Uneasy about your kid's iPhone obsession? These apps can help.

Forget whatever you put on your holiday or birthday list when you were little — Gen Z kids will start asking for an iPhone as soon as they've mastered their parents' touch screen.

It doesn't matter what age your kid is: Whether it's their very first phone or their fifth, parents are going to worry about what's behind that scrolling and tapping. Parental control apps have come to be a convenient compromise between kids who really don't want to hand over their phone and parents who really don't want to have to confiscate it. 

How do parental control apps work?

At their core, parental control software lets you monitor your child's phone, tablet, or computer remotely. Corresponding apps are downloaded both on the parent's device and on the child's device. From there, parents can do anything from monitor internet searches and browsing history, block inappropriate or distracting apps, or limit screen time all together. It's a less invasive and more respectful method than physically snooping through their phone or computer — and when kids know that their activity is being watched or managed, good habits might stick better. Read more...

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YOUR BEST BET

Net Nanny

Feel better about your kid's TikTok obsession with NetNanny's social media feed filters and live web monitoring.

• Five devices: $54.99/year
• 20 devices: $89.99/year

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BEST FREE APP

Google Family Link

Set digital ground rules and use Google's location tracking without committing to a monthly fee.

• Free version: Yes

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BEST FULL CYBERSECURITY SUITE

Norton Deluxe 360 + Family Premier

Norton's combo of antivirus, dark web monitoring, and parental controls covers all of your bases.

• Norton Family Premier (without antivirus): $49.99/year
• Five devices with Norton 360 Deluxe: $99.99/year

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BEST FOR TEACHING SAFE HABITS

SafeToNet

Surveillance — not spying — is the idea behind this AI app that values privacy and encourages safe choices.

• Free version: Yes

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BEST FOR WIFI-ONLY DEVICES

Circle Home Plus

Instead of downloading software, Circle is a WiFi-based monitoring solution with a clean, color-coded app.

• Free version: Yes
• Circle subscription: $9.99/month
• Circle Home Plus (hardware device): $129

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