Technology has become a necessary part of everyday life and as a result, parents are placing a higher priority on their children’s online security and privacy. Today’s children use the Internet more than ever to learn and interact with others. Although this access is advantageous from an educational standpoint, it has its drawbacks for young children exposed to harmful or unsuitable content.
How Safe is Your Child Online?
TikTok, a popular video platform, has recently denied allegations made by The United States Department of Justice that is has violated the privacy rights of children as reported by Reuters. While the lawsuit is yet to commence, it serves as a reminder for parents to understand the privacy risks involved with their children using online platforms.
According to research conducted by Parenting.co.uk, 93% of children routinely use the Internet and social media. However, according to the UK Safer Internet Centre, only 37% of parents keep an eye on their kids’ online activities.
Apps That Track Online Activity
While it is difficult for parents to check on their kids’ Internet activity 24/7, there are a few apps that help to provide parental controls and monitoring features.
1. Qustodio
Qustodio blocks inappropriate apps and websites, alerting parents when access to blocked content is attempted. It provides a range of features including time spent online with the option of setting time limits, 24/7 location access and the monitoring of text messages that children are sending and receiving.
2. Bark
Bark connects to more than 30+ platforms to monitor activity and sends alerts for potential risks. This ensures that potential cyberbullying or harmful content is intercepted, and also offers location-sharing and managed screen time.
3. Norton Family
Norton Family offers a range of monitoring features, including what children have searched for, their viewed videos, setting screen limits and limiting online distractions while using the Internet for remote learning purposes. Parents can also receive detailed reports in the form of e-mails or by accessing the Parent Portal.
4. Google Family Link
Google Family Link allows parents to approve or block apps before they are downloaded, access their child’s social media accounts across the various platforms and set screen time. Parents also have the option of resetting account passwords or deleting them entirely if needed.
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Child-Friendly Apps With Strict Privacy Policies
There are a few apps and search engines designed specifically for children. These have strict privacy policies in place to protect young audiences and won’t ask children for any personal information or store their data. Inappropriate content is unavailable, making these a great option for parents to have peace of mind.
1. Disney+
Disney+ has strong privacy practices in place, ensuring that children’s data is not collected or shared without parental consent. It also provides parental controls to restrict access to age-appropriate content, ensuring that children can’t see content that could be harmful or offensive.
2. YouTube Kids
YouTube Kids is a search engine that provides a safe environment for children to explore videos. It uses a combination of automated filters, human review and feedback from parents to ensure that content shown is suitable for young audiences. Parents can set time limits and block specific videos or channels.
3. PBS Kids
PBS Kids offers a variety of educational content, games, shows and videos with strong privacy protections for children between the ages of 2 and 8. The app does not require children to provide personal information and it has strict data collection policies in place.
3. KidzSearch
KidzSearch is a child-friendly search engine that filters out inappropriate content and ensures safe browsing for children. It does not track or collect personal information from children. With an additional filtering system, inappropriate keywords are completely blocked from accessing.
