[AC Question]

I need to be able to monitor what my kid is messaging to people and what is being looked at.

The phone is wifi only and I was thinking of switching to Whatsapp because there are (expensive) monitoring solutions available.

Please advise...

[timothypcook]

AC here...I thought I was logged in.

[Aquila]

What's the question?

[timothypcook]

Is there a recommended app for monitoring WhatsApp on my childs cell phone?

[pkcable]

I recommend the direct approach. Surprise them (sorta like how they give parolee's random drug tests), and request the phone IMMEDIATELY, don't give them time to delete anything. They are your kids and they should respect you and your rules enough to give up the phone when you want to check it. I'm not an advocate of the sneaky approach, be direct! Man up! They might get mad at first, but you are the father, and you are only doing this for their protection. Also likely you pay their phone bill, so technically it's YOUR phone anyways!

<off soapbox>

[timothypcook]

I hear what you are saying and I do that. The problem is that they can immediately delete something after they send or receive it. So surprising them would only work if I did it when they were in the middle of a text. There are third party services online to monitor the phone...just a bit expensive. I think I may have found an affordable one....I am just wondering if anyone has any experience with monitoring kids phones.

[hallux]

You can't use Whatsapp without first registering it with a phone number, that solution may not work if the device is WiFi-only.

I'm sure there are parental control/monitoring apps on the Play Store, I just don't have any personal experience as I'm single without kids.

[pkcable]

I hear what you are saying and I do that. The problem is that they can immediately delete something after they send or receive it. So surprising them would only work if I did it when they were in the middle of a text. There are third party services online to monitor the phone...just a bit expensive. I think I may have found an affordable one....I am just wondering if anyone has any experience with monitoring kids phones.

The one I have heard the most about and would SEEM to be legit is Net Nanny. Besides their PC monitoring software, they also offer mobile versions for Android and iOS.

https://www.netnanny.com/products/netnanny/

[Aquila]

Is there a recommended app for monitoring WhatsApp on my childs cell phone?

Sorry I misread your post; I thought it said that you had found an option. I agree with @pkcable, netnanny is a trusted name, although I'm not certain that it will allow you to directly read messages. You can on the other-hand set up a child profile on Android that lets you directly set which apps are available. Most of the options that I've seen (teensafe, mobilewatchdog, etc) are usually $10-15 per month.

[pkcable]

Sorry I misread your post; I thought it said that you had found an option. I agree with @pkcable, netnanny is a trusted name, although I'm not certain that it will allow you to directly read messages. You can on the other-hand set up a child profile on Android that lets you directly set which apps are available. Most of the options that I've seen (teensafe, mobilewatchdog, etc) are usually $10-15 per month.

Sometimes the carriers themselves have these services, but again it's usually a monthly fee around what Aquila said. I think Verizon charges 9.95? Also might not include what you are looking for, mostly the carrier apps are used for tracking (which can also be helpful) ("Dad, I'm at Sarah's!" "Well Verizon tracker says you are at Timmy's!!!!! Get your posterior home RIGHT NOW!")