my son is about to get his first phoneand i want to keep tabs on who hes texting without him finding out. has anyone used a free spy app that actually stays hidden, or do they all end up visible somewhere in settings?
Most “undetectable” free spy apps are either scammy, short-lived, or require rooting the phone which creates a whole other headache. Honestly for a kid getting their first phone, you’ve got way easier built-in options - Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time let you see a ton without any sketchy downloads.
My actual advice: set the rules upfront with your son so he knows the phone is monitored - kids with their first device honestly respond better to that than you’d think, and it saves you the cat-and-mouse game later. 