Best App for Tracking or Checking in on Teen Phone Use

We've tried 5-8 different screen tracking apps in the past six months. They're all awful in different ways. Some can too easily be removed by the teen, some randomly stop working, some randomly stop tracking certain apps, some slow down tech speed considerably, etc. Read the reviews out there and take note of the negative ones. We found the negative ones to always be spot on in the end. We gave up. I did see Apple has a new tracking option; we may look into that, but honestly, we're so fed up at this point with what's out there. No one has a great product.

ETA: We didn't think our son was on social media, either. Surprise! He was quite active on Instagram and Snapchat.

If your son has an iPhone, the new iOS 12 update includes screen time monitoring. If he has an android, “Rescue Time” was just released for both platforms. It’s really great and that is what we have on our computers to monitor the kids laptop and computer activity.

When my daughter wanted to get on social media, part of the deal was that she had to let me follow her (she’s only on Instagram). If she decides to get on Facebook, she will then have to friend me.

This is a great time to sit with your son and go over all of the expectations that you have. Once information or pictures are put out on the Internet, it can’t be erased. I tell my kids - don’t say anything or show anything that you wouldn’t want your grandparents to hear or see. Also, if they’re tempted to text or email about someone, just remember, would you say that about that someone if their parents were in the room?

There’s a lot of good websites that have great information about how to talk to your kids about the responsibility of technology.

I don't know apps to check on social media use - in my house, it's leave the phone downstairs when you go up at night, and I have access to all apps and texts (not fool proof of course, they could delete them).

To keep tabs on the phone and kid, my friends with new drivers all use Life360.

No teen should have access 24/7 to the internet so when he has his down time - like you keep his phone over night so he's not up all night texting or playing games - just go through his phone.
He should know that you monitor his devices.
That should be the expectation - so he knows up front that you will see everything - and that should go a long way to keeping him in line and away from sexting or what ever other nonsense he could get into.
He should not expect any privacy on any device that you pay for.