If there’s one thing that can’t be neglected or even slightly overlooked, it’s kids’ online safety. While technological advancements have done wonders for children’s cognitive development – especially with the rise of educational apps – they’ve also brought about security issues.
Anyone is susceptible to falling victim to online dangers. However, it goes without saying that kids are among the most vulnerable. Online predators, scams, and excessive exposure to screens are just a few of parents’ concerns. So, having excellent parental controls to protect kids while online isn’t only desirable, it’s vital.
It’s true, the hype around Bark is legitimate. The software is unique because it encourages parents to respect kids’ privacy while still protecting them from online dangers. Instead of manually shutting down your child’s internet access or checking their conversations and online browsing history, you can trust Bark’s parental controls to scan their online activity for you. It will even alert you if any potential dangers are found.
In addition to monitoring texts, apps, social media, and web searches, Bark also stands out for letting parents install the app on unlimited devices, set screen time schedules, and block specific websites or apps. Other advantages are its 7-day free trial of the paid plans and a 42% discount for annual subscriptions.
However, one of the main drawbacks of the parental control app is that its anti-tampering capabilities are limited, making it easier for kids to uninstall it. Still, those who wish to stick to Bark should check the Bark phone, which has tamper-proof built-in parental controls and stops working if kids factory reset the device.
Another downside is that while parents can monitor kids’ location in real time and receive alerts when they arrive at a pre-determined location, it doesn’t have geofencing or 24/7 location tracking. So, parents can’t set a range area to receive alerts when kids stray from the determined area.
If you’re unhappy with Bark or don’t need its services anymore, canceling your subscription won’t be a headache. The process is simple and straightforward.
Additionally, you’re able to access Bark after canceling, until the end of your subscription. Go to ‘Account Settings’ to find out the exact period.
When looking for alternatives to Bark, it’s important to establish criteria to evaluate the numerous options available on the market. This is the criteria we used to assess the five alternatives we chose:
When carrying out your own research, follow the same criteria for Bark alternatives so that you’re ready to make an informed decision according to your family’s needs.
It’s impossible for parents to monitor their children’s activities all the time, especially when it comes to the internet. Naturally, parents need some help along the way, and this is where Mobicip comes in. Since 2008, the California-based company has been helping parents keep their kids safe online thanks to its advanced blocking and filtering capabilities. Parents are able to block social media apps, video streaming software, and games to keep children safe and focused on their schoolwork. Mobicip also allows you to track your child’s location (as well as create geofences) so you can be reassured they’re safe and sound. One really appealing aspect of Mobicip is its price, which starts from just $4.99 per month to cover up to ten devices. Users can also test out the service first by taking advantage of the limited free version or 7-day trial.
It’s tough being a parent in the digital age, but you can make your life a little easier by using the right app to keep your child safe online. Qustodio can help, with its intuitive and flexible parental control tools. Founded in the beautiful city of Barcelona in 2012, it has since grown to be one of the most popular parental control software providers on the market – supporting over four million users worldwide. This popularity is due to Qustodio’s unique features, such as advanced social media monitoring, calls and SMS tracking, and smartphone apps with location tracking. In addition to the limited free version that you can use forever, there’s a 3-day free trial for you to try out the premium features. Plus, all subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
When you’re looking for parental control software it’s reassuring to know that the software is made by experts in the field with vast experience in online security, which is exactly what you’ll get with Kaspersky’s Safe Kids. Kaspersky was founded in Russia back in 1997 and has been in the internet security business ever since, famous for products such as its antivirus software and VPN service. The company gained notoriety in 2017 after allegations of ties to the Russian government, and since then has distanced itself from that and permitted independent reviews of its products – which is reassuring, because they produce some excellent software. Safe Kids is packed with tools to help moderate your child’s internet usage. With each step of setting up your parental controls, you are given expert advice by a professional child psychologist. There’s a free version of Kaspersky Safe Kids available, but it’s limited in its features and scope so it’s better to try the free seven-day trial of the full product to make the most of it.
mSpy is a parental control solution based in the UK that has been helping parents supervise and protect their children online since 2010. Its app works on Android and iOS devices and is full of features designed to monitor children’s online activities – all while granting parents complete anonymity.
It includes social media platform monitoring, location tracking, screen recording, browser history, and app blocking. Although the software isn’t the cheapest on the market, it does offer a demo, discounts for longer subscriptions, seasonal promotions, and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
There are few names more famous for internet security than Norton, so naturally we have high expectations for its parental control software. Owned by Symantec and based out of California, Norton reached fame with its antivirus software and has expanded its horizons to a whole host of other products including password managers, VPNs, and much more. Norton Family Premier allows you to set up ‘house rules’ for your children so they know exactly what they’re able to do (and not do) online. Should your child violate one of these rules then you’ll immediately receive a notification. Family Premier also has no limit on the number of devices, so you can set it up on every device in the house without worrying about having to pay any extra. Norton Family Premier comes with a 30-day free trial and a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. So, does Family Premier live up to the Norton brand?
It’s true that there isn’t a number one product when it comes to parental control software. The best alternative depends on what parents and legal guardians are looking for.
There are plenty of excellent parental control apps on the market. Some offer more tamper-proof features, others respect kids’ privacy more, and many have free versions that may be just the perfect fit. With so many options, at least one certainly ticks all the boxes for what you seek in parental control software.
Take some time to understand your family’s priorities, what level of kids’ privacy is important for you to respect, and your budget for keeping your kids safe from digital dangers. As a final note, take advantage of the money-back guarantees, free versions, and trials of the alternatives we detailed.
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