In this hyper-connected space, children and teens spend hours on messaging apps, presenting a challenge for parents to monitor. From unknown contacts on WhatsApp to inappropriate content, the risk of unsupervised chatting is actually real. This doesn’t mean spying on your kids, but creating a more protective boundary where they can explore responsibly.
Factually, parental controls for WhatsApp empower parents to set healthy habits like limiting screen time or monitoring usage patterns. If you’re a concerned guardian, read the following article thoroughly to discover the top parental control apps. This article will also explain all the pre-built WhatsApp features available for parental monitoring.
Part 1: Is the WhatsApp App Safe for Kids?
On one hand, WhatsApp can be considered safe for kids when the app is utilized under proper guidance. The app offers end-to-end encryption, which guarantees that messages and calls remain private and secure from external interceptions.
It doesn’t even bombard users with ads or public comment sections, minimizing the risk of children encountering explicit content. Besides this, parents can even block contacts and control profile visibility to avoid unnecessary exposure to online threats.
Conversely, the app can be extremely unsafe for kids when used without supervision or clear boundaries. It lacks an automatic content filter, allowing teens to receive messages from strangers or be added to inappropriate groups.
Considering the absence of WhatsApp parental monitoring, kids can easily change their privacy settings, increasing their vulnerability to unwanted interactions. Due to all these reasons, it’s important for parents to take proactive approaches like using third-party monitoring apps.
Part 2: Top 3 WhatsApp Parental Control Apps
When parents recognize the mixed safety risks of WhatsApp, they turn to technology to help them stay involved. To make tracking more valuable, consider the following WhatsApp parental control apps, each discussed with tutorials for guidance:
1. iToolab SeenChecker
For all the parents worried about knowing exactly when their child was last active on WhatsApp, they can refer to iToolab SeenChecker. This activity tracker is made to determine someone’s WhatsApp usage even if they’ve disabled Last Seen activity. Apart from this, you can even view online statuses despite being blocked by your target.
While tracking, the platform provides instant notifications when the target comes online or goes offline. Plus, you’re offered a detailed chart of the tracked person’s activity and their last seen statuses for the entire day or week. Not only this, but users are allowed to spy multiple contacts at the same time using a single, basic, or clear dashboard.
Moreover, this WhatsApp monitoring app keeps your tracking data intact by using strong encryption, protecting it from unwanted access. Therefore, stay informed and protect your child’s online safety by downloading iToolab SeenChecker today to monitor their WhatsApp activity with ease and peace of mind.
GET IT ON
Google Play
Comprehensive Tutorial to Track Kids’ WhatsApp Usage via iToolab SeenChecker
To utilize this WhatsApp parental monitoring app, follow the provided tutorial and get started with instant monitoring:
Step 1 Access the SeenChecker and Enter the Person’s Details
First, open the app and enter the person’s details you want to track, including their name, phone number, and region. Now, toggle on the “Online Reminder” and “Offline Reminder” options as per requirement. After this, navigate to the “Start Tracking” button at the bottom of your screen to proceed.
Step 2 Connect WhatsApp to SeenChecker for Monitoring
Next, choose the “Connect WhatsApp” button and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your WhatsApp account to SeenChecker.
Step 3 Start Monitoring Your Kids Activity on WhatsApp
After connecting, you have to access the contact profile of your kid. You’ll see a detailed view of their last seen activity, including both online and offline timings.
Pros
- After reviewing details, you can head back to WhatsApp and chat with your target person.
- While monitoring, it displays the last time your kid was online with proper time details.
- The tool even shows the complete time duration during which the person stayed active.
- Without the user’s permission, the app won’t load their contact list for monitoring.
GET IT ON
Google Play
2. mSpy
mSpy’s parental control for WhatsApp is made to provide parents with complete visibility into their child’s WhatsApp activities, including multimedia files and group chats. The app automatically logs every incoming and outgoing WhatsApp message, providing access to call details.
It can even take a screenshot of conversations as soon as they’re received, giving guardians a way to record disappearing messages. Follow the provided tutorial and monitor WhatsApp activity through mSpy on Android/iPhone:
On Android
Step 1 Open Google Chrome on your Android, tap the address bar, and paste the link for the mSpy installer in the space provided.
Step 2 Tick the box to pass the captcha security check and press the “Download” button to get the app installed. Here, press “Allow” on all pop-ups to grant access to the phone’s data and follow on-screen instructions for all permissions. Once the installation completes, head over to the “Control Panel” and access the WhatsApp tab to monitor your kids’ activity.
On iPhone
Step 1 Visit the mSpy official website and create your account by buying a specific plan according to your requirements. Next, approve all necessary permissions and sign in to your mSpy account using the credentials sent to your email. Here, enter your kids’ iCloud login details, including iCloud account and password, to “Connect.”
Step 2 Following this, mSpy will send a 6-digit code for two-factor authentication to your kids’ iPhone. Now, type this code into the mSpy account to link their device and start monitoring through the WhatsApp tab on the dashboard.
Pros
- The app allows custom alert/keyword triggers for any inappropriate content on your kids’ phones.
- While monitoring, you can view live location and set safe zones to add further protection.
Con
- Full feature access needs advanced setup or complete iCloud access, which can risk device security, especially for iPhones.
3. Bark (Android| iPhone)
It’s a parental control WhatsApp iPhone and Android app that allows parents to schedule usage times, filter websites, and receive reports on activities. Through this platform, guardians can even receive weekly summary reports covering over 30 apps and categories, including location tracking.
Plus, the app uses AI to filter messages for contextual concern and adjust alert sensitivity. Explore the provided tutorial and learn how to monitor WhatsApp on your kids’ devices through Bark:
On Android
Step 1 Download the app directly on your kids’ Android, proceed with installation, and press “OK” for the Google Play Protect screen. On the parent’s device, copy the pairing code received from the Bark dashboard and enter it into your child’s phone.
Step 2 Follow the setup prompts in both devices, check all permissions, and press the “Continue” button. Later, in your dashboard, toggle the “WhatsApp” monitoring feature and set the sensitivity level to monitor.
On iPhone
Instructions: On iPhone, search for “Bark Parental Controls,” tap the “Get” icon, and the “Install” button to start installation. Open the app, sign up, and follow the setup instructions to connect your child’s device and enable permissions as prompted. Once done, set WhatsApp monitoring and notification on sensitivity from your dashboard to initiate tracking.
Pros
- Only shows flagged snippets, preserving privacy and building trust with responsible kids.
- You just need a time subscription to cover all children’s devices in the household.
Con
- Complete parental app access is available in selective countries, with regional limitations.
Part 3: WhatsApp Parental Monitoring with Built-in WhatsApp Features
After gaining knowledge about third-party apps, explore what you can do for parental control in WhatsApp itself:
1. Control Profile Visibility
Profile visibility settings allow parents to decide exactly who can see their child’s personal details, including Profile Photo or “About” status. Beyond basic privacy, profile visibility even teaches that not everything should be public, and they have the right to control who sees their personal information. It further reduces the chances of strangers using your child’s profile photo or status updates in inappropriate conversations.
2. Block Contacts
When you block suspicious or unknown contacts on WhatsApp, it prevents them from sending messages or viewing your kid’s profile. This is an important element of parental control for WhatsApp, especially when your child is receiving inappropriate messages from strangers. You not only stop incoming texts this way but also protect your child’s privacy and reduce their possibilities of cyberbullying, scams, and grooming attempts.
3. Turn On Live Location
The Live Location function allows you to examine your kid’s real-time location for a chosen duration directly through WhatsApp. Although it should be used with consent and to respect your child’s privacy, it’s a practical feature built into WhatsApp parental monitoring. It can establish a routine of checking in and being accountable, allowing kids to feel secure knowing their parents can find them. Head to the tutorial and turn on live location:
On Android
Instructions: Access “Control Centre” on your kids’ Android, press the “Location” icon, and open your chat on WhatsApp. Here, tap the “Attachment” icon, choose the “Location” option, and hit the “Share Live Location” option.
On iPhone
Instructions: Open your chat on your kids WhatsApp, then tap the “+” icon and choose the “Location” option from the menu. After this, press the “Share Live Location” option to send your kids’ location on your device.
4. Block Unwanted Contents
Even though WhatsApp itself doesn’t have a content filter, you can still manage to block unwanted content from showing up on your kid’s phone. This can be done by disabling Automatic Media Downloads and preventing inappropriate images or videos from being saved or viewed without your knowledge.
It even complements other WhatsApp parental control apps by reducing exposure to disturbing content and managing storage space on the phone. Go through the tutorial and learn blocking content:
For iPhone
Instructions: To do so, access iPhone settings on your kids’ device, and enter the “Storage and Data” section. Here, under the Media Auto-Download section, choose the “Photos” option and set the settings to “Never.” Repeat the same step for other contents like Audio, Videos, or Documents for restricting their unnecessary downloading.
For Android
Instructions: Gain entrance to your kids’ Android settings and choose the “Storage and Data” option. Under the Media Auto-Download section, uncheck boxes for Photos, Audio, Videos, and Documents for all situations listed. Once done, press the “OK” button to confirm your settings and disable unwanted content from downloading.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you might think keeping your children safe on messaging platforms isn’t easy, but parental controls for WhatsApp offer simple ways to do it. Either you opt for WhatsApp’s built-in privacy settings or dedicated apps for monitoring, you’re sorted anyway through this article. For parents who need deeper insights, they can refer to iToolab SeenChecker and keep an eye on their kids under any uncertain condition.
GET IT ON
Google Play
