Top 5 Apps for Monitoring Social Media Activity & Usage

Social media has become an inseparable part of daily life, especially for teens and young adults. As of April 2025, over 5.31 billion people (nearly 65% of the global population) are active on social platforms. 

Gen Z users now average over 9 hours of screen time per day, and studies show 41% of U.S. teens exceed 8 hours daily. Much of this time is spent on apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. This surge in usage and increased screen time is increasingly linked to issues like anxiety, sleep disruption, and academic decline. 

To address these growing concerns, many parents and guardians are using social media monitoring apps as a preventive measure. In this article, we’ll review the top 5 apps for tracking and managing digital activity effectively.

1. Xnspy

Xnspy.com is a comprehensive social media monitoring app that informs you about every digital activity on a target device. With real-time updates and constant background monitoring, it provides precise data and detailed analysis reports. The easy installation process and intuitive dashboard make Xnspy.com user-friendly for everyone.

Features

• Screen Record: Xnspy remotely records the screen activity of the target device by capturing periodic screenshots to view what the target user is doing in real time. This feature works across different social media apps, including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.

• Chat Monitoring: The app also captures and logs text from popular social media apps. You can read entire chat threads, including deleted messages.

• Keylogger: The built-in keylogger tracks every word typed on the phone, including passwords, search terms, emails, and social media messages.

• Keyword Alerts: You can create a custom list of sensitive keywords. If any of those terms appear on the target device, Xnspy instantly sends an email alert.

• Screen Time: Xnspy social media monitoring app provides detailed analytics on how much time is spent on each app daily or weekly.

• Installed Apps: The app generates a complete inventory of all applications currently installed on the target device, even the hidden ones.

• Block Apps: Xnspy lets users remotely block access to specific apps that may be deemed harmful or inappropriate.

• Multimedia Monitoring: You can access all multimedia files stored or shared via social media platforms or messaging apps.

• Remote Controls: In case of security breaches, you can remotely lock the phone or delete all its data.

Drawbacks: The support is only available via chat or ticket generation.

Price: Xnspy Basic Edition costs $4.99/month (billed annually), and the Premium Edition costs $7.49/month (billed annually). 

2. MSafely

MSafely is a parental monitoring app that focuses on safe social media and internet usage among children and teens. The app offers social media tracking, screen time management, and activity alerts. 

MSafely’s intuitive design makes it easy to monitor multiple devices simultaneously. It provides cloud-based reporting and actionable insights into a child’s digital habits.

Features

• Chat Monitoring: MSafely monitors messages sent and received on popular social media and messaging platforms. It logs chats from apps like Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc. 

• Screen Time: It separately provides usage hours for today for every app. 

• Keylogger: MSafely’s keylogger tracks every keystroke on the target device, including messages, searches, and comments. 

• Keyword Alerts: You set up a list of high-risk keywords. Whenever these are typed in the phone, MSafely sends real-time alerts so guardians can respond promptly.

• Web History: MSafely gives you access to every website visited through browsers. 

• Block Websites: You can also block access to websites related to adult content, violence, self-harm, drugs, or other inappropriate topics. 

• App Blocking: With this feature, MSafely lets you block access to selected apps. It’s useful for controlling the overuse of gaming or social media apps.

• AppTimeline: MSafely creates a timeline view that lists app openings along with usage duration and timestamps.

Drawbacks: MSafely does not offer advanced remote controls, such as wiping or locking the phone. Moreover, the app takes time to upload the chat data.

Price: The app costs $11.66 per month (billed annually).

3. FlexiSpy

FlexiSpy is known for its advanced phone surveillance features. It offers in-depth monitoring of all digital communications, including VoIP calls and social media chats. FlexiSpy provides access to a wide range of tools that go beyond standard monitoring, including call interception and ambient recording. 

With high data accuracy and stealth mode operation, FlexiSpy offers comprehensive insight into a device’s social media activity.

Features

• Call Interception: FlexiSpy allows you to intercept and listen to active phone calls on the target device.

• Chat Monitoring: The app captures conversations across various messaging platforms, including LINE, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Tinder, Skype, and more. It stores both current and deleted messages.

• Ambient Recording: FlexiSpy can record ambient sounds in the phone’s environment with the target device's microphone, so you can hear background conversations or check in on the device’s surroundings.

• Social Media Tracking: FlexiSpy logs social media activity, including status updates, profile changes, post comments, and likes across major platforms.

• Multimedia Access: All media content, such as photos, videos, audio clips, and documents, shared via messaging apps or stored on the device, can be remotely accessed.

• Keylogger: The keylogger tracks every keystroke made on the device, including passwords, notes, search queries, and messages.

• Remote Camera Control: FlexiSpy offers full access to the target device’s camera, allowing users to snap photos remotely.

Drawbacks: Several essential remote control features, such as app and website blocking, are notably absent. Additionally, the app lacks tools to track overall screen time, which is important for promoting healthy digital habits.

Price: The Premium plan is priced at $79/month, while the Extreme plan is available for $119/month.

4. FamiGuard

FamiGuard is a well-balanced solution for parents who wish to monitor and manage their child’s online behavior without being overly invasive. It provides nearly real-time alerts to keep your loved ones safe and sound. 

FamiGuard also includes customizable filters and comprehensive reporting, which make it ideal for both younger children and teens. With a clean user interface and minimal setup, it’s accessible to parents of all technical backgrounds.

Features

• Social Media Monitoring: FamiGuard takes screenshots to show the target user’s visual activities on popular social platforms.

• Screen Time Management: FamiGuard allows you to design custom daily or weekly screen time schedules for every app. 

• Web History Tracking: The app records all websites visited, giving you a complete view of the child’s online browsing habits.

• App Blocker: This feature lets you select and block specific apps directly from their control panel. Whether it’s social media, gaming, or streaming apps, FamiGuard can restrict access permanently or during chosen times, like school hours or bedtime.

• Keyword Alerts: Keyword alerts allow parents or guardians to set custom lists of flagged terms. The app sends an immediate alert when these terms are typed, received, or searched on the device.

• Capture Screenshots: Besides taking periodic screenshots, this feature enables the app to take snapshots of the device screen whenever you want. 

• Keylogger: The keylogger logs every keystroke from the monitored device for a better and more in-depth tracking angle.

Drawbacks: The features vary considerably between Android and iOS, which can lead to a less consistent user experience depending on the device.

Price: It costs $29.95/month for Android and $39.95/month for iOS. 

5. Eyezy

Eyezy is a social media monitoring app that is designed for deep social media tracking needs. Eyezy excels in tracking conversations and device behavior patterns. The app offers a “Magic Alerts” system that notifies users of concerning behavior and provides insights into emotional tone and frequency of usage.

Features

• Social Media Access: Eyezy keeps tabs on popular social media platforms by capturing automatic screenshots. This provides visual records of messages, stories, timelines, and interactions.

• Keystroke Logging: Eyezy’s keylogger records all typed content across apps, browsers, and messages. 

• App Activity Tracking: This feature logs every app opened on the device, along with usage duration and timestamps.

• Multimedia Access: You can view media files stored on or received by the device, including gallery photos, downloaded videos, and voice memos.

• Web Activity Log: Eyezy records all internet activity, including browser history, search terms, and URLs accessed, even in private browsing mode. 

• Installed Apps: Eyezy provides a full list of apps currently installed on the monitored phone. This includes system apps, games, social platforms, and newly downloaded programs.

• Block Apps: With this feature, you can remotely block access to any app installed on the target device to prevent use of inappropriate or distracting apps.

• Keyword Tracking: You can set up custom keyword lists, and Eyezy will alert you when these words appear in messages, searches, or notes. 

Drawbacks: Eyezy provides customer support services through live chat and email. However, support is unavailable 24/7. Additionally, the app offers no free trial, so you cannot test its features before purchasing.

Price: When billed annually, you can buy Eyezy for $9.99/month.

Final Thoughts 

As social media becomes an inseparable part of daily life, especially for the younger generation, monitoring tools have become essential to staying updated and ensuring a safe and balanced digital experience. 

Apps like Xnspy, MSafely, and Eyezy offer a wide range of features for concerned parents and guardians to track and manage social media use. However, choosing the right one depends on your monitoring needs, budget, and the target device’s compatibility. 

By using these tools wisely and ethically, you can promote healthier digital habits and reduce the risks associated with excessive social media use.