Did you know that the average person touches, swipes, or clicks their phone 2,617 times per day? If that’s not enough to scare a parent, we don’t know what is. As technology continues to evolve, that screen time will only increase in the younger generation. Sometimes it feels impossible to get a handle on your child’s digital habits, but don’t worry! Here are a few apps give you back a little control (and provide some peace of mind).
iPhone Screen Time
It’s pretty obvious that kids spend a lot time in front of a screen nowadays. But do you know exactly how much time? If you aren’t taking advantage of the iPhone’s screen time application, you definitely should. This helpful new feature on iOS 12 is able to show you how much time you and your kids spend on apps, websites and more. That way you can make informed decisions about how you use your devices, and set limits if you’d like to.
Digital WellBeing
Similar to the iPhone screen time feature, Digital WellBeing has all the same functionalities but is better suited for Androids. The feature is able to tell you how frequently you use different apps, how many notifications you receive and how often you check your phone. You can set daily timers to give yourself limits, and use the ‘wind down’ nighttime that fades your screen to grayscale and turns on do not disturb to silence notifications for a good night’s sleep.
Circle with Disney
Circle with Disney (compatible with Android and iPhone) makes the impossible task of managing your family’s internet connected devices easy. This easy to use applications works with your home WiFi and lets you manage every connected device on your home network (wireless and wired), without needing to put software on them.
Google Family Link
Another Android app, Google Family Link helps your child make healthy decisions about what they do on their device, and offers activity reports showing how much time they spend on their favorite apps. Because it’s difficult to determine which apps are right for your child, Family Link shows you teacher-recommended apps that you can add directly to their device.
MMGuardian
Compatible with Androids and iPhones, MMGaurdian has high-level overviews, colorful charts and detailed report listings that enable you to see the big picture or dive into specific areas of concern. You can set time limits, block specific apps and games, and locate and track your child. You’ll receive alerts in real time if anything out of the ordinary happens, and you can even set up text monitoring using keywords that trigger an alert to be sent to you.
OurPact
Also compatible with Android and iPhone devices, OurPact is much more than a parental control app. It has all the same capabilities as the previously listed apps, but some of them may be offered only as premium features. But don’t worry! Even the premium features are less than $10 a month, so you can have all the control you want without breaking the bank.
