Every year, we analyze the rate at which children encounter problematic content and people online. This year, we processed an astounding 11.1 billion activities on family accounts across texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and social media platforms.
Kids have complex digital worlds, and these activities represent late-night DMs, urgent texts with friends, and comments on countless apps — places where children communicate the most frequently. Bark’s software monitors these conversations in places where parents may not even know to look.
The percentages for each category represent the number of Bark users who were sent alerts when their child engaged with or encountered a particular subject matter.
Bullying
Bullying alerts capture a wide range of behavior, from teasing that crosses a line to language that may signal deeper conflict or harm.
Experienced by:
-
70%
of tweens
-
79%
of teens
The Bark app saved my daughter’s life and she was in high school. Our children need to be protected at all ages of life. I will always be grateful for Bark!!
–Bark parent
Bullying can happen anywhere, at any time — day or night. More than just teasing, it can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation.
Depression
Depression alerts include everything from moments of sadness or discouragement to signs that a child may need immediate support.
Experienced by:
-
45%
of tweens
-
51%
of teens
America’s emergency departments are being flooded by children suffering from psychiatric emergencies like depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
–U.S. World News & Report
Depression isn’t just sadness. It can drain motivation, dull interest in things that once brought joy, and interfere with school, sleep, and relationships.
Anxiety
Anxiety alerts help flag moments when kids are sharing ongoing feelings of anxiety or overwhelm.
Experienced by:
-
23%
of tweens
-
48%
of teens
Adolescents who spent more than 3 hours per day on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes including symptoms of anxiety and depression.
–U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
Anxiety can show up as constant worry or fear that doesn’t go away, making everyday activities feel overwhelming and hard to manage.
Online Predators
Alerts for predators help flag sexual conversations where there is a known age difference.
Experienced by:
-
4%
of tweens
-
7%
of teens
I’m so thankful the Bark Phone caught predators on my kid's Discord account. More parents need Bark!
–Bark parent
Online predators can appear friendly or trustworthy at first, but their intentions can be harmful, putting kids at risk of manipulation or exploitation.
Drugs/Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol alerts can flag anything from casual mentions of medications to photos or videos involving substance use.
Experienced by:
-
61%
of tweens
-
81%
of teens
5.9% of middle and high school students reported current use of e-cigarettes.
–2024 Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)
Conversations about drugs or alcohol might start casually, but early exposure increases the chance of experimentation and risky behavior.
Suicidal Ideation
Alerts for potential self-harm and suicide include anything from text messages about cutting to an email draft of a suicide note.
Experienced by:
-
37%
of tweens
-
64%
of teens
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for kids ages 10-14.
–CDC
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide are a serious sign of distress and can be a cry for help that requires immediate attention and support.
Sexual Content
Alerts for sexual content can be anything from web searches for explicit content to a child receiving nude photos.
Experienced by:
-
62%
of tweens
-
80%
of teens
It's peace of mind and that is priceless.
–Bark parent
Sexual content online can range from explicit imagery to inappropriate messages, potentially shaping unhealthy views about relationships and consent.
Disordered Eating
Alerts for disordered eating range from mentions of dangerous dieting practices all the way to discussions of anorexia, bulimia, and body dysmorphia.
Experienced by:
-
15%
of tweens
-
34%
of teens
More than 1 in 5 kids and adolescents around the world show signs of disordered eating.
–CNN
Disordered eating goes beyond diet talk, involving harmful thoughts or behaviors around food and body image that can impact both physical and emotional health.
Violence
Alerts for violence range from graphic action in video games to direct threats against a child.
Experienced by:
-
68%
of tweens
-
84%
of teens
There were 233 school shootings on K-12 school grounds in 2025.
–K-12 School Shooting Database
Exposure to violent content, whether in text, video, or games, can normalize aggression and contribute to fear, desensitization, or trauma.
Resources for families
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© 2025 Bark Technologies. Please credit Bark if you share or use this data.
