3 Reasons Why Cell Phone Parental Controls Are a Must

As soon as your child reaches that technology milestone of getting their very own phone, it's crucial to set up cell phone parental controls to help keep them safe in the digital world. This may look different for every family, but in general, most teens are not ready to have unfettered access to technology and the internet. With a phone in hand, your child is connected not only to you and their friends but to a vast online world that comes with some real risks. We’re going to look at some of those risks so you can best protect your child. 

Inappropriate Content

Any access to the internet means access to potentially inappropriate and dangerous content. Unfortunately, this harmful content is all too easy to come across online, whether through a search, an unexpected ad, or a suggested video on YouTube, for example. 

Additionally, kids could come across harmful content even without access to the internet. All it takes is one of their friends to send a screenshot or video for your child to be exposed to something they’re not ready for. 

So, what controls do I need?

• Web filtering: Block or “filter”  access to inappropriate sites and apps based on your child’s age and maturity level.
• App approval: Review and approve every app your child wants to download to ensure it fits your family’s values.
• Content monitoring: With this, you can receive alerts when your child encounters inappropriate content online.

Online Predators  

The sad truth is that predators will flock to any and everywhere they think kids might be online. We’ve heard stories of predators finding kids on the most unassuming apps, such as Candy Crush, Google Docs, and more. When your child has a phone, it’s not just that they have access to the world — it’s that the world has access to them. 

So, what controls do I need?

• Contact approval: Make sure you know who your child is communicating with.
• Content monitoring: Receive alerts for inappropriate conversations or potential signs of predatory behavior.
• App approval: Vet any app with chat or private messaging features before your child is allowed to use it.
• Web filtering: Block apps or websites known for risky behavior or predatory activity. 

Screen Time 

Even if your child is using their phone for things you approve of — like Googling a question for homework or sending memes to their friends — it’s still good to keep everything in moderation. And given that so many platforms were designed to be addictive, it’s our job as parents to be extra mindful to maintain a healthy balance of screen time in our homes.

So, what controls do I need?

• Screen time management: Set time limits for the device or specific apps, or create schedules for how long your child can access apps throughout the day. 
• App approval: Limit or review apps known to be particularly addictive, such as games or social media apps.

How Bark Can Help

Making sure you have all these controls can be dizzying and time-consuming for any parent. That’s why the Bark Phone comes with all these parental controls built right in! With our smartphone for kids, you can be confident in your cell phone parental controls before you even hand it over to them. Whether it’s filtering content, monitoring activities, or managing screen time, the Bark Phone can give you peace of mind that your child’s digital world has the necessary guardrails to keep them safer. 

Bark offers a variety of products that help parents protect their kids online, including the Bark Phone, the Bark Watch, the Bark app, and the Bark Home. Check out our products page to find out which one is the best fit for your family.