Should Parental Control Apps Be Installed on Teenagers’ Phones?

As children grow older, the idea of monitoring their phone activity can be controversial. Is it still necessary for teenagers to have parental controls, or should parents give them more freedom to navigate the digital world? What apps do you use to monitor your teenager's phone without coming off as too controlling? Do you think open conversations about safety are enough, or is tracking an absolute must?

 

Hello! I’ve gone back and forth on this a lot. My daughter is 15, and while I trust her judgment most of the time, the internet can be a weird place. We try to have honest conversations, but I still think some level of monitoring helps—just not in a “spy on every text” kind of way. I’ve been using Kroha Parental Control mostly to set boundaries on screen time and see app usage. It’s subtle enough that she doesn’t feel like I’m hovering, but it keeps things in check. That balance between trust and safety is tricky but worth aiming for.