games, do homework, and watch videos. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child spends seven hours a day in front of screens. That's more than twice the amount of screen time recommended by the AAP.

And while technology can be a good educational resource for school-aged children, it can also be challenging to find a balance. Parental control and monitoring apps can help you manage and monitor your child's screen time. These apps can also block certain content, set limits on app usage, and help you see what your child is doing online. Here are our top picks for the best parental control and monitoring apps.

Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps of 2023

Final Verdict

The best parental control and monitoring app often depends on your family's needs, including the device type and age of your children. But Screen Time has a comprehensive approach to managing screen time, app usage, and content filtering that makes it the best choice for many families. And at just $7 per month, the premium plan is feature-rich and affordable. If you're looking for real-time monitoring of your child's phone, Qustodio is an excellent choice. The app offers a personalized dashboard with up-to-date information on your child's app usage, browsing history, and more.

Guide to Choosing a Parental Control and Monitoring App

Deciding on the best parental monitoring app for your family ultimately comes down to your unique needs and parenting style. But keep a few key factors in mind when narrowing down your options.

Age of child: If you have young children, you'll want an app that offers basic features like web filtering and activity reports. For older kids, you may want to consider an app with more advanced features like text and social media monitoring.

Types of devices: If your child only uses a smartphone or tablet, look for an app compatible with their device's operating system. If they use a computer, look for an app that offers features like web filtering and activity reports.

Budget: Parental monitoring apps can range in price from free to several hundred dollars a year. Choose an app that fits your long-term budget.

Features: Decide which features are most important to you in an app. Some popular features include web filtering, activity reports, text and social media monitoring, location tracking, and panic alerts.

Reviews: This is a great way to get an unbiased opinion on an app's features and performance. Reviews help you identify potential problems and decide if an app suits your family.

The best parental monitoring app offers multiple features, ease of use, and affordability for families of all sizes. Monitoring online activity, social media use, and screen time can help keep your kids safe online. Location features like GPS tracking and geofencing can also help keep tabs on your kids' whereabouts. Geofencing lets you set virtual boundaries and receive alerts if your child crosses them-and GPS tracking enables you to see their exact location at all times.

Look for an app with a clean, user-friendly interface that is compatible with all your devices. That way, you can monitor your kids' activity-no matter where they are or which device they use.

Compare the Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology

We reviewed over a dozen monitoring apps and read hundreds of user reviews to find the best parental monitoring apps available. We focused on apps that are compatible with multiple device types, offer a wide range of features, and are affordable for families of all sizes. Location features like GPS tracking and geofencing were also important, as well as the number of devices the app can monitor simultaneously. Finally, we chose apps that offer advanced security features like content filtering and social media monitoring to keep kids safe online-no matter their device type or preferred online platform.

Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps of 2023

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Children of all ages use tablets, phones, computers, and other devices to play games, do homework, and watch videos. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child spends seven hours a day in front of screens. That's more than twice the amount of screen time recommended by the AAP.

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Supporting children - Social pressures linked to friends and followers.

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Supporting children - Social pressures linked to friends and followers.

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Social Pressures linked to friends and followers

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Online safety poster - Example from the National Online Safety

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Online safety poster - Example from the National Online Safety

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Safer internet day resources from our in school day. 

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Safer internet day resources from our in school day. 

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Safer Internet Day 2023 - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 170 countries worldwide.

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Social media guides - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Find out more about the safety features available on popular social networks.