Hidden Dangers of The APPetizing Smartphone

The smartphone can be one of the greatest gifts a tween or teen can be given by parents today. Presenting your youngster with an iPhone or Android device says to them that you love them and that you trust them. That you think they are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with owning such a device.

As you know, a smartphone is not a cheap gift. They can cost hundreds at the start—not including the cell service and data plan and the plethora of apps that your child will want. But don’t forget about the hidden costs … the in-app purchases. Many kids have inadvertently screwed their parents by upgrading to “FULL APP” status without them knowing. Hitting “BUY” before they realize exactly how much they are spending. Tracking text messages without installing software can be very helpful for a teenager who is attached to their device. 

While many app stores are trying to nip the unethical ways of some app developers in the bud, they can’t stop them all. Tweens are the most susceptible to these tricks—they download the app for free and are then goaded into purchasing extra food, coins, outfits, weapons, etc. later on in order to continue with their entertainment. It’s all quite … APPetizing. Tracking cell phones by number can help track how much they are spending on your phone. 

It’s a lousy way to do business. In fact it’s downright sneaky. And yet, it’s not illegal. So what can you do about it?

Parenting experts are all in agreement that you should activate the Parental Control on every device you entrust to a youngster. “You shouldn’t just give your child the power of God and let him have free reign with it,” said one such expert. “Kids become over-zealous when given a thousand choices—many of which are free—and will binge on them all. You know the saying, ‘Like a kid in a candy shop’!”

Of course, every parent should also sit down and have a long talk about what it means to own a smartphone; what dangers are out there; what temptations…. “It is every parent’s responsibility to not only make sure their children aren’t being made a target, but that they themselves don’t get caught up in anything immoral or illegal.” This refers to sharing photos that may have been sent to them of other kids or participating in some kind of online bullying via social media. “The Internet is still in its Wild West stage … the law hasn’t caught up to the ever-changing frontier that is the World Wide Web. What may seem illegal is still sometimes deemed legal. Yet it can come with a whole can of worms attached—worms that can land you and your child in some kind of legal trouble. Track phone location online while checking your email or on a work device. 

So, to avoid any legal complications, stalking, bullying, scamming or luring, experts also agree that parents should look into installing a high-quality spy app on their child’s device. “A good mobile monitoring app will allow parents to see who is trying to contact their child, what is being shared, where the child is at times and how much time that individual is spending on their device.”