Parents use apps to track child's cell phone, social media accounts

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It can be a difficult job for parents of teens with cell phones and social media accounts to monitor their online behavior.

That's why many are turning to tracking apps and monitoring software to keep up with their kids.

When it comes to her 12-year-old's smart phone, Jaime Stuart says she watches closely.

"There is no way I would not monitor him with everything that is out there," Stuart said.

She uses TeenSafe to track her son's texts and Instagram account. TeenSafe is just one of the many software tools available to parents can keep tabs on their kids, often without them knowing.

"We don't want to snoop as parents. We don't have time for it. But if we're going to be able to keep our kids safe and have a little bit of an insight to what they're going through, then I'm okay with it," Stuart said.

"They left this morning and they traveled this way to school, which is their route, and there they are right now," said mom Holly Huebner as she tracked her child.

Mom Holly Huebner started using the Life360 location app when her 17 year old started driving. The app alerts her when her boy reaches a destination and tracks where he goes.

"They left this morning and they traveled this way to school, which is their route, and there they are right now," said mom Holly Huebner as she tracked her child. "Not necessarily sneaking or going anywhere. Just making sure he made it somewhere safe."

Even major wireless carriers are getting on board. Verizon now offers Family Base that helps parents keep track of changes in a child's cell phone.

"You can view new contacts that are added so you can monitor your children's friends, you can see what apps they are downloading, how often they are using the apps, which ones they use the most," said Gretchen Whitaker with Verizon Wireless.

All the new technology is spurring a debate amongst parents - is using it good parenting or spying on kids?

"So many people are talking about the privacy issues," said Rania Mankarious with Houston Crime Stoppers.

Mankarious says 80 percent of kids have cell phones and parents need all the help they can get to keep up.

"These kids are in unchartered territory and we as parents, it's our obligation and our duty to make sure that their decisions are wise and that they are safe," Mankarious said.

At the same time, therapist Micki Grimland warns that monitoring your child's every move only works in combination with conversation.

"I think the technology needs to be an adjunctive to parenting. The talking is still the very most important thing," Grimland said.

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For more information on TeenSafe, click here

For more information on Life360, click here

For more information on Verizon Family Base, click here