Free Tools
Qustodio
- Works on Windows, Mac (Apple), Android, iOS, Kindle and Nook
- Easy to download and install
- Blocks inappropriate content
- Enforce time limits
- Up to 2 devices
- Monitor web usage
- The full history of websites visited up 7 days ago
- For paid version, you get: Up to 5 devices, 30 days of detailed website history, Social monitoring (Facebook/twitter), games/application blocking, time control by the device
- For Android phones: location and text/call tracking
K9 Web Protection
- Works on Windows, Mac (Apple), Android
- Blocks access to certain categories of websites (gambling, dating, etc.)
- Time limits
- Choose between different levels of protection
- Force safe-search on search engines
- Allow/Deny specific websites
- Does not follow apps, programs, or games
Paid Tools:
Net Nanny Social
- 15.99/year
- monitors a child’s friends, pictures, and posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Google+ and LinkedIn
- detects harmful language and notifies parents
- sends all pictures posted of child or by a friend to parents
- Sign up via app, but accessible on any web browser
- Doesn’t identify possible dangerous friends
TeenSafe
- 14.95/month
- iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android phones
- Able to view sent and received texts (deleted if on iPhone
- View incoming/outcoming calls
- Location tracking
- Instagram posts, comments, followers
- Sent and received Whatsapp/Kik messages (only for iPhone)
- Website history
- View contacts
- Cannot see images/videos sent
PhoneSheriff
- 49.00/6 months, 89.00/yr
- Limit cellphone/tablet usage
- Block specific numbers from contacting
- Location tracking
- Monitor full text messages and call information (incoming and outgoing)
- Log of apps installed
- Website filtering/app blocking
- Profanity/Intrusion alerts
- Will notify you if something is being done that’s against restrictions
- Logs all photos were taken on the monitored device
- Full log of website history
- Not available for computers
Zabra
- 9.95/month
- brand new
- detects specific keywords and sends alerts
- alerts sent to email and as texts
- engages children in the monitoring process
- Monitors Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- only shows messages and posts that have flagged keywords
- doesn’t flag photos
Tips for keeping your kid safe on social media
- Light, Bright, and Polite
- Monitor their social media usage
- Make sure you have their login information
- Have them use technology in a public space (living room rather than their bedroom)
- Keep track of who their friends/followers are
- Know what form of social media they’re using
- Be there when they’re setting up their social media
- Warn them of the dangers of the internet
- Encourage positive social media use- staying in touch with old friends, etc.
“Bad” social media sites for tweens
- YikYak
- Chatroulette
- Tinder
- Omegle
- OKCupid
- Kik
- 4chan
- Tumblr
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