9 out of 10 people today use a smartphone [1], but these devices come with unique risks and temptations. They also bring specific hurdles to accountability relationships. Here are some important facts about smartphones, along with some tips for accountability on smartphones.
The Facts About Smartphones
On covenanteyes.com, nearly 8 out of 10 visitors are use a mobile device. Teens and young adults relay on smartphones more than anyone [2]. Many people find that their smartphone is enough and that computers are no longer necessary.
And with the rise of smartphones, porn consumption has become even more commonplace. Barna’s latest research shows that over half of 18-35 year-olds have shared a nude image–including half of Christian respondents [3].
It’s absolutely critical to discuss smartphone use as part of conversations about Internet use and accountability. Here are five tips to consider about smartphone use.
1. Install Victory by Covenant Eyes
Covenant Eyes user Dwayne Moore explained why he installed the Android app on his smartphone:
“My phone’s got a big screen and fast Internet access. That’s an invitation for temptation. Knowing someone else can see what sites I’ve browsed really helps keep me in check.”
He added”
“Just the other day I got a message from a girl named ‘Artie.’ Artie’s avatar was a picture of her legs crossed in a mini-skirt. I was tempted to click the enticing link she sent me, but then I remembered the covenant I’ve made with my eyes ‘not to look lustfully at a girl’ (Job 31:1). And I also remembered that Covenant Eyes was on my phone, so I deleted Artie’s message really fast!”
2. Talk About App Use
One of the biggest benefits to smartphones is the ready availability of apps. Many of these are harmless or even helpful; it’s doubtful that the app for the budgeting site Mint.com will be used inappropriately.
Similarly, many popular game apps are more likely to be risks in terms of time misuse than access to inappropriate content.
In some ways, innocent-sounding web-accessing apps are the biggest danger. Many popular apps offer unmonitored Internet access, particularly on the iPhone. Since social networking can contribute to divorce, and since many YouTube videos are inappropriate, it is important to discuss these apps as part of conversations about Internet use.
3. Remove Apps
Many websites have created apps simply to provide a better experience than the browser. Social media apps all work on the Safari browser, for example, but have dedicated (free) apps. While it is often easier to navigate these sites via their apps, it may be appropriate to lock down or delete them.
The accountability user should access such sites via a monitored browser. Apps with built-in browsers should also be an area of concern, because these can provide a backdoor to unmonitored content.
4. Lock Down Apps As Necessary
Since Covenant Eyes for iPhone does not monitor the images viewed in apps other than the Safari browser, it may be helpful or even necessary to lock them down such that no apps can be downloaded without permission.
(Learn how to set restrictions on the iPhone.)
Scott McClurg, VP of Sales and MArketing at Covenant Eyes, has his apps locked down on his iPhone; he can only purchase them if his wife unlocks them for him. “This way she doesn’t need to worry about what I’m doing on my phone,” he said. “It’s a good preventative measure.”
Apple devices come with built-in Screen Time settings that make them much safer. Covenant Eyes has created a helpful guide for using them.
5. Carefully Monitor Kids and Teens
In addition to monitoring through Covenant Eyes, kids or young teens should be watched closely. Dan Lohrmann, former Chief Technology Officer for the State of Michigan, recommends allowing kids to share a mobile device among the entire family, rather than allowing each child to have his or her own smartphone. In his own family, he has found that, in addition to giving him and his wife control over app use, sharing the device has provided additional benefits. For one, it promotes sharing. He explained:
“We use the single device as an opportunity for them to learn how to take turns and appreciate what valuable time they are given on the device.” In addition, his kids use it for educational games. “Our kids are getting smarter thanks to the energy and ‘buzz’ created by having the opportunity to use [my wife’s] iPad.”
Sources
[1] Pew Research Center. (2025, November 20). Mobile fact sheet. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/
[2] Pew Research Center. (2026, January 8). Internet use, smartphone ownership & digital divides in U.S.https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/01/08/internet-use-smartphone-ownership-digital-divides-in-u-s/
[3] Pure Desire Ministry. (2024). Beyond the porn phenomenon: Equipping the church for a new conversation about pornography, betrayal trauma, and healing. Barna Group.
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