Table of Contents
Every human being who lives in this world has become dependent on the Internet. With recent technological advancements, we now have a plethora of useful gadgets such as tablets, smartphones, and other smart devices with which to surf the web.
We all deserve to live happy lives, yet there is no such thing as a carefree existence without the Internet. People are attentive to it, and it is impossible to go a day without the internet.
Today, the children are enjoying their digital freedom and have no restrictions for using online resources. However, these risks exposing youngsters to online threats may be beyond their comprehension.
As a parent, it is your obligation to keep your children away from improper or adult content on the Internet. So, you’d go to any length to protect your family. In the real world, a dog and an alarm system are excellent ways to protect your house and loved ones while also alerting you to any potential dangers.
The same options are accessible in the digital realm to protect your children, such as Bark–A Parental Control App.
In our bark reviews, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the app and how it can help you keep your kids safe.
What Is Bark?
Bark Technologies, Inc., based in Georgia, is a parental control software that focuses on protecting children from online threats such as texting, social networking, and other kinds of communication.
You can have Bark monitor all areas of concern or just the most significant issues, such as depression, self-harm, swearing, and other issues. You may also use the app to assess the severity of your child’s behavior on a sliding scale. And you may receive notifications if your child simply appears to be distressed if you choose to be notified about all challenges.
Bark Features:
- Screen Time Management: Parents can use the bark screening tool to limit their children’s screen time and activities. You may set timers and bedtimes, as well as block harmful websites. Parents can also change these settings for each of their children’s devices.
- Content Filtering: The most important aspect of Bark is its content filtering, which scans emails, papers, comments, messages, and pretty much everything else for attainable problems. The software uses artificial intelligence to recognize terms and the context in which they are used, as well as to learn the nuances of children’s ever-changing lingo. If it detects a pattern like violence, suicide ideation, or bullying, it will alert you immediately.
- Web Filtering: You can restrict or allow web material in a variety of areas using Bark’s web filtering settings, including sexual, games, streaming, social media, e-commerce, collaboration, and many others. You can control it with on/Off switches or fine-tuned controls and through which you can restrict access to certain platforms.
Is Bark App Safe?
Yes, the bark for kids is completely safe. As per the natural language processing bark reviews, it has over 3997 users from the Appstore and the overall rating is 3.4/5. It has a Just use app Safety Score of 45.5/100.
Why People Choose the Bark App?
Here we have listed the advantages of the bark control app and the reason to choose.
Pros:
- You can keep track of your kids on different social media channels.
- Most devices, including Android and iPhone, are compatible.
- It’s simple to set up and keeps track of the most popular apps.
- Gives you an option to make a list of websites and apps that you don’t want your kids to use.
- There is a free trial available.
Cons:
- Site blocking is minimal to non-existent.
- Its cost is not worth your time or money.
How Does Bark Work?
Here is the installation and setup procedure for you to know how does Bark works.
Step1: Download and install the software
Because of Google’s prohibitions on monitoring apps, Bark has pulled its Bark for Kids app from the Google Play store.
1. So, go to Bark.us/android (official page) and download the file using the Chrome browser on your child’s device.
2. Allowing your phone to install an app from an unknown source is required if you haven’t done so before. Toggle the option to Allow from the Source on in the Settings menu (the dot should be blue.)
3. All you have to do now is press the Install button, and Bark for Kids will begin downloading and installing on your phone.
Step2: Bark setup Steps on Android Device
1. Open the Bark for Kids app on your target device.
2. Use your parent credentials to log in.
3. Then follow all the instructions to set up various permission.
- Several panels will appear, asking for permission to monitor your child’s device and allow the permissions.
- Select the name of the child who uses this Android smartphone or add a new child to your Bark account by selecting Add Another Child.
- On the first prompt, choose Connect.
- On the next few prompts, tap Allow.
- You’ll be prompted to turn off Private DNS in Settings if your child’s device is running Android version 10 or higher. Tap Open Settings: when prompted.
- After that, go to Advanced > Private DNS > Turn Off.
- To return to the home screen and apps, press the home button.
4. Open the Bark for Kids app on your device and you will get the prompt VPN connection setup. You can hit OK and this prompt may appear in one of two ways, depending on your device.
5. On the pop-up, if applicable, press Do not show again and then tap Start now.
6. When prompted about Accessibility, choose Open Settings.
7. In the Accessibility section, tap Bark under Services or Installed Services.
8. Toggle the switch for Bark to On in the Bark menu that opens.
9. Return to the Bark for Kids app and select Check-In.
- Allow when prompted to enable Location Services.
- Then, press the Check-In button again, and your child’s location will be sent to you through email, text, and/or app notification this time.
10. Launch the Chrome browser and make sure that Secure DNS is turned off in your child’s Chrome app.
- Set the slider to Off in Chrome’s 3-line menu > Settings > Privacy > Use secure DNS. You can skip this step if you don’t see it on your child’s device.
- You can now set your child’s gadget aside by tapping the Home button.
11. Set/verify your time zone by going to your dashboard and selecting Account Settings from the dropdown menu on the upper right.
You have now paired the gadget with your child under their profile on your Bark dashboard.
Step3: Bark Setup for iOS Device
1. Once the download gets complete, follow the below instruction to set up it on iOS devices.
2. Double-click the Bark icon to launch the application.
3. When prompted, log in with your Bark parent email and password.
4. Using a USB cord, connect your child’s iOS device to the computer.
5. To locate the iOS device, use the Check For Devices buttons.
6. When prompted, tap “Trust this computer” on your child’s iOS device.
7. By selecting a child’s name from the drop-down menu, you can associate the newly connected iOS device with that child.
That’s all there is to it! As the monitoring begins, you may watch the progress on the screen.
Which Social Media Accounts Can It Track?
Below are the specifics of what Bark track on various social media platforms.
- Ask.Fm: Bark keeps track of the comments and questions your child asks and receives, and questions and comments they get and respond to.
- Flickr: Bark keeps track of your child’s images and comments on them.
- GroupMe: Bark keeps track of your child’s group and private communications, as well as any images or media attached to them.
- Instagram: Bark tracks the comments on your child’s photos and videos on Instagram. On connected Amazon devices and Android, Bark can now monitor Instagram searches and direct conversations (text chat only). They’re working hard to make it possible to track direct messages and searches on iOS devices.
- Snapchat: Most parents have the question does bark monitor Snapchat? Yes, Bark has excellent Snapchat parental controls. Bark monitors Snapchat’s private communications on Android (text chat only). Snapchat makes it incredibly difficult to regulate its material on any platform, as many parents are aware. No other monitoring service currently supports Snapchat on iOS devices and Bark is working on it.
Is bark.com Legit?
Do you have doubt that is bark.com legit? Yes, based on bark.com reviews it is legal when you use it for the intended purpose. While the ethics of using tracking applications are debatable, it all depends on your comfort level for protecting your children.
Conclusion
The bark is an excellent tool for keeping track of what your children are up to on their smartphones. If you’re searching for one of the most reliable and secure ways to keep track of your children’s smartphone usage, we recommend Bark as per our bark reviews.
You’re also not obligated to supervise their screen time continually using Bark. Their clever algorithm is working in the background 24 hours a day and is ready to send you an alert through text or email if it discovers any problems. They’re even allowing you to try it trail for seven days right now.
You can also read other parental control app reviews:
mSpy Review– Is It the Best Spy App for Android & iOS?
FamiSafe Reviews: Is It The Best Parental Control App?