bmarshall16105
Lurker
Is there a way to view my son's messages on my phone?
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viewing my son's text messages
- Thread starter bmarshall16105
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Frisco
=Luceat Lux Vestra=
Hello and welcome to the forums, bmarshall.
How old is the kid?
At the risk of seeming prudish, please allow me to ask what is preventing you from asking him if he minds you viewing his messages on his phone?
valorian
Android Expert
To my knowledge there is no app like this. This would be bordering on invasion of privacy and I don't think app developers want to go there. You could search through some of parental control apps in the Play store if you kid is still a minor but this would require access to their phone. If they are an adult you may be SOL.
If they are a minor you may just have to make them hand over the phone.
If they are a minor you may just have to make them hand over the phone.
Google turned up this app: My Mobile Watchdog | Parental Control Cell Phone Monitoring Software for Mobile Phones
I don't know that I'd personally want to see everything my kid said... I understand you want to keep them safe but they also need to be able to be themselves.
Rather than actually reading every one of their text messages how about something like this:
Tell them that you can see every text sent and received on the phone bill or online. Tell them you will check their phone periodically, and if you see that they are deleting text messages you will take away their phone.
Something like that is a compromise. They still have privacy and can still be themselves but it puts the responsibility on them to watch what they say and be responsible for their actions. They will know you are checking in and know the consequences if they are not following the rules.
I don't know that I'd personally want to see everything my kid said... I understand you want to keep them safe but they also need to be able to be themselves.
Rather than actually reading every one of their text messages how about something like this:
Tell them that you can see every text sent and received on the phone bill or online. Tell them you will check their phone periodically, and if you see that they are deleting text messages you will take away their phone.
Something like that is a compromise. They still have privacy and can still be themselves but it puts the responsibility on them to watch what they say and be responsible for their actions. They will know you are checking in and know the consequences if they are not following the rules.
bmarshall16105
Lurker
Yeah. Gonna have to just check the phone out then. He is a minor, I don't have any suspicions, just wanted to monitor his activity so i could nip something in the bud before it started. I trust him, but my parents trusted ME when i was his age. Lol
bmarshall16105
Lurker
OH! I like Brian's idea! Thanks man
Frisco
=Luceat Lux Vestra=
I agree with this. The "serious problem" is subject to opinion, but I do agree if we're talking about suspected illicit behavior ("sexting," drug involvement, etc). Even then I'd sit down with the kid and talk about it.
I hate the spying thing. Seems like a breach of all that is good between parent and child. It's hard because we're used to keeping an eye on them for their safety when they're tiny, but letting that morph into secretly spying on them as they get older is in my opinion wrong-headed parenting.
Good deal. If that doesn't work, search the Play Store for parental control.
If you want to keep this open, drop me a line, otherwise, I think you've gotten your ideas and these threads tend to turn into flame wars left unattended.
If you want to keep this open, drop me a line, otherwise, I think you've gotten your ideas and these threads tend to turn into flame wars left unattended.
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