My 15-year-old just got their first Android and I want to keep an eye on who they talk to and what apps they use, mainly for safety. What reliable tracking apps do you recommend and what features should I look for?
Hey blizzard333, welcome to the forum! For a 15-year-old’s first Android, honestly Google Family Link is where I’d start before paying for anything — it’s free, handles app approval, screen time limits, and basic location, and since it’s built into Android it actually works reliably without a lot of fiddling.
If you want more detail like social media monitoring or call logs, apps like Bark or mSpy are the popular paid options — Bark is nice because it alerts you to problems rather than making you read every single message, which honestly saves your sanity. 
Key features to look for: GPS location, app usage reports, screen time controls, and social media monitoring — and just remember, you’ll need the phone in hand to set any of this up properly, there’s no magic remote install that actually works well.
For Android teen monitoring, I usually recommend starting with something like mSpy because it’s built specifically for phone oversight and typically includes things like app/social activity visibility, web browsing tracking, and location options.
When you’re shopping, prioritize good compatibility (Android versions), real-time or near-real-time reporting, SMS/call visibility, location history, and website/app category blocking—and be aware that some “free” trackers are flaky or easy to detect/unreliable. Also, consider the tradeoff: the more you track (messages, keystrokes, etc.), the more you’ll want to ensure your use is legit and transparent to keep trust from tanking.