Cell Phone Parental Control Software Review

Smartphones are computers that fit in the palm of your hand. Because these small devices have the power to connect to the internet, similar to your home computer, they require the same powerful protection. Your child's smartphone is their social hub and it allows you to stay in touch with them, but do you know what kind of information and media they're sending and receiving? Do you know what types of websites they visit? It's wise to keep at least some control over your kids' internet usage and wireless communication for their own safety and your peace of mind as a careful parent.

An increasingly common trend among teenagers is sending explicit content to one another or bullying their peers through messages and multimedia content on their phones. When your child has parental controls on their phone, it gives you control of the content being sent to and from their mobile device. Some of the best cell phone parental control software products allow you to set alerts if your child sends or receives specific keywords or phrases from a list you create. Additionally, you can view any text messages to see if your child is being cyberbullied or is cyberbullying someone else.

In our learning center, you will find articles on cell phone parental control software. Also, don’t forget to take a look at our top three software programs: PhoneSheriff, Mobistealth and My Mobile Watchdog.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

Cell Phone Parental Control: What to Look For

Each parental control application has a different area of focus. Some programs focus on logging the cell phone’s content, while others focus on features such as GPS monitoring, alerts and blocking content. The best software will offer a combination of these elements. It should provide several logging capabilities and additional features. Although, no matter how good the mobile parental control software may appear, make sure the software supports the smartphone you want to protect.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate this parental control software.

Feature Set
Mobile parental control software can offer a vast variety of features to fit the needs of you and your child. Several software applications give you control over the phone by allowing you to block certain websites and contacts and set time restrictions for the phone to be in use. Additionally, a good software application will include several further privacy features such as remote wipes or locks, in case your teenager loses track of their cellular device.

Logging
The best software will let you view your child’s call history, including the time, date and length of their phone calls. It will display all incoming and outgoing text messages so you know if your child is hiding information or has become victim to a cyberbully. Contact lists, photos, videos and visited websites will appear on the logs so you know what your child is viewing and who is sending it to them. As soon as your child accepts a file, message or call, the information will immediately be available on your account, so even if your child erases the activity from the phone’s memory you will be notified.

Ease of Use
For a software application to be beneficial, it must provide a user-friendly interface and simple navigation. The software must be easy to install and should remain hidden in the back of the phone so your child cannot tamper or disable the application. Some of the best software programs provide you a web account that gives you full control over your account. Having a web account allows you to view your child’s cell phone activity no matter where you are.

Help & Support
The best cell phone parental control software will provide customer support if any problems, concerns or questions may arise while installing or using the software. Telephone and email support are vital for providing excellent customer support. Additional resources, such as an extensive FAQs section available on the manufacturer’s website, are also beneficial.

A combination of these elements will provide the tools needed for you to keep an eye on your children. When using the best cell phone parental control software, you not only keep them out of trouble, you keep them safe too.