Monitoring My 12 y/o's Text Messages

It can be done if you want to sneak behind their back. Get their phone and add SMS Backup App to their device, set it to automatically back up SMS's. And use an email account of yours to send all the texts to.

A better idea (in my opinion) is, since you are the parent, set rules. You get to take the device and look at texts at anytime. Let them know if the amount of texts listed on the phone do not match the number shown online, all texting will be blocked, or the phone will be taken, or a number of other consequences.

Kids need to learn there are negative results by not following the rules. They will respect the parent more by working with them this way than sneaking around to get messages.

My two cents

All comments

you have 2 options

1. get an app that forwards all messages they send/receive to your phone

2. ask them to see their phone, compare all messages with timestamps on your online account

if theres a missing message, then disable texting

of course there is email too and third party apps that you will never know what they send/recieve

Kids need to learn there are negative results by not following the rules. They will respect the parent more by working with them this way than sneaking around to get messages.

My two cents

mdram4x4 wrote:
you have 2 options
1. get an app that forwards all messages they send/receive to your phone
2. ask them to see their phone, compare all messages with timestamps on your online account
if theres a missing message, then disable texting
of course there is email too and third party apps that you will never know what they send/recieve

Beat me to it....again!

:smileyhappy:

i think the board needs a parenting forum

Thanks, mdram4x4. An app is actually what I'm looking for. Taking the phone from her to view messages doesn't work as she deletes. I truly want to trust her but it's the boy I'm more worried about. Thanks, I will search the internet for apps.

rcschnoor

Yes, there are apps which you can put on the phone. Searching in the Android Market with "SMS monitoring" came up with the following along with others

SMS Tracker Agent

Phone monitoring Pro+

of course whats to prevent her from turning the app off

Thanks budone. This actually sounds like a very good idea. I will search the net for an SMS backup app. I have set rules but rules don't seem to be working. I want her to have a phone for her security/safety when she's out, but 300 text message to this young man is becoming far too worrisome LOL. Thanks for your help.

True. Fortunately, I don't think she's that technologically astute. Fortunately, I work in IT so I have a little advantage over her, plus I believe I can also hide any app so she can't see it. LOL

then may a suggest a basic phone

block all numbers but yours or others needed for emergencies

block all text messaging

get vzw parental controls

Wonderful. Thank you so much.

LOL! I think that's one of the best answers received so far. We parents need to learn how to outsmart our kids, and teach one another how to do so with this sophisticated technology. Now, if her Smart Phone could just help get her homework done and make her smarter, I wouldn't feel so bad.

Block text messaging

Yeah, Verizon Parent Controls sounds like a good option. Need to investigate this.

SallyC

Makes me glad my "baby" is in his early 30's and has his own child to worry about.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Tell you, SallyC, if I had it to do over again, I definitely would have given stronger consideration -- NO CHILDREN! Boys are so much easier to deal with. Girls? I'm beginning to think a shotgun, stun gun and mace are a necessary evil! LOL

SallyC

The problem, Anyar, is that your authority as a parent has been seriously eroded by the institutions that should be trying to help you. If you daughter is as smart as I think she is, it won't be long before she'll be telling you "If I'm back in less than 24 hours, I'm not a runaway. If I tell you where I'm going, I'm not a missing person." and then she'll walk out the door. If you try and stop her you will be charged with assault so your only course of action is to call 911 who can pick her up and talk to her, but it doesn't sound like she's much into talking unless it's with her "friend."

Seriously, get some professional help because this situation has bad written all over it.

Bet ya did not expect a thread full of parental suggestions. All who have posted are not being mean but sharing from their own experiences.Some of us long termers have seen this same situation over and over on here.

Do know most on this board are a great bunch!

Everyone seems like a great bunch but, NO, I didn't expect this! After reading some of the comments, sounds like I should call the police and have her locked up in juvenile!! LOL!! She's a great kid, with pretty good grades. Just had concerns over this one little boy she's texting with. As I mentioned before, I work midnights, so she's with my mom M-F. My Mom allows her to get away with much, unlike when she's with me on weekends. Hopefully my schedule will change soon so she's with me all week. Thanks for all your help, budone!!

B33

Sounds like your typical teen age young-an. An Mam my niece has 3 girls 1 that's 11 an 2 twins that are 2 years behind her. When she had the twins she had a knot on the back of her head they discovered it was malignant melanoma but they got it in time a the twins were delivered safely an are doing fine. But she has her hands full an the oldest one thinks she's 18 an you better stay out of her way.I wonder what she's gonna be like when she get's 18. Me an my folks have a laugh about it every now an then an my mom says none of you was as bad as you sister was.

But i do remember a couple times when mom was mad at me an she chased after me around out side the house to spank my Butt. My Aunt on the other hand had what i call the gift when U was in trouble you got the switch an if broke.. you went an got another one. An there was no 1 2 3 or a 4 count before you got it.! Nor did she wait till my uncle got home to care of business with the boys an the age did'nt matter my oldest cousin on his 16th birthday got it. But kids will be kids an we all need to enjoy them as much as we can.