Today, kids are at a higher risk of online threats than ever. From inappropriate content to cyberbullying and online predators, teens are more vulnerable to the effects of digital technology on mental health and well-being than any other age group.
As a parent, monitoring your child’s online activities is essential to keeping them safe. However, that’s easier said than done. Many kids are smart enough to hide their online conversations with friends and strangers.
Luckily, this post covers the most effective methods you can use to track their activities anytime, anywhere.
Method 1: Tracking App
A tracking app offers the most reliable and effortless way to monitor your kid’s text messages without even touching their phone. These apps come with a range of features that allow you to keep an eye on your child’s text messages remotely. However, not all apps are the same. Some are better than others. Let’s look at the best apps for monitoring someone’s texts.
Msafely
Msafely is an advanced SMS tracker that lets you know what your child is up to at any time. The app has features that provide insight and control of how your child uses their phone. Parents can discreetly see who their kids are talking to without them knowing.
Key features of Msafely
- No-app Installation – Msafely’s cloud-based technology lets you monitor your kids’ phone remotely without installing any application. Unlike other software, it saves more time, effort, and avoids detection. With no logos or icons, Msafely lets your monitoring stay completely invisible!
- Comprehensive monitoring – The app provides detailed monitoring of your child’s text messages. You can see all incoming and outgoing messages alongside additional details time, date, and name. Additionally, you can see deleted texts.
- Real-time monitoring – Msafely tracks your child’s texts in real time, allowing you to respond instantly to potentially dangerous situations. You’re guaranteed to get those texts on time before any harm comes to your child.
- Social Monitoring – Besides text messages, nowadays more kids are using different social media platforms to chat. Msafely supports tracking more than 13+ platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, Whatsapp, Line, Tinder, Facebook, etc.
- Anonymous tracking – With Msafely, you don’t have to worry about finding a balance between monitoring your child and respecting their privacy. This is because they won’t know you’re tracking their texts. The app operates in stealth mode, collecting the information you need to figure out what they are up to.
- Location tracking – The GPS location tracking feature lets you see your child’s current and previous locations on a detailed map. So, if you’re worried that they could wander off to meet a stranger, this feature will let you know where they are.
- Geofencing – Are you worried that your kids might enter some dangerous zones? This feature can help you set boundaries around not only important spots but also the zones you don’t want to let them in. You’ll get instant alerts when your kids enter or exit these areas.
- Keyword Alert – As parents, we are always concerned about our child looking for pornographic or violent content, or exchanging some private information with strangers. With the Msafely keylogger function, you will get alerts on specific words and phrases you set. You can check all content containing dangerous words or phrases and view the time and location of keyword usage.
Msafely Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Straightforward setup process without needing direct phone installation.
- Operates in an undetectable stealth mode.
- Captures standard SMS and iMessages effectively.
- Able to recover and display deleted text messages.
- Offers the feature of monitoring messages on social apps.
- The online dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate for reviewing data.
- Works on both iOS and Android devices.
Cons:
- Requires having the target device’s iCloud or Google account credentials for the easiest setup options.
- No free trial period to test the service before committing to a subscription. (A demo is available)
Msafely Pricing Plan
This parental control software offers tiered subscription plans. A one-month plan is available for $49.98. For longer periods, the 3-month plan offers a lower monthly rate at $28.32. The 12-month plan offers the best value, effectively reducing the price to $11.66 per month (billed annually).
Monthly Plan | Quarterly Plan | Annual Plan |
$49.98/mon | $28.32/mon | $11.66/mon |
How to use Msafely
The process is simple:
- Sign up: Create your account for free on the Msafely website.
- Choose the device type: Select ‘iPhone’ (or ‘Android’ if needed).
- Choose a suitable subscription plan: Select the plan that fits your requirements.
- Get access to the target phone: For iPhone, enter the target’s iCloud credentials. For Android, use Google Cloud sync (no installation) or hidden APK install.
- Once set up, access the online dashboard to view keylogs and other monitored data.
Method 2: Use Google Web Messages (for Android) or iCloud (for iPhone)
If you can’t use a phone tracking app for one reason or the other, there are other methods you can use to see who your child is talking to. Although they are not as effective as tracking apps, they can still get the job done.
The Google Web Messages method lets you see all SMS and MMS on the target phone. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Launch the Messages app on your child’s phone
- Tap the three dots menu and choose “Device Pairing”
- Now, go to your PC and open Messages for Web on your web browser
- Sign in using your child’s credentials, click the three dots, and enable the “Remember this device” toggle.
- Use your phone to scan the QR code on the web page.
However, with this method, your child can tell that someone has read their messages.
If your child uses an iPhone or any Apple device, you can access their texts via iCloud. However, first, you must log in to their iCloud account. Follow these steps:
- Go to iCloud.com on your web browser or open the iCloud app on your phone
- Log in to your child’s account using their credentials
- Check iCloud settings to see if the Messages option has been enabled
- View the synced text messages in their iCloud account
The downside of this method is that you won’t be able to see the texts if iCloud syncing is disabled.
Method 3: Mobile carrier services
It’s also possible to read your child’s text messages via the website or app provided by your child’s mobile carrier. However, most carriers charge a fee for this service. Keep in mind that not all carriers offer these services.
It’s therefore important to contact your child’s mobile carrier to see if they offer the services. You may also want to know what information they can allow you to access and at what price. Some carriers may only allow you to access your child’s texts if you prove they are in danger or provide authorization documents from the relevant authorities in your country.
Conclusion
Monitoring your child is crucial in keeping them safe from online threats. While there are many methods you can use, using a tracking app like Msafely is the most effective and effortless way to monitor your child’s texts.
The standout feature of the parental control software is that it does not require you to install an app on your kid’s phone. Besides message tracking, you can do a lot more with Msafely. You don’t even need to touch their phone. It’s the most legitimate tracking app with working features and easy pairing. Worry less, start protecting today with Msafely!
FAQs
Q: Does Msafely require rooting or jailbreaking the target phone?
A: No, Msafely does not require rooting for Android or jailbreaking for iPhone to provide its monitoring features.
Q: How is Msafely different from a free spy app?
A: Free apps often lack reliability, stealth, comprehensive features, and dedicated support, whereas paid services like Msafely offer robust performance and discreet operation.
Q: What should I do if I find my child is being subjected to online violence or frequently interacting with strangers, or encountering inappropriate content?
A: First, gently communicate with your kids to see if they are willing to reveal their situations to you. If the answer is yes, then you can both work together to come up with solutions. This is the best scenario; If your child is reluctant to disclose, you can consult an expert for professional advice.