We all have smartphones – we can’t function without them. Now, the majority of children have them too. In fact, by age 12 69% of kids have their own smartphones and that number keeps on rising. For children, smartphones mean YouTube, TikTok, and Discord, but for parents there are real concerns about what else is out there. Not only is there inappropriate content all over the internet, but children also have to face cyberbullying and child predators. However, none of that stops kids from telling their parents how much they want a smartphone – especially if their friends have one already. So, if you feel like it’s the right time to give your child an Android or iPhone (or if you’re concerned about their activity already) we recommend using parental controls to make sure your kids stay safe.
Bark is a cleverly named solution that acts as a watchdog for your children’s social media activities, protecting them from all the online dangers that kids face in the digital age. Founded in 2015 in Georgia, the company received a great amount of media coverage in the U.S. – and for good reasons. Detecting over a hundred sexual predators and many potential acts of violence in American schools, Bark is one of the most comprehensive parent control tools on the market. It keeps an eye on text messages and covers over 30 popular apps and social media platforms. The service goes beyond just analyzing keywords. It uses artificial intelligence and statistical techniques to study context and give parents warning signs of cyberbullying, depression, drug use, and a host of other issues that are a huge concern for families. The best part is that you can take advantage of the 7-day free trial to test out Bark’s services and see if it fits your needs.
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.
Parental control software comes in many different varieties because every parent requires something different depending on their child’s needs, and KidLogger works in a very unique way compared to its competition. As the name might suggest, KidLogger functions primarily as a keylogger so you can read messages sent by your child on desktops, although functionality differs greatly between KidLogger's extensive Android features and the incredibly limited iOS app. Developed by SafeJKA S.R.L., a Moldavian company that has been up and running since 2001, the service tracks which websites your child has visited, the apps they use, and for how long they’ve been using them – with the option to block apps when necessary. KidLogger will then send reports to parents outlining their child’s internet history. A great thing about KidLogger is that there is a totally free version and, though users have the option to pay for an upgrade, there is in fact little difference between the two.
It’s natural to be cautious when giving your child their first smartphone, especially when you consider all the potential dangers. But there are upsides too. One of the main benefits is that you’ll be able to stay in touch with your child when they’re out of the house and they’ll easily be able to contact you in case of an emergency. Not only that, but you also don’t have to worry about them nagging for a smartphone anymore.
For your kids, it’s a big deal to get a smartphone, as they’ll have access to everything at their fingertips. There’s a huge amount of child-friendly content online, like educational apps and games aimed at every age level. Regardless of their age, they’ll probably spend a lot of time on YouTube and Netflix, which are full of age-appropriate content. No doubt they’ll be interested in using social media too. And although social media is a potential danger, with guidance and even using child-friendly social media platforms you can rest assured your kids are safe.
Android devices already come with useful tools to restrict kids’ activity and to help them stay safe when using their smartphones. You may have come across similar things if you ever used an iPad with your kids before. You can start by setting a limit for the amount of data usage – this will prevent your child from spending too much time online and downloading too many apps or files.
If you have younger kids and they’re ready to use a smartphone, you can use screen pinning. This enables you to keep just one app open at all times and the only way to exit the app is by inputting a password. However, these Android settings aren’t the easiest things to set up, and since they’re not designed to work as parental control software you won’t get in-depth monitoring.
The Google Play Store has its own method of helping parents too. Apps and games on the Play Store have content ratings to help parents understand what they should let their kids use. Ratings go from Everyone (E) to Adults Only (AO) and are maintained by the ESRB. The Play Store also allows you to choose what content ratings can be downloaded from an account. While this is a great help, it only works when downloading apps and doesn’t affect anything else.
You don’t have to rely on your phone’s settings to keep your kids safe, and there are other things you can do. One of the most important things is to discuss how to use a phone safely with your child. Let them know about the potential dangers out there, outline and set boundaries of what they can do and when, and give them some internet safety tips. It’s best to be as open as possible and work together so that you’re both on the same page. If you have a younger child, make sure you don’t leave them unattended while they’re using their phone.
The most comprehensive way to keep your child safe on their phone is to use parental control software. With these tools, you can monitor their every activity by logging texts, analyzing pictures, tracking their GPS location, and more. Or you can be more relaxed with parental control software, just setting it up to alert you when something is a potential issue. So, whether your child is just getting their first phone or has had one for years already, there’s a perfect solution for you.
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