A smartphone is a huge responsibility, especially for a child. Not only are the devices incredibly expensive, but they are also fraught with all kinds of potentialities for identity theft.

So how does a parent give their child a smartphone knowing with confidence that they will be able to handle it? Further, how does a parent protect a child from these dangers?

In this article we will offer you advice on how you can protect your child from the dangers of owning a smartphone. Not only will you be able to protect their identity but also you will be able to help monitor their activity.

One of the biggest benefits of giving your child a smartphone is that you will have the ability to contact them at any time no matter where they are. Of course, this also means that other people can do the same - and this is where your concern lies.

But this isn’t the only thing you should worry about: You also have to consider their ability to rack up huge in-app purchases, cyberbullying on social media apps, and viewing inappropriate web content.

Here are the three areas in broad overview that you need to address: Who your children can communicate with on their smartphone, what kinds of things they can view on their device, and what they are doing or are doing with others on their smartphone.

Discuss the above topics with your child and come to some kind of understanding with them. Of course, depending on the age of your child, you will probably have different boundaries.

Both Android and iOS devices have ways to allow you to remotely monitor cellphones.

On iOS devices, the process is quite simple. Parents need only go to Settings then General then select the Restrictions option.

Now you will be able to control all aspects of a user’s phone so that you know your kids will be using a safe device.

On Android devices, simply go to Settings and then select Add User or Profile.

Both iOS and Android allows parents to restrict web access, contacts, content, and in-app purchases. This pretty much runs the gamut of smartphone uses and should tailor your child’s experience to your expectations.

As stated before, there are also multiple apps available for each that allow parents to remotely monitor cellphones, such as Mobile Guardian and Screen Time. One interesting feature of Mobile Guardian is that it allows parents to disable texting while driving. This an awesome feature that should probably be rolled out across all phones and the fact that Mobile Guardian offers it is a real positive in their column. Do keep in mind though that these services are not free, but, then again, peace of mind often comes at a price.

If you’re looking for the most robust way to protect your children while they are on their smartphone device, then you should probably consider an app like Mobile Guardian or Screen Time. Not only do they offer you services above and beyond the settings baked-into iOS and Android systems but also they are tailored specifically to concerned parents and update their offerings accordingly.