If you’ve recently Googled “how to see my child’s text messages on iPhone,” you’re not alone. Maybe you just recently took the plunge and gave your child their first phone. Perhaps you’re considering upgrading them to a smartphone. Or your kid’s had a device for ages, but you’re just now getting serious about monitoring their texts and keeping them safer online.
Regardless of the reason, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain why monitoring matters, walk you through three ways to view your child’s text messages on iPhone, and show you how BrightCanary offers the safest, most comprehensive option for parents.
There are two main factors to consider when it comes to reading your child’s messages: safety and independence. Let’s break it down.
While texting can be a wonderful way for kids to connect with family and their peers, it also exposes them to risks such as cyberbullying, toxic group chats, scams, and predators. Monitoring messages is a great way to support them as they learn to text safely.
It might sound counterintuitive that reading your child’s messages could give them more independence, but hear me out.
You didn’t decide one day to let your child cross the street by themselves with no preparation. First, you showed them how to look both ways, then had them practice with you by their side. Finally, you watched from a reasonable distance while they did it on their own. Once you felt confident they could safely handle watching for cars without you, you let them cross completely unsupervised.
The same goes for texting. Our children need us to teach them how to use their devices safely and responsibly, and that includes text messages. As parents, we can be more hands-on at first, and then give kids more space as they build their independence in stages.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
| iCloud Login | Free and allows access to synced messages. | Limited access to deleted messages. Manual monitoring is required. |
| Phone Spot-Checks | Good for casual oversight and helps build trust. | Time-consuming and easy for kids to delete messages before checks. |
| Monitoring Apps (BrightCanary) | Real-time updates, AI insights, and the ability to view full text message threads. | Requires setup and paid subscription. |
Here are the three main ways to view your child’s iPhone texts. But make sure you inform your child first. Going behind their back is a quick way to break trust. This isn’t about spying — it’s about keeping them safe.
As long as iCloud for Messages is set up on all the Apple devices your kid uses to text, you can log in to iCloud using their Apple ID and view their messages. You do have to manually skim through every message to look for problems, and you only have limited access to deleted messages, but iCloud is still a reliable way to view your child’s texts on their iPhone.
Here’s how to do it:
Limitations: iCloud only retains deleted messages for 30 days, and you’ll have to manually sift through conversations.
Another option is to directly check your child’s phone so you can look at their messages right on their device. Think of it more like a spot-check rather than a way to catch everything. Lots of parents take this approach, but it doesn’t capture everything. Phone checks are a good way to complement a monitoring app, especially if you turn it into a tech check-in.
Here's how to approach it:
Limitations: Messages can easily be deleted before a check-in, and frequent spot-checks may create tension if not handled carefully.
A monitoring app is a great way to balance safety with independence. BrightCanary uses advanced technology to analyze your child’s messages and alerts you to any red flags.
BrightCanary offers:
BrightCanary was specifically designed for Apple devices, providing the most seamless and comprehensive way to monitor your child's messages.
There are many apps that offer text message monitoring, but they are not all created equal. Here are some limitations to look out for when choosing an app:
BrightCanary is different from other apps that promise to monitor text messages on the iPhone.
Powerful AI insights give you detailed summaries of the messages, along with parental coaching tips. With our real-time concerning content alerts, you have all of the information you need to step in and address any issues with your child.
In addition, Text Message Plus users have access to deleted messages, going back as far as you’ve had an account with us. BrightCanary was designed for Apple devices and offers the most comprehensive and reliable monitoring for iPhones.
If you’ve recently found yourself searching “how to see my child's text messages on iPhone,” you have options. While iCloud access and spot-checks work in some cases, BrightCanary was optimized for the iPhone and gives you the most robust and reliable text message monitoring for iPhone users. Stay involved and informed with BrightCanary — download on the App Store and get started for free today.
While group text threads can be fun and socially positive for kids, they also have the potential to cause major friendship issues. If you’ve noticed that a group chat is a source of problems for your child, here’s how to remove them from the chat and how to support them emotionally as they exit.
Oh, the drama! If your kiddo is in a group chat, you’ve probably seen some level of friend drama come out of it. Here are some of the issues group chats can cause for kids:
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to leave group chats on iPhone and Android:
| Platform | Steps to remove from group text |
| iPhone (iMessage) | 1. Open Messages app 2. Tap the group thread 3. Tap the group name at the top 4. Scroll down and tap Leave this conversation |
| Android (varies by device) | 1. Open Messages app 2. Tap the group thread 3. Tap the three-dot menu icon 4. Select Leave conversation or Delete (depending on thread type) |
Note: If the group chat includes both iPhone and Android users, it may be an MMS group, which doesn't support leaving. In that case, you can mute or block the thread instead.
If your child uses an iPhone, here’s how to remove them from group text threads:
If your child uses an Android, here’s how to remove them from group text threads:
Sometimes, depending on the group’s settings or phone compatibility, your child won’t be able to leave the conversation entirely. In that case, try these options:
Physically removing your child from a group text might be simple, but helping them wade through the social dynamics and emotional fallout can be much trickier. Here’s how to help your child through it.
If it’s clear they need to actually leave the chat, you can help them come up with a plan to do so as painlessly as possible. Some ideas include:
Between their complicated feelings about leaving the group and the social ramifications of doing so, your child may need your emotional support through this process. Here are some ways you can be there for them:
Group text threads can be a source of problems for kids, including bullying, exclusion, and friend drama. Parents can help their children leave toxic text threads by helping them strategize and offering emotional support.
BrightCanary can help you supervise your child’s text threads. The app uses AI to monitor your child’s text messages (and other platforms), alerting you to concerning content — so you can step in when it matters most. Download BrightCanary and start your free trial today.
Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are the most popular social media apps for teens. But which is safer for kids? In this article, we break down the pros and cons of these platforms, what parents should know about online safety, and how BrightCanary helps parents stay in the loop.
| Feature | Snapchat | TikTok | |
| Best for | First social media app | Peer-based chat and interaction | Content discovery and entertainment |
| Parental controls | More robust than other platforms, but can be tricky to set up | With Family Center, parents can see who their teen is messaging and set privacy limits | With Family Pairing, parents can control messages, set time limits, and more |
| Messaging risks | DMs allow contact with strangers | Disappearing messages + pressure to respond | Less peer interaction, but Live chat risk |
| Content moderation | Algorithms and filters, but inappropriate content can still get through | Algorithms and filters, but inappropriate content can still get through | Algorithms, filters, and risk of exposure to harmful trends and feedback loops |
| Safety rating for kids | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
Snapchat is an integral part of many teens’ social circles. Here’s what to consider when deciding if Snapchat right for your child:
Instagram's emphasis on self-expression and the variety of ways users can connect with friends make the app a hit with kids. Here are the pros and cons of letting your child use Instagram:
TikTok is a social media app built around short-form content, and it’s one of the hottest apps for teens. Here are some pros and cons of letting kids use TikTok:
Snapchat, Instagram, and Tiktok all have their pros and cons for kids, but Instagram stands out when it comes to safety.
Instagram’s more robust parental controls and Teen Accounts make it the best choice as a first platform for kids who want to try social media with their parent’s support.
But even though Instagram is slightly better than the others, there are still risks associated with the platform. Regardless of what social media your child uses, here’s what we recommend:
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when choosing between Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok for your child. But with strong privacy settings and the best parental controls, Instagram is typically the better platform for kids starting social media.
It’s vital that parents take an active role in their child’s social media activity on all platforms. To monitor your child on social media, start your free BrightCanary trial today.
Parents are right to be concerned about the risks of social media for teens. But online communities for teens can offer powerful opportunities for connection, connectivity, and identity development — especially for marginalized youth.
If you’re concerned about traditional social media or just want to help your teen find a supportive space well-suited to them, there are plenty of safe online communities geared toward teens. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits, how to evaluate if a platform is safe, and share a curated list of trusted, parent-approved options.
There are many potential benefits to online communities for teens, including:
Before letting your child take part in an online community, it’s important for you to evaluate if it’s appropriate for them. Here are some “green flags” that indicate it’s a safe online community:
No site is perfect. Look for ones that have a solid number of green flags and take the time to explore the site with your teen to get an overall sense of the space.
Here’s our list of safe online communities and teen forums that you can feel good about letting your teen use:
TrevorSpace is a moderated social community designed as a safe space for LGBTQ people — and their straight allies — ages 13 to 24.
Backed by UNICEF, Voices of Youth is a blogging and co-creation platform that gives users ages 13 to 24 the chance to use writing, photography, and video to express their thoughts on the issues they care about the most.
Dedicated to the idea that any kid, anywhere, can learn any skill, DIY features hands-on project ideas, how-to videos, and a moderated, kid-first community guarded by parental controls.
e-Buddies is an online space dedicated to creating social inclusion and friendships for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendship matching, virtual social events, and a social platform.
The Young People of Color Forum is an online message board for young BIPOC users with strong community guidelines and a clear system for reporting issues.
Write the World is a nonprofit dedicated to developing teenagers’ writing and critical thinking skills. The website is a place for 13-19 year olds to share their writing, respond to prompts, attend writing workshops, enter competitions for free, and receive feedback on their writing from experts and peers.
Even with safer platforms, it’s important for parents to stay involved in their child’s digital life. Here’s how:
While online friendships can be quite meaningful, it’s also helpful to help your teen find ways to make friends in real life, too.
Although social media comes with risks, it can also be an important place for teens to find a safe, supportive community of like-minded peers. Parents should look for green flags like strong community guidelines, adult moderators, and positive parent and teen reviews. Even when teens use vetted online spaces, parents should still take an active role in monitoring their internet activity.
BrightCanary makes it easier to stay on top of your child’s digital world. Whether your teen is exploring new communities or chatting with friends, BrightCanary helps you stay in the loop through AI-powered monitoring, summaries, and concerning content updates. Download the app today to get started.
Social media use is nearly universal among teens. As many as 95% of kids ages 13-17 report using social media daily, and one-third say they’re on it “almost constantly.” As youth mental health continues to decline, many parents are left asking: how does social media affect teen mental health?
This article explores the current research on the negative impact social media has on teen mental health. We’ll also offer actions parents can take to reduce the risks for their kids.
The short answer: yes. Although social media does provide some potential benefits for teens, like connecting with friends or providing creative outlets, the negative impact on their mental health can’t be ignored.
In fact, teens who spend more than three hours per day using social media have double the risk of mental health issues compared to their peers. And in 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General warned that social media is contributing to the youth mental health crisis.
Here’s what studies have found about the link between social media and teen mental health problems:
By virtue of being online, teens are often exposed to factors that can contribute to anxiety and depression:
Even using filters can increase the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms the next day.
Research suggests that the misuse of social media platforms is likely a significant contributing factor in the development of eating disorders. Social media regularly exposes teens to:
These messages may contribute to disordered eating habits or worsen existing conditions.
Teens who use social media are:
One study looked across multiple social media platforms and found that the majority of posts depicting drug and alcohol use portrayed those behaviors positively.
One startling way that social media impacts teen’s mental health is by altering how their brains develop. A study found that the brains of adolescents who checked social media over 15 times per day became more sensitive to social feedback.
Other research has shown that frequent social media use could impact parts of the brain related to emotional regulation and impulse control.
The silver lining is that social media doesn’t impact every teen in the same way. Some of the factors that influence how social media affects teens include:
Because the impact varies from child to child, it’s paramount that parents stay involved so they can reduce the risk to their teen’s mental health and help shape their online experience into a positive one.
Here’s what you can do to help:
If your child experiences a mental health crisis, here are some resources for immediate support:
The best way to support your teen’s mental health is to stay engaged in their online activity — without micromanaging. A monitoring app like BrightCanary can help.
BrightCanary uses advanced technology to scan your child’s texts, social media, YouTube, and Google searches. You’ll get an update if they encounter something concerning, like self-harm content or bullying. It’s a simple way to stay informed and step in when it matters most.
Mental health issues are on the rise among teens, and experts warn that increased rates of social media usage is a contributing factor. Parents should monitor their children’s online activity and watch for any warning signs of mental health issues.
By staying involved, talking openly, and using monitoring tools like BrightCanary, you can help your teen develop a safer, healthier relationship with social media. Want to keep your child safer online? Download BrightCanary for free and get started today.
Adolescence on Netflix has emerged as the platform’s most popular offering of all time. It follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, who’s accused of murdering a classmate, and provides searing commentary on the ways toxic internet culture and unchecked screen time can impact children.
Let’s take a look at seven valuable lessons Adolescence provides on parenting in the digital age.
If Jamie’s parents had stepped in to support him when he was struggling socially online — and certainly when he started visiting hateful online forums in the “manosphere,” such as those promoting Andrew Tate — his story may well have ended very differently.
The thing about your child’s online activity is that it’s right there for you to see, but you have to be looking. It’s vital to stay involved in your child’s online activity so you can spot early red flags and step in before things escalate.
When Jamie hints to his dad that he’s being bullied, Eddie brushes it off. Similarly, his mother is worried about him spending too much time on his computer, but Eddie dismisses her concerns.
If you notice red flags in your child’s online behavior, such as evidence of cyberbullying, spending excessive amounts of time online, or messaging with someone they shouldn’t, don’t ignore it.
Act quickly to address the situation and support your child to develop healthier online habits.
Once Jamie starts viewing extreme videos on YouTube, the algorithm began feeding him increasingly disturbing material. Educate yourself and your child on the risks of algorithms and help them periodically reset theirs by blocking, unfollowing, or pausing certain content.
Want to know what your child is thinking about? Take a peek at their internet history and you’ll get a decent idea. In Adolescence, Jamie’s early internet history paints a picture of a lonely boy who’s struggling socially and is desperate to make friends and fit in. Then, it shows him progressing down a rabbit hole of digital misogyny until he’s ultimately radicalized against women and toward violence.
It’s important to check in — not to spy, but to understand what’s going on beneath the surface.
As Jamie’s social struggles grow, so does his screen time. He starts escaping online as a way to avoid the real world. His parents notice, but ultimately chalk it up to normal teenage behavior.
However, research tells us there are consequences to excessive screen time, including aggressive behavior and even violence. It’s important to set reasonable screen time limits for your child’s age and enforce them through parental controls and monitoring.
In the show, it’s revealed that Jamie was cyberbullied by peers, including the girl he ultimately murders. While it’s important not to blame the victim, it’s also important to acknowledge the role that being bullied played in Jamie’s ultimate radicalization.
Parents should talk to their children about cyberbullying, be on the lookout for signs, and step in if they spot a problem.
A key thread of the show Adolescence is highlighting what Jamie’s parents might have done differently, including not shying away from talking to Jamie when they started to notice trouble.
We need to empower our children to safely and healthily navigate online spaces and that includes talking with them about difficult topics.
Here are some conversation starters:
Netflix’s Adolescence offers invaluable lessons for parents, including the importance of talking to their child about cyberbullying, why parents should monitor their child’s online activity, and why they shouldn’t shy away from difficult discussions.
BrightCanary can help you monitor your child online. The app uses advanced technology to scan their internet activity and alerts you if there’s an issue. Download BrightCanary on the App Store and get started for free today.
It will probably come as no shock that the majority of teens access pornography online. But what might surprise you is that teens aren’t just using Pornhub and incognito windows — they’re finding porn on social media, Spotify, X (formerly Twitter), and other unexpected places.
Read on to learn the many crafty ways teens seek out adult content and what parents can do about it.
From music apps to social media, here are some of the surprising ways your teen could find explicit content online.
Teens can locate pornographic content through the search feature on social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat. Despite content policies that prohibit explicit material, creators have sneaky ways of getting around filters. This includes:
X is probably the last place you’d expect to find your teen — and that’s kind of the point. It’s not an app that’s popular with Gen Z, so it’s not on most parents’ radars when it comes to setting parental controls.
Also, users don’t need to sign up for an account or download the app to use X, so kids can access it anonymously through their web browser. On X, teens don’t even need to use secret hashtag codes to find porn. X recently updated its policies to allow “consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior.”
Given that X is a text-based platform, pornographic content looks a little different. Some of the forms it might take include:
Teens can find porn on most music streaming platforms. (Spotify’s porn problem has made headlines.) Here’s how pornographic content may show up on these apps:
Reddit is another surprising hub for porn. Reddit has scores of discussion boards — known as subreddits — dedicated solely to pornographic content. Content labeled NSFW (not safe for work) indicates explicit material. Although some explicit subreddits have an age verification in place, it’s easy for teens to bypass the filter and fib about their age.
Curiosity about sex and sexual relationships are developmentally appropriate for teens. However, pornography can set unrealistic expectations and negatively impact attitudes about sex. So, parents need to be proactive in talking to their kids about the problems with porn.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your teen from online porn:
When you talk to your child about sensitive topics like sex, relationships, and drug and alcohol use, include porn in your discussions.
Discuss how it can give false, and sometimes dangerous, impressions about real-life sexual experiences. Be sure to talk about consent and the fact that porn often doesn’t model this in a healthy way.
If you’ve already discovered that your child is accessing porn, here are some tips for handling the situation.
Take advantage of parental controls to limit your child’s ability to access certain websites and explicit content. This should be done on devices, individual apps such as Instagram, and internet browsers.
BrightCanary is a monitoring service that uses advanced technology to analyze what your child messages, searches, and sends on all the apps they use on Apple devices. If your child sends explicit messages or searches for inappropriate material, BrightCanary will let you know with real-time concerning content alerts. There's even an option to monitor the images and videos they receive via texts.
Teens are finding porn online in many unexpected ways, including X, Reddit, and Spotify. Parents can take steps to prevent their teen from viewing age-inappropriate content, from talking openly about the risks of porn to using a monitoring app to supervise their child’s activity.
BrightCanary can help you monitor your child online. The app’s advanced technology scans what they send and search, including Google and social media, and alerts you when something concerning comes up. Download the app and get started for free today.
Parenting myths have a way of persisting, especially when it comes to raising kids in today’s tech-driven world. Some of those myths include the belief that all screen time is bad for kids and that a child is safe online as long as they don’t use social media. Breaking these misconceptions is a vital step toward keeping your child safe and healthy online.
Here are 7 myths of the most common digital parenting myths — and what you should know instead.
False. Social media poses some of the biggest risks to kids. But there are plenty of other places they may run into trouble online, such as inappropriate content on YouTube, online predators in forums, and cyberbullying in toxic group threads.
False. Parental controls are fantastic tools that can limit your child’s exposure to things you don’t want them to easily access. But they aren’t foolproof. They work best as part of a broader strategy that includes open communication and real-time monitoring.
False. The part of the brain responsible for impulse control and decision-making doesn’t fully develop until around age 25. Kids have a hard time resisting the instant gratification from using a device, and they’re limited in their ability to think about the consequences of their actions online.
False. Not all screen time is harmful because not all screen time is created equal. There are even potential benefits with educational apps, video chats with family, or creative tools like music and animation. The difference is whether screen time is active or passive.
False. Many kids hide their online issues out of fear of losing their device or getting in trouble. Consciously working to foster open communication with your child helps, but it’s still not a guarantee they won’t keep something important from you.
False. This myth continues to persist, despite ample research disproving that video games cause violent behavior. That said, it’s still important to stay involved in your child’s gaming habits and know what kind of content they’re consuming.
False. Your tech-savvy kid may be able to run circles around you when it comes to the technical side of things. But they lack the emotional maturity to navigate online threats like cyberbullying, grooming by predators, and misinformation. That’s where you come in.
There are many myths about parenting in the digital age that are downright false, such as believing if your child knows more about technology than you do, there’s nothing you can do to help them maneuver life online. It’s important for parents to bust these myths and educate themselves about the reality of raising kids in the era of the internet.
BrightCanary can help you supervise your child online. The app’s advanced technology scans their online activity (including social media, texts, YouTube, and Google searches) and updates when they encounter something concerning. Download the app and get started for free today.
Nudify apps are a disturbing use of artificial intelligence (AI) that parents need to be aware of. These apps can transform a regular, clothed photo into a realistic fake nude image — usually without the person’s consent. And, unfortunately, teens are using them.
In this guide, we’ll break down what nudify apps are, the risks, and what parents can do to keep their kids safe.
A nudify app is a type of software that uses AI to generate fake nude images by removing clothing from a photo. These apps typically train their algorithms using large datasets of explicit images scraped from the internet, which allows the app to recreate realistic human anatomy and create deepfake images that appear startlingly authentic.
Nudify apps pose serious emotional, reputational, legal, and digital risks, and the consequences can be long lasting. They include:
When a nudify app is used without a person’s consent and the resulting image is spread, the victim may feel violated, traumatized, and objectified. They may feel anxious about who might see the photo and unsafe at school if the perpetrators are classmates.
Because the images look so real, the person in the photo often suffers damage to their reputation when others think they posed consensually for the photo. (Yes, this is deeply unfair, but it’s unfortunately the way of the world, and parents and kids need to be aware.)
Once an image is online, it’s nearly impossible to fully erase. Even if it’s deleted, it’s often impossible to know if anyone printed, downloaded, or took a screenshot of the image. Images created on nudify apps may remain a part of a victim’s digital footprint indefinitely.
If your child creates or shares images made with a nudify app, they may be suspended, expelled from school, or kicked out of an extracurricular activity.
Nudify apps are new territory for schools, and many have been accused of being too soft with how they reprimand kids who create nude images of their peers.
Nude images of minors, even when they’re generated by AI, is illegal under federal law.
State laws vary, but kids have been charged with both misdemeanors and felonies. If found guilty, depending on the state, they may be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives.
The best solution is prevention. Here are some steps you can take:
Because the risks of nudify apps are so great, it’s vital that parents talk to their children about the issue. Here are some talking points to get you started:
It’s never too young to teach consent — start early and refresh often. Be explicit that using nudify apps violates the consent of the person in the photo and is never okay.
Let them know there’s never any excuse for someone violating their consent in this way and that they should let you know if it ever happens.
Teach your children to be responsible digital citizens and think twice before they share anything online. If they suspect an image might be fake or if they think it might negatively impact the person in the picture, they shouldn’t share it. Instead, they should alert a trusted adult.
Be direct and clear about the potential consequences of using a nudify app or sharing images created with one. Kids aren’t always great about thinking about the long-term implications of their actions, and they need to know how serious the fallout could be if they use these apps.
Nudify apps use AI to turn clothed photos into fake nude images without the consent of the person in the picture. Use of these apps and websites can have devastating consequences for both the person in the image as well as the one who created it.
Parents need to educate their children on the risks and take steps to monitor their online activity so they can immediately take action if their child is involved in a situation using nudify apps.
BrightCanary can help you supervise your child online. The app’s advanced technology scans what they type and updates you in real-time when they encounter something concerning. BrightCanary provides the best coverage across Apple devices and online platforms where children are most at risk. Download the app for free today.
If you’re wondering whether an iPad is a smart choice for your child, you’re not alone. The iPad is one of the most popular tablets for kids thanks to its portability, educational apps, and long battery life — but it also comes with important considerations.
After all, with all the talk about the dangers of too much screen time, it can be hard to know if a tablet is the right choice for your kid. This guide will walk you through the pros and cons of iPads for kids, how to choose the best one, and how to set up an iPad with parental controls to ensure your child’s safety online.
As you decide if you should get your kid an iPad, one of the first things to do is to think about why you’re considering it and how you envision it being used.
Perhaps you’re looking for an easy-to-transport distraction for long car rides. Maybe you’re interested in educational apps for their enrichment potential. Or maybe you’re keen to make sure your child keeps up with their tech-savvy peers.
Identifying your motivation for getting a tablet for kids can help frame your decision as you weigh the pros and cons.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no devices for children younger than 2, with the exception of video chatting. Even if your child is old enough, that doesn’t necessarily mean an iPad is right for them.
Here are some questions to ask yourself aside from age:
If you're ready to purchase, here are popular options parents often choose:
Tip: Refurbished iPads from Apple can be a great way to save money without sacrificing quality.
Once you’ve chosen a device, here’s how to make it safer:
Use Apple Family Sharing to set up an account for your child. This allows you to manage their settings and monitor usage.
Apple Screen Time lets you:
In Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, you can:
Apple’s built-in parental controls are helpful — but they don’t show you what your child is searching, watching, or texting.
BrightCanary fills that gap. With BrightCanary, you can:
While it’s always a good idea to maintain some level of supervision over your child’s iPad time, a child safety app like BrightCanary is an excellent complement to your watchful eye.
It’s best to set rules around iPad use from the very beginning. Be clear with your child about expectations and if there are consequences for not following them.
The rules you set will depend on what’s right for your family, but here are some to consider:
Once you’ve established your family’s rules around iPad use, consider writing it into a digital device contract.
The standard iPad (10th Gen) is a great balance of affordability and features. The iPad Mini is better for smaller hands, while older kids might benefit from the iPad Air.
Go to Settings > Screen Time to create limits on app usage, content restrictions, and communication safety settings. You can also use BrightCanary for more detailed monitoring.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limited screen time for kids under 5 and no personal devices under age 2. Most experts suggest waiting until at least age 6 or 7.
It’s important that parents consider both the pros and the cons before getting their child an iPad and establish clear expectations around its use. A tablet is a connected device, and as such, it can expose your child to the entire world of the internet.
Parental control settings and monitoring apps can help give you peace of mind — and set a safety net for your child’s online experience. For the most comprehensive monitoring on Apple devices, including iPads for kids, you need BrightCanary. Get started for free today.
