Research on parental monitoring apps, such as mSpy, suggests that they can track and record online activities, including some messaging apps, but their ability to retrieve deleted messages is limited and often dependent on the app’s data retention policies and the device’s operating system. Studies on digital parenting have shown that while monitoring apps can provide parents with a sense of security, they can also undermine trust and have unintended consequences, such as encouraging teens to find ways to bypass surveillance (Hinkley et al., 2012).