Best way to keep a check on kids text messages?

[geek84]

Good Morning

I have 2 teenagers, who constantly use their mobile phones to send/receive text messages.

Is there any way I can check what messages they are sending/receiving?

They are good kids generally, and I do trust them, but because of their age, I don't want them to fall into bad company.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[noseall]

Clasp phone - press relevant buttons - read text.

Then get another teenager to translate.

 

[^woody^]

Don't forget to read their personal diaries, and if you can't pay a friend to spy them for you at playtime, consider a bugging device of some sort.

Remember to check your wife's personal messages too, in case she falls in with the wrong crowd while bored at home or work.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Good luck Geek, my son's pass code on his phone is 22 numbers long.

He only showed me when I took it off him and said 'open the phone or lose it'!

Andy

 

[chirpychippy]

Creepy

 

[Shutpa]

I have 2 teenagers, who constantly use their mobile phones to send/receive text messages

........ and that is because they're teenagers!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Unless you have evidence that they are into something that they shouldn't be into, or associating with other teenagers known to be off the rails, I suggest that you let them grow up, make, and learn from their own mistakes, and develop into happy, went balanced individuals. I did that and have absolutely no regrets.

 

[Tim84]

What phones have they got? iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, other?

Are you trying to do this discreetly (could be controversial) or will it be a case of letting them know you're monitoring messages and putting something on their phone with their consent?

Either way, if they want to communicate securely without you knowing about it then you can pretty much guarantee they'll find a way. What's App, Facebook Messenger, BBM, chat boards, good old phone call etc. You can't monitor everything so if they are determined to fall into a bad crowd via the medium of mobile then they most likely will.

Don't forget to content lock the phones with your network too so at least they cannot look at porn and other unsavoury (for teenagers) sites. Same goes for home broadband connection.

 

[^woody^]

Don't forget to stalk their social media accounts too, adding likes, favouriting and +1'ing, with comments and words of guidance from mom/dad. Just so they know you care.

 

[Himaginn]

You needn't worry about them accessing GD Form, at least. This will be too juvenile for them.

 

[blightymam]

You needn't worry about them accessing GD Form, at least. This will be too juvenile for them.

And you're on it because....?

Kids - gotta be a time you start to trust them, unless you very much suspect something bad or they are in danger. If so, I'd ask em outright to see the phone as it's better than snooping. Better to get that kind of relationship with your kids where you can ask and speak about things rather than snoop, even tho easier said than done!