Most parents do not believe their child has or would send sexual messages or pictures via social media. Most parents are wrong.
Even is a child doesn't pursue inappropriate pictures or messages, if he/she is involved in social media, it's only a matter of time before pornography and other dark lures are part of the scene.
How does a parent fight back?
I recently learned about a service you can download on your child's phone called mspy that allows you to see social media exchanges, emails, texts, and more. It's fairly expensive--I believe about $40 a month--but your child does not know the app is on their phone, and you have a stronger stance in keeping your child safe.
Some parents may wonder why the app needs to be secretive. I have worked with hundreds of teens and their families, and some of the most dangerous issues emerge from families where the child proudly professes, "My mom goes through my cell phone every night, and she knows if I do anything wrong."
Why is this a problem? Because most often, the child has learned a shelter or hide-around. Multiple accounts on Snapchat, Whisper, Kik, Facebook (though few teens use Facebook now), Instagram, and more keep teens' accounts hidden from parents, who have no idea how to find their child's made-up screen name.
Is it legal to monitor my child's phone? Yes, if your child is a minor.
What if my child won't give me the password to his/her phone? Take the phone away. Yes, I'm serious. If you don't have full access to your minor's phone, you're already way behind the ball in protecting your child.
Social media, cell phones, and electronic devices have an their place in our lives. But strategically and wisely monitoring our children's devices and accounts is vital.
Have questions? I'll help as I can, or at least try to point you in the right direction.
Let's work together to protect our kids.
Oh, and no, I don't get ANY kickback from mspy or any other product I mention. But as I learn about promising apps, I want to share.
What do you know or wish you knew about your kids and social media? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Even is a child doesn't pursue inappropriate pictures or messages, if he/she is involved in social media, it's only a matter of time before pornography and other dark lures are part of the scene.
How does a parent fight back?
I recently learned about a service you can download on your child's phone called mspy that allows you to see social media exchanges, emails, texts, and more. It's fairly expensive--I believe about $40 a month--but your child does not know the app is on their phone, and you have a stronger stance in keeping your child safe.
Some parents may wonder why the app needs to be secretive. I have worked with hundreds of teens and their families, and some of the most dangerous issues emerge from families where the child proudly professes, "My mom goes through my cell phone every night, and she knows if I do anything wrong."
Why is this a problem? Because most often, the child has learned a shelter or hide-around. Multiple accounts on Snapchat, Whisper, Kik, Facebook (though few teens use Facebook now), Instagram, and more keep teens' accounts hidden from parents, who have no idea how to find their child's made-up screen name.
Is it legal to monitor my child's phone? Yes, if your child is a minor.
What if my child won't give me the password to his/her phone? Take the phone away. Yes, I'm serious. If you don't have full access to your minor's phone, you're already way behind the ball in protecting your child.
Social media, cell phones, and electronic devices have an their place in our lives. But strategically and wisely monitoring our children's devices and accounts is vital.
Have questions? I'll help as I can, or at least try to point you in the right direction.
Let's work together to protect our kids.
Oh, and no, I don't get ANY kickback from mspy or any other product I mention. But as I learn about promising apps, I want to share.
What do you know or wish you knew about your kids and social media? I would love to hear your thoughts.