SkieIs a parental control app safe to use?
A well-built one is safe, but ask what it collects and who can see it. Skie does not read your child's messages or call logs, does not record audio or video, and has no hidden mode. The phone shows it is managed. What it does collect is device status and, if you use it, location.
Safe has two meanings here: safe for your child's data, and safe for the phone. Both are fair things to ask about.
On data, Skie keeps to a short list. It knows which apps you allowed, the schedule you set, whether the device is following the rules, when it was last seen and, if you use location, where it is. It does not read messages or call logs. It does not record audio or video. It has no hidden mode, so your child can see on the phone that it is managed. Data is stored in an India region (Mumbai).
On the phone, Skie is installed through Android's own device owner mechanism. Each policy that reaches the device is cryptographically signed, and the device rejects anything that does not verify. Rules are stored on the device, so they keep working offline.
Location needs clear consent. Tell your child that location is on, and why. Skie provides the controls. This is general information, not legal advice.
A practical tip for any app you try: read what it asks permission for, check whether it can read messages, and look for a way to see exactly what it holds. A product that hides itself from your child is a product to think about twice.