The internet is a wonderful educational tool that can be great for a child’s development, opening their eyes to the world around them. The internet also has a dark side. No one wants their children exposed to threats like cyber bullying and online predators. That’s why so many parents turn to parental control software to monitor internet activity and alert them when their child sees something they shouldn’t. Parental controls are also able to filter online content you don’t want your child to see. These controls are not just limited to computers: they also work on mobiles, so you can block unwanted apps and limit screen time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Parental control software works on just about any device you can think of, including tablets, phones, and video game consoles. As some software will be designed primarily with one device in mind, it’s common to find parental control software aimed at serving only phones or desktops. Frequently, this specialization means the software will have exclusive features not found in more general parental control solutions.
While some companies do cater to a greater number of devices, for larger families it can be worth looking into parental controls you can configure on your router so that every device connected to your Wi-Fi is instantly protected. This is especially helpful, since it can be a tedious process to set up parental controls on every device your children have.
It’s also worth keeping in mind the age of your child. Older children will likely need a parental control application with a variety of monitoring options for different social media applications. On the other hand, simple parental control filters to block inappropriate content may be enough for a younger child. If you have children from different age groups to protect, then a more well-rounded parental control application is the way to go.
Now that you know exactly what your needs are, it’s time to search for parental control software that can match them. You’ve already come to the right place: we’ve shared our expert reviews of all the major software, as well as comparisons where we look at the pros and cons of each solution.
Unfortunately, parental control software isn’t able to do everything. Although you’ll have more protection from some dangers, without other measures you’ll find that there are further online threats to your children. Phishing attacks, ransomware, and hacking are just some of the wider threats that are a danger to anyone, but children are especially vulnerable. However, a good internet security suite should protect you from these threats as well as others like malware and viruses. Similarly, VPNs are a must-have for increasing your online security. Not only will they keep you anonymous while browsing, but they’ll ensure you always have a safe connection – perfect when using public Wi-Fi.
Poor password hygiene is also a large problem: simple, obvious, and common passwords are the major cause of data breaches. Encouraging your child (and yourself) to use a dedicated password manager ensures you’ll have unique, safe passwords all stored in an encrypted vault for you to access.
Getting great parental control doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money. All the major operating systems come with their own built-in parental controls, and there are even free solutions available. Windows users can access Microsoft Family Safety, iOS users have Screen Time, and Android users are able to utilize Google Play’s parental controls. Of course, these have their limitations when compared to dedicated parental control software.
As mentioned, there are ways to experience specialist parental control software without paying anything. Some are free options like OpenDNS and KidLogger, though they’re limited compared to premium offerings. Almost every solution will offer some kind of free trial. You can also take advantage of the free trials of other security services – like internet security suites, password managers, and VPNs – so your family can have maximum security at zero cost.
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