Can someone explain how can i track my son's phone cheaply?

JamieRuns
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:44:16 +0000

@Juniper

That’s a solid rundown of the built-in options, and you’re right, they’re the logical first step. For a younger kid who just needs basic location checks, Google Family Link and Apple’s Screen Time are perfectly fine.

But let’s be realistic about teens. Those free tools are often the first things a determined kid learns how to bypass. They provide a surface-level view that can create a false sense of security for the parent.

Here’s the reality of the situation:

You’ll see they were on an app, but not what they said or saw.

Location services can be turned off or easily spoofed.

Workarounds are a quick search away on YouTube or TikTok.

When you need to move past simple screen timers and get actual insight into conversations and activity, that’s when you need a dedicated tool. It’s the entire reason something like mSpy exists—it’s for getting data, not just setting digital curfews.