New software can keep tabs on kids’ communications
PORTLAND, Ore. - From the Internet to cell phones, it's not east keeping tabs on teenagers these days.
Now there is a new way for parents to follow who is communicating with their kids. It's called My Mobile Watchdog. The new software makes it possible for parents to see phone calls, text messages even videos being sent to their children.
"We were having some issues with our granddaughter,” said Bill Kerr.
He and his wife Loretta decided to sign up for the service after their granddaughter Tammy came to live with them.
"Of course she resented it to start with," said Loretta.
"I was devastated, because I didn't want them reading everything that I said," Tammy said.
The program was created by Bob Lotter, CEO of eAgency Systems Inc.
Lotter says in a world with cyber-bullying, sexting and child predators, parents need to take precautions. He says My Mobile Watchdog does much more than simply monitors children’s phone use. It's a tool to help parents help their children make better decisions.
Here's how it works:
- Once you subscribe, parents have access to everything on a child's phone, including the address book.
- Everyone in the address book must be approved by mom or dad.
- If someone not approved contacts the child parents are immediately notified by text message and e-mail.
That was a feature Bill found very helpful. "If somebody strange walked up to your front door and wanted to see your daughter you'd want to know all about them. It's the same thing."
The software is also being used by law enforcement agencies around the country to catch child predators, some of whom no one suspected.
"Of the 315 people that have been arrested so far by law enforcement, 90 percent were not registered sex offenders," said Lotter.
As for Tammy, she understands why her grandparents subscribed, and she says it really wasn't that devastating after all. "It just became a natural for me."
My Mobile Watchdog isn't spyware. Part of its effectiveness is talking about it with your kids, and every so often a message pops up reminding the user that it’s on the phone.