In 2023, it was reported that about 87% of teenagers in America have iPhones. No one can deny the brand loyalty Gen Z seems to have with Apple, but this puts many parents on the hunt for the best parental control app for iPhone devices.

You might be thinking, don’t iPhones already have built-in parental controls? They do, it’s called Family Sharing and parents can use Apple Screen Time features to control some aspects of their kid’s device usage. However many parents have quickly found these controls to be lacking when it comes to properly protecting their child.

Fortunately, Bark offers Apple families a far more robust and comprehensive parental control app for iPhones! At Bark, we know the features that give parents peace of mind about their kid’s smartphones. As a result, tons of Apple families feel Bark is the best parental control app for iPhones — in this post, we’ll show you why. 

Why Bark is the Best Parental Control App for iPhone Devices 

Customizable screen time management 

Apple Screen Time can only take you so far when it comes to parental controls. You can manage how long your child can use certain apps or block them altogether if you need. But there are a few holes in their controls that make it difficult for parents actually to lock down the risks that come with a smartphone.

For example, Apple Screentime allows you to block web content in two ways — either block everything or you can “limit adult websites”. The problem with the latter is that it doesn’t actually catch all inappropriate sites. Some easily fall through the filter’s cracks, making it possible for your child to encounter adult content online. 

Bark’s screen time features were created to give parents far more granular and customizable options. Bark has tons of categories so that parents can decide more exactly what content they want to allow or block. For example, you can block all sexual content and ensure they can’t access this content through an app or site. You can also block all social media, but make exceptions for the ones you’re okay with your child having. 

Content monitoring as the healthy middle ground   

But what about the apps and sites you do allow? You might approve some apps but recognize there’s still a risk for inappropriate content. With Apple Screen Time, you can either block them or allow them, all or nothing. But with Bark’s parental controls for iPhones, you get the happy middle ground — you can allow it and supervise it.

Bark’s powerful AI will scan your child’s activities, looking for anything that needs a parent’s attention. Let’s say you allowed your child to use an app like GroupMe to communicate with their sports team. But on this app, your child received a message from a stranger outside the chat. When Bark scans these messages, it’ll look for concerning content, such as grooming or predatory language. If detected, it’ll send you an alert so you can quickly investigate and talk to your child about it.

Bark can monitor texts, emails, and 30+ social media apps. On iOS devices, we can cover tons of popular apps like Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Reddit, X, Kik, and more. We can also monitor your child’s Safari visits and searches. Paired with our screen time, Bark’s content monitoring is why so many parents find Bark to be the best parental control app for iPhones. 

What If My Kid Has an Android?

If your child has an Android, that’s no problem! Bark is compatible with both Android and Apple devices. In fact, we even recommend parents get an Android as opposed to an Apple device. Despite its popularity among kids, iPhones weren’t built to protect them from most online dangers. 

Apple’s privacy policies are not very friendly toward third-party apps like Bark, but Androids give Bark much more room to monitor data on their devices. This is why we can monitor Snapchat on Androids but not on iPhones, for example. 

If you want more coverage for content monitoring, an Android is definitely your best bet. And if you want a smartphone with our powerful parental controls built-in, then check out the Bark Phone. No installing extra apps, just reliable parental controls right out of the box. 

Ready to Try the Best Parental Controls for iPhone Devices?

We believe Bark will be a great tool for your family in keeping your child safe on their iPhone. But just so you can see for yourself, you try Bark for a free, 7-day trial. After that, you can keep all of Bark’s award-winning parental controls for your child’s iPhone and other devices in the home for just $14/month. 

teen girl on her phone with illustrated flowers around her

It’s spring break season and many kids feel the drag of school and are counting down the minutes to their week of freedom. But as a parent, you might feel the pressure mounting as you try to figure out what your child’s week is going to look like — specifically how much more or less device time they should get. Even if you have a trip or fun activities planned, most parents still have to address the question of screen time.

We’ve put together four simple yet constructive screen time tips to make sure your child’s spring break is full of non-tech fun. At Bark, we’re all about balance and moderation — the way you implement these things might look completely different from another family, and that’s okay! As long as your kids can say they feel rested and made some fun spring break memories by the end of the week, you can call it a success! 

Our Top Four Screen Time Tips For Spring Break 

Consider a temporary change to your tech contract 

First, if you don’t already have a tech contract with your kids, we highly recommend making one! It goes a long way in starting communication with your child, as well as setting expectations for healthy tech use in the home. But for spring break, it’s natural if previously established rules fluctuate a little bit. After all, it’s their time to enjoy and relax from the stresses of school. So revisit the contract and pick out the rules that can be more flexible during the break.

Pro tip: If you use something like the Bark Home to set household screen time rules on a schedule, don’t forget to switch back to regular rules when school starts again. This will help avoid an accidental Netflix marathon session the Sunday night before break ends.

Have a game plan for non-tech hours 

For whatever time they’re not going to be on tech, try coming up with some ideas to help fill the screen-less hours. Of course, it’s beneficial when kids can come up with these on their own and entertain themselves, but it’s okay to help them get the ideas flowing. 

For younger kids, this may look like a list of activities like arts and crafts or planned playdates with the neighbors. For older kids, this might be letting them ride bikes to their friend’s house. Here’s just a quick list of non-tech activities kids can do during their free time: 

Be mindful of location sharing while traveling

Most parents will want to make sure they can track their child’s location, no matter what their spring break plans are. But if your child is posting on social media — which is likely especially while they’re on their spring break adventures — it’s easier than ever for online strangers to find your child’s location. 

Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, BeReal, and more have location-sharing features. Snapchat has the most concerning location feature called Snap Map, which allows users to publicly post stories linked to a specific location and see stories of other users posting from the same place. In essence, this broadcasts your child’s real-time location to total strangers.

Whatever platform your child posts on, make sure you’re both on the same page about their location — strangers don’t need to know where they are in real time. Remind them to not tag their location in posts and to consider not posting in the moment at all. 

Use Bark for the best screen time features

Whether your family is going on a grand, once-in-a-lifetime expedition, or your teen is just adventuring through the neighborhood this spring break, Bark can help make managing screen time a breeze. With just one app, you can set daily screen time routines, block inappropriate sites and apps, and turn off Wi-Fi to their phone with a single tap.

Additionally, Bark’s powerful content monitoring can scan their texts, emails, and 30+ social media apps to send you alerts forany concerning content they may come across. Try all of Bark’s parental controls with our free, 7-day trial and see how it can transform your family’s approach to tech. 

android logo with illustrated emojis around it

Many parents have realized that making an Android phone — or any smartphone — safer for kids isn’t always easy. Whether you're trying to manage screen time or keep tabs on potentially inappropriate messages, it can be a complicated and ongoing task for parents to add to their already long list of responsibilities. 

But with the Bark app, it’s different. We offer parents the best Android parental control app that’ll give you peace of mind when it’s time for your child to have a phone. Parents can scan for concerning content, block distracting or inappropriate sites and apps, and seamlessly track location — all in one app! 

Bark: The Best Monitoring App for Android Phones

When parents use Bark, they don’t have to spend time digging through their kid’s phone looking for dangers. Most parents don’t have the time or energy for this, and kids don’t like the idea of their parents seeing all of their messages. So instead, Bark scans the kid’s phone using AI technology to look for contextual signs that something may be off or need adult help — things like bullying, predation, sexual content, suicide/self-harm content, and much more. If something is detected, an alert is sent straight to your phone.

These alerts are great for giving parents insight into their child’s online world. But it’s not all Bark can do! Bark also offers comprehensive and reliable web filtering to help you manage what your child has access to and when. More distracting sites, like games and social media, can be put on a schedule so that they’re blocked or allowed exactly when needed. And Bark’s location tracking can ensure you know where your child is while they’re exploring the world offline. 

So why is Bark the best monitoring app for Androids? Because with one app, you get all the controls you need to support your child in their online journey. And the cherry on top? Any alert you may receive from Bark also comes with advice from real child experts so you know how to best handle the situation. Bark doesn’t want to just help you protect your child, we also want to help you build a strong, trusting relationship with them. 

What Bark Monitors on Android Phones for Kids

Bark can monitor over 30+ platforms, but here are just a few of the popular apps that Bark can scan and send you alerts for:

Check out our full list of platforms and learn more about what content we monitor on each. 

The Bark Phone: The Best Android Phone For Kids

The only thing that could make Bark an even better Android parental control app is if it came with the phone itself — so that’s why we made the Bark Phone! We took a Samsung A series and gave it an unmatched level of security by building our parental controls directly into the phone. It’s the only Android phone for kids that actually gives parents the peace of mind they need when it comes to their child’s safety. 

The best part about building our phone is that we get to decide on certain device settings that with just the app, we don’t have much control over. And we made sure that every step of the way was guided by parents like you. We spent years listening to what parents wanted in a safer smartphone and we put all that feedback into the Bark Phone. Features such as requiring parent permission to delete text messages and our robust location tracking came from what we know both parents and kids need in this online world. 

Not an Android User? No Problem!

Generally speaking, we recommend Androids for parents who are looking to get the most out of parental control for their kid’s phone. Androids are more friendly to third-party apps like Bark, which allows us more capabilities with their software. Apple, on the other hand, highly prioritizes user privacy. This is great for adults — but not for kids. Parents often have a harder time monitoring content and keeping Apple Screentime locked down from common loopholes that kids find.

But if you happen to be an Apple user, no reason to stress! The Bark app is available for iOS devices as well. Tons of Apple families have found Bark to be an invaluable tool in their digital parenting kit. You get the same robust context monitoring, screen time controls, and location tracking. 

Try Bark for Free Today

If you’re ready to try the best Android parental control app for your child, you can sign up for our free, 7-day trial today! We believe Bark will be a great fit for your family, but we’d love for you to see for yourself at no cost. When you see how great it is, you can continue to use Bark’s powerful tools for just $14/month. 

health app icons with colorful background

Most teenagers have a lot on their plate — never-ending school assignments, extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and social lives to keep up with on and offline. Because of all these, it’s easy for their health to fall by the wayside. So you or your child may have found yourselves looking for a health app for teens to help them keep track of certain habits. School and friends are important commitments, but those become much harder to keep up with if their body and mind aren’t properly taken care of!

We’ve tracked down the best apps in the most important areas of health: physical fitness, mental health, sleep health, nutritional health, and menstrual health. These are great places to start if your teen needs a helping hand in their health education and practice. Let’s take a look!

Physical Fitness: Seven — 7 Minute Workout 

iOS

Android

Some teens may have a workout already built into their schedule from a sport. But if not, they may need a good resource to learn self-guided workouts that will get their heart rate pumping. This 7-minute workout app is great for teens who want to build a habit of exercise that works with a busy schedule. The app allows you to set a workout plan and choose your preferred area of focus (full-body workouts, upper body, core, etc.) These exercises are great whether it’s a home workout, at the gym, or just in any open space. 

The app lays out your plan and progress clearly, and it also keeps track of any achievements or badges you earn. You can earn these by hitting a certain milestone or completing one of the in-app challenges. The app does allow you to invite friends with a text link, but there’s no messaging feature or way to communicate in the app. There’s a free version of the app, or you can join the “7 Club” for $9.99/month or $59.99/year.

Mental Health: Calm app 

iOS

Android

The Calm app has been well-loved by its users for a long time now, and we can see why! The app is chock-full of quality mental health content, from courses and meditations to playlists and more. Whenever teens need to bring the intensity of life down a little bit, the Calm app can definitely help. Reducing anxiety, getting better sleep, and growing in gratitude are just a few of the goals that this app can help with. There is a limited free version of the app or a premium subscription for 69.99/year. 

Sleep Health: BetterSleep 

iOS 

Android 

There’s no question that teens need good sleep — and at least 8–10 hours of it. But sleep can be elusive for teens, which is not surprising considering how many teens struggle with anxiety these days. BetterSleep helps teens turn off the mental chatter and drift into deep REM sleep with music, sleep stories, and meditations. There are also guided sessions that teach things like how to get the best sleep with certain sleep positions or through breathing exercises. Teens can also track their sleep each night to see what may be helping their sleep or disrupting it. BetterSleep has a one-week free trial and then a yearly subscription for $49.99.

Nutritional Health: MyPlate  

iOS

Android

MyPlate takes the cake (pun intended) when it comes to nutritional apps for kids. The main function of the app is all about learning healthy habits and tracking your progress as you make better food decisions. The best part is that there’s no content about body image or eating in order to look a certain way — it’s all about eating quality food for quality health. 

The app gives you some easy goals to start with, like adding veggies to your lunch one day during the week or eating fruit as a sweet treat. MyPlate is a great way to get teens thinking about their food goals in an achievable, no-pressure way. Not to mention, it’s free to use! 

Menstrual Health: Period Diary Ovulation Tracker 

iOS

Android

If you’ve tried looking for a menstrual tracking app for your child, you may have noticed that tons of them were not necessarily made with teens in mind. It’s common for these apps to have adult content about more than just periods (think sex and masturbation tips, including suggestions to watch porn in some apps). But teens really just need a simple calendar and a place to track their symptoms. And that’s what the Period Diary offers!

There is a discover tab with content but it’s much more health-related and straightforward. Articles include topics like, “What is PMS?” and “Ease Your Cramps With These 3 Teas.” Period Diary has a limited free version or a premium subscription for $8.49/month or $33.99/year. 

Digital Health: Bark

The last area teens may need some help is their online life, and that’s where Bark can help! Bark offers a whole suite of parental controls to ensure teens are having a healthy and positive tech experience.

Bark can help you manage their screen time, block inappropriate websites, and scan their messages to look for potentially concerning content. If your teen is expressing feelings of anxiety, depression, or disordered eating, Bark can alert you so you can address it right when your support is needed. Start your free, 7-day trial today.

kid looking at his phone, illustrated lock to symbolize privacy

It’s a simple fact of nature: Kids will eventually want more privacy as they get older. It’s only natural for young people to want more independence from their parents, like having a later curfew or using a popular app to connect with friends. But they might not be considering their safety in the same way their parents are. Parents have to walk a thin line between protection and privacy, and it can be hard. 

At Bark, we’re a team of parents who’ve walked the same exact line. That’s why we take a unique approach to your child’s privacy with our content monitoring. In this post, we’ll explain what that approach is and why so many parents find it to be their favorite part about Bark. 

Why Bark Values Your Child’s Online Privacy  

Bark’s ultimate mission is to help parents foster healthy relationships with their kids, both on and offline. Privacy for kids — or rather, giving your kid a healthy amount of space as they get older — accomplishes two things. One, it builds their confidence in their own decision-making. And two, it creates trust between you and your child. 

Allowing your child to have a popular app like Instagram means you have to trust them to be responsible while they use it. And it also means your child can trust that you recognize their ability to do so. But it doesn’t mean they won’t make any mistakes with their newfound independence —it just allows them to remember what you’ve already taught them. 

This is something the experts have long advocated for, even as they’re calling for legislation to crack down on better parental controls in tech. The American Psychological Association notes that parental controls for social media such as adult monitoring should be “balanced with youth’s appropriate needs for privacy.” 

If you think about it, kid’s conversations online are likely similar to the conversations you had growing up when you hung out with your friends at the mall. Generally speaking, your parents were probably not privy to all these conversations. For many kids today, apps like Instagram and Snapchat are their version of meeting up at the mall. It may seem different now, but kids today can still have a healthy level of privacy online and be safer — the two aren’t always mutually exclusive.

How Bark Strikes the Perfect Balance 

When you look at the current options for monitoring apps, it can feel like an all-or-nothing approach. You can either use an app to spy on and access all of your child’s messages or use an app that only really focuses on how long your child spends time on an app. It’s either zero privacy or not enough.

Here’s how Bark strikes the perfect balance — we created a technology that will scan your child’s messages for you and alert you to the concerning content you need to know about. If your child is messaging a potential predator on Instagram or receiving texts from a friend that indicate suicidal ideation, Bark will notify you. This helps you keep them safe. 

But all the innocent conversations about favorite Fortnite skins and the boring school assembly that day? Bark simply passes over those, just as you would if you were manually checking the phone yourself. This helps you give them privacy. 

Bark as the Fan Favorite 

So why do parents love Bark’s monitoring so much? Because they don’t have to waste time digging through the harmless messages just to find the one that may be concerning. They don’t have to sacrifice their child’s online privacy and independence just to keep them safe — they get the best of both worlds. 

Tons of kids prefer Bark, as well. Most of the time, they don’t even realize it’s there as it runs quietly in the background. However, despite the level of privacy they get with Bark, you may find your child apprehensive about the idea of monitoring. If this is the case, we have some helpful resources about how to best address it with your child. Once they learn how it really works, kids often understand it’s better than a lot of alternatives — like spot-checking or spy apps.

Ready to Get Started With Bark?

If Bark sounds like a good fit for your family, we’d love to offer you a free, 7-day trial so you can get a feel for how our monitoring works. In addition to content monitoring, Bark also has a host of other parental controls, including screen time management, web filtering, and location tracking. You may even consider checking out the Bark Phone, our smartphone built with children’s safety in mind. 

Important note: You might be curious about how Bark manages all of the data we analyze. We recognize this is an important concern for child’s safety and privacy. When Bark scans your data, we immediately encrypt it so it can’t be traced back to you. Additionally, we purge data every 30 days (and parents can request us to purge their child’s data at any time). We hold ourselves to the highest security standards for the safety of you and your child. 

different kids all texting on their phones

We can all probably agree that group chats are one of the most convenient parts of texting. Instead of messaging each of your kids individually, you can simply throw them all in a group chat and say things like “We’re having tacos for dinner tonight” or “Don’t forget to tell Grandma happy birthday!” But when it comes to kids being in their own group chats with friends, it can be a little trickier to manage. 

For many kids, group chats are simply the way they communicate with each other. That’s why there are so many apps dedicated to messaging, like Snapchat, Messenger Kids, Kik, GroupMe, Discord — it’s just what the kids are doing these days.

Some friend groups naturally pick up on “group chat etiquette” without much coaching. However, kids can sometimes get carried away with the influx of notifications or find themselves at the center of group chat drama. 

We’ve picked the top five most important topics around group chats that parents should keep their eyes on. Consider talking with your kids about these, whether they’re about to join their first group chat or even if they’re already a part of several.

Top Five Things Parents Should Know About Group Chats

1. More notifications mean more pressure

Sometimes, when some kids join their first group chat, they feel they need to send a message for every single thought they have. And sometimes, they decide to send one thought in seven different messages. Suddenly, a group chat could be sending and receiving dozens of messages in the span of a few minutes — which is a notification nightmare for some parents! 

But for children, it’s not only just distracting, it can put a lot of pressure on kids to keep up with every new message and feel like they need to be sending just as much as their friends. It can quickly turn into a real fear of missing messages anytime they're away from their device. Make sure your kid knows it’s okay to put some group chats on “mute” or even put the whole device on Do Not Disturb mode.

2. Misunderstandings over text can be intensified in group chats 

We all know what it’s like when we send a text — and because you can’t send tone or facial expressions with it — your message gets taken the completely wrong way. With a group chat, you now have multiple other people who can misread your message in tons of different ways. Now add in kids who are often not mature enough to consider all the different meanings of a text, and you’ve got a radioactive zone for tons of unnecessary drama. 

It’s a common scenario for kids to start group chats with an entire class or even an entire grade. This means your kid could be messaging with people who don’t know them well enough to interpret their message correctly. The drama becomes ten times more complicated when the misunderstanding happens with someone totally outside your child’s social circle. 

3. When the chat makes a kid feel left out

Group chats can bring friends together, but they can also be very exclusionary. Sometimes this happens on accident with no ill intent, other times it’s done on purpose as a form of cyberbullying. Kids will create a group chat just for the sake of having one without a certain person and use it to talk behind their back. 

Kids can also feel left out even if they’re in the group chat. It’s one thing to not be invited to a certain event or just simply have to miss it for various reasons, but it’s another thing when your phone starts blowing up with pictures and messages about said event and you’re not there. FOMO (fear of missing out) is real. 

4. Hot spot for spreading inappropriate content

Speaking of impulse control, sometimes when kids come across something interesting on the internet, their first impulse is to share it with their friends. Kid group chats often function as a trading space for memes and funny videos, which can be totally innocent and harmless. But sadly, it’s not uncommon for kids to think it’s funny to send something inappropriate and get a reaction from the group. It’s easy to be exposed to things like porn links or disturbing videos from YouTube or TikTok while in a group chat.

Group chats are also a hot spot for swapping nudes. A study by Thorn reported that 1 in 6 kids (ages 9–12) admitted they had seen non-consensually reshared nudes of other young people. Sadly, in the age of sexting, this seems to be increasingly common among kids and teens. 

5. Group chats have become a normal part of growing up

While group chats can certainly be high risk, it’s important to remember that not all group chats will have these problems. In fact, they’re just a normal part of friendships for kids nowadays. Group chats can be used to plan in-person hangouts or share funny memes and say “this is you!” Or it can be just a space to talk about the things they didn’t get a chance to during school — like how we grew up calling our friends to chat after school in the 80s and 90s. 

The best thing to do as a parent is to consider if your child is ready for the responsibility of group chat. And, if they are, use it as a teaching opportunity for online safety as well as how to be a good friend in the digital world.

Group Chats Got You Down? Let Bark help! 

Giving your kid free rein on group chats can be scary, considering the potential dangers they come with. But Bark’s got what you need! Our content monitoring can keep an eye on your child’s texts without having to scroll through hundreds of messages yourself. 

Bark uses a highly trained AI to look for issues such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content, and this includes things in texts, images, and videos. We can also monitor many of the popular messaging apps like GroupMe and WhatsApp. You can take the Bark app for a spin with our free, 7-day trial

Also, consider the Bark Phone — our kid-friendly device that comes with Bark’s parental controls built in. With it, you get the added protection of contact approval, the ability to prevent text message deletion, and so much more. If you only want your kid texting certain people, texting at a certain time, or both, you have the power to create those settings with the Bark Phone — which can greatly increase your peace of mind when your kid is online. 

Video games are an undeniably entertaining pastime, not just for kids but for all ages! It’s no wonder why tons of family game nights now look something like a Mario Kart tournament or a Minecraft building session.

The trouble with all these games is that there can be some that are not meant for all ages. Or the appropriate ones are created to be addicting and kids find it difficult to manage their game time on their own. So the question becomes:  Are there any safe gaming consoles where kids can play with the necessary boundaries? 

We took a deep dive into that exact question and came up with the top 5 safest gaming consoles for kids! This review will focus mostly on the level of parental controls you can expect from each console. Let’s jump in! 

Nintendo Switch 

Taking the number one spot for best gaming console for kids is — hands down — the Nintendo Switch. The Switch has parental controls that no other console seems to match. And not only that, it has all the popular games kids actually want to play like Super Mario Bros, Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and more. All the while, parents can have peace of mind that their child’s gameplay will be uninterrupted by chats from strangers or inappropriate internet searches. Parents can also set play time limits, customize their child’s communication settings, and do all of this straight from their smartphone with the Nintendo Parental Controls app.

Xbox Series S

Geared towards the 13+ crowd, the Xbox Series S is a great option for kids as they get a little older and expand their gaming world. Xbox uses Microsoft Family Safety, an app that parents can add to their gaming console to apply a selection of helpful parental control features. You can put restrictions on content, messaging, and privacy. And for the cherry on top — you can password-protect your settings with a PIN code! This means kids won’t be able to go behind you and change any of the parental controls. 

Razer Kishi V2 

If your kid is an avid mobile gamer, this on-the-go console is the perfect way to step up their gaming experience. The console comes with pieces that you can fit on either side of your smartphone, effectively turning it into a game controller. To use the Razer Kishi, you have three options: play games downloaded on your smartphone, play games from the cloud (stream the game, as opposed to is being downloaded), or connect it to a PC or other game console and play games from there. 

The best part about the Razer Kishi is that it doesn’t have to have its own parental controls — as long as you already have parental controls set up on the device it connects to, you’re all set! Pro tip: Looking for the best option for a safer kid's phone? Check out the Bark Phone which has all of Bark’s powerful parental controls built right in.

PlayStation 4 

Another popular option is the PlayStation 4 that — when using the available parental controls — can make your teen's game time both fun and safer. It has many of the features we’ve already seen from other consoles such as restricting internet access, choosing age-appropriate content, restricting communication with other players, and creating a settings passcode. One thing the PS4 has that may excite some parents is that you set a monthly spending limit — so no more surprise discoveries of too many game purchases on the credit card bill! 

Nintendo Super NES Classic Edition 

Now hear us out — what can be safer than a retro gaming console with no internet and pre-loaded games? On the parental control side of things, there’s technically none with this console. But it’s hardly needed when there’s no secret games or internet for kids to access. It only comes with 21 games that are mostly family-friendly (parents may want to know that it comes with Street Fighter II and Earthbound, which are rated “T” for teens due to a higher level of violence). 

If you grew up playing Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, or Kirby Dream Course, we promise this console will give you fond nostalgic feelings, while giving your kids a unique gaming experience. 

Bark Home: Your Video Game Sidekick 

It’s great when gaming consoles and other technology come with their own parental controls, but it can be easy to lose track of how each device needs to be set up. Luckily, parents can use the Bark Home as their trusty screen time sidekick! The Bark Home allows you to manage all of the internet-connected devices in your home and set custom screen time rules for each one depending on what kid is using it, what time of day it is, and what it’s being used for. With the tap of a button on your phone, you can block the internet to the PS4 during homework time and only allow the shared family laptop to have internet. Then once homework’s done, simply switch rules! Order the Bark Home for your family today.

girl with a drawing tablet and illustrated emojis

One of the best things about technology is the art we can make with it! If your child is creatively inclined, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had an itch to explore the world of digital art. Digital art allows you to create anything you can think of without having to find the time, money, and storage for in-real-life art supplies. 

The two things your child will need for digital art are a drawing tablet and a quality design app. There are lots of options to choose from, so we rounded up the top three tablets and top three apps for teens ready to take their virtual drawing skills to the next level. And who knows? This could be the next step towards your child’s future career as an animator for Pixar or a graphic designer for a multi-million dollar company! 

Top 3 Drawing Tablets for Kids and Teens

iPad Pro 

If there’s one drawing tablet that seems to be the most highly recommended for the average digital artist, it’s the iPad Pro (specifically using Procreate, see below for more on that app). From its high-resolution display to its accuracy and responsiveness with Apple Pencil, your teen is sure to find their art groove with the iPad Pro. 

Wacom One 

Wacom is a well-known and highly reputable brand for its drawing tablets. The Wacom One is user-friendly and offers tons of different options to create any piece of art your child desires. It’s also one of Wacom’s more affordable options, which is great for beginners. Parents should know that it requires a home computer to connect to, but fortunately it’s compatible with Mac, PC, Chromebook, as well as certain Android smartphones and tablets. 

Huion Inspiroy 2 m 

Another top dog in the digital art space is Huion Inspiroy. This model is aptly named, as it will surely inspire great works from your teen! Unlike the iPad and Wacom One, this Huion tablet doesn’t have a display, it connects to your computer, phone, or tablet where the image will appear. It’s a little different to get used to, but rest assured artists can pick it up quickly. The Inspiroy’s look and feel is all your kid needs to feel like a professional.

Top Three Drawing Apps for Kids and Teens

Procreate 

As mentioned before, Procreate is a highly recommended drawing program, but it’s only available on iOS products. So keep in mind you’ll need an iPad as well as an Apple pencil for this app. For some artists, the iOS requirement is well worth the complete package of intuitive creative tools that Procreate comes with. With all the available options, it can be a learning curve to take advantage of everything it has to offer. But Procreate can certainly help your child’s art dreams come to life! 

Adobe Fresco 

Adobe Fresco is another loved drawing program that has the features any aspiring artist needs for their digital masterpieces. Both professionals and amateurs alike have utilized Adobe Fresco for their projects. Not to mention it’s compatible with both Apple and Windows drawing tablets. Whether your child is honing their skills in realistic portraits or Bob Ross-like landscapes, Adobe Fresco is a great sidekick to their art adventures! 

Sketchbook

Sketchbook is a perfect fit for true beginners. Its interface is simple and tools are easy to grasp no matter what ideas you bring to the platform. One cool feature it has is the drawing aids and stabilizers that help young artists get those smooth and steady lines. Sketchbook is compatible with Windows, Apple, and Android products. 

How Bark Can Help

Even if your child is using their tech time to enhance their art skills, it’s always good to have balance around screen time. And Bark can help you structure your teen’s screen time in a way that’s the most beneficial for them! With the Bark Home, you can create schedules for any internet-connected device in the home and have it shut off when it’s time for a screen break. So whether it’s your child’s iPad Pro or their Chromebook connected to their Wacom tablet, you can be sure your teen is following a healthy tech routine! Learn more about the Bark Home and order one today.

If there’s one question every parent has to answer, it’s this: Are you going to allow your child to use social media? This, of course, begets several other questions, like how do you introduce it to your kid? When’s the best time? What are the pros and cons of social media? Parent opinion varies widely on all of these questions. And if you didn’t grow up with it, it can be hard to know how exactly this decision will impact your child.

To put some of these questions into context, we’ve compiled a list of the most important pros and cons of social media for parents to consider. Of course, there are tons of positives and negatives, many based on your unique situation with your child. But these are some of the more broad, researched areas that can get you started as you make this decision for your family.

The Pros of Social Media  

Social connection

This seems to be the biggest draw for parents to get their kids social media at perhaps a younger age than originally intended — the social connection it provides between peers. The average childhood nowadays is more intertwined with screens than ever before. It may seem silly to us as adults, but for kids, sending memes back and forth on Instagram is just one way they show affection in a friendship. And it’s hard for parents to sit back if they feel their child is being left out of these social interactions that all their peers are having. 

It’s certainly a fine line between allowing social media for that crucial connection-building and allowing it simply because of peer pressure. But remember, your child’s social needs are just as important to take care of as their physical, mental, emotional, and academic needs. 

Access to information 

Something true of social media (and the internet at large) is the wealth of information it provides. Whether it’s new cooking recipes on Pinterest or fun science facts on TikTok, kids can learn so many cool things from social media. And who knows? Perhaps something they come across online will spark an interest that leads to a hobby, skill, or even full-on career one day! 

Creative expression

One of the most wonderful things about social media is how it allows people to express themselves. If you have a passion or a skill, now you can share it with a real audience. While singing a song in front of a live audience may not be the same as posting a video, it can still give you butterflies to think of people listening to a performance you worked hard on. For kids, it can be extremely formative to use social media as a means of putting their talents out there and building confidence.

The Cons of Social Media 

Exposure to harmful content 

Remember how we said social media gives access to a wealth of information? That’s actually more of a bittersweet aspect of social media. With all that information, there’s inevitably inappropriate content that is not safe for kids. But you can’t get the good without the bad for almost all popular social media platforms. And even as social media companies have tried implementing community guidelines and explicit content filters, it’s still all too easy for a child to stumble across this while scrolling. 

Just one example of this is the prevalence of porn in these social media apps. Many parents don’t know just how accessible porn can be today. You can even find it on less assuming apps like Pinterest. Other apps like TikTok say their algorithm doesn't allow for explicit sexual content, but users have quickly found loopholes that allow them to post content without getting flagged by the filter. It’s called “algo-speak," and people use certain words or emojis to evade the algorithm (i.e., people will type corn or 🌽 instead of porn). 

Online predation  

With kids freely interacting in the public online space, it creates a wide open door for bad actors and predators to access and cause harm to your child. Online predation can sometimes be overlooked because of something we call the “not my kid syndrome.” As parents, we do our best to teach our kids to be smart and responsible, so naturally, we believe our child wouldn’t even engage with a stranger online. But the fact is, all kids are capable of making mistakes or having a lapse of judgment — including talking with a stranger online.

Addiction

Experts have found that social media can impact our brains in the exact same way as any other addictive substance. When we swipe through content on our feeds, dopamine is released in our brains. Soon enough, our brains start to crave that dopamine release, which constantly sends us back to our scrolling without hardly a conscience thought. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to stay off Facebook for too long, imagine how much harder the temptation is for the not-yet-developed brains of our kids. 

Increased mental health struggles

As more research comes out about the impact of social media on teens, we’re seeing more evidence that social media can contribute greatly to mental health struggles. Studies have found that adolescents who spend more than 3 hours per day on social media are twice as likely to experience mental health problems like anxiety and depression. And remember, social media can be highly addictive, so 3 hours a day is hardly out of the ordinary for many teens. 

Outside of general anxiety and depression, we also see a higher likelihood of things like suicidal ideation, self-harm, and disordered eating among kids who frequently use social media. 

Still Not Sure If You Should Allow Social Media? Let Bark Help! 

The good news is that, as we said, this is a question all parents are having to face. Which means you’re not alone! And at the end of the day, the most important thing is making an informed decision based on what’s best for your child. So if it differs from other parents, that’s okay! But no matter where you land, Bark can help support you in your parenting tech journey. 


With Bark, you can block all or just specific social media apps that you don’t want your child to be on. If you do allow social media, Bark can scan 30+ popular apps and send you alerts if it detects any type of harmful content. This includes things like sexual content, predation, anxiety, depression, and much more. Start your free, 7-day trial today!

incognito tab with warning sign next to it

Chances are you’ve heard of incognito or private browsing, and possibly even used it yourself. But you might not have thought about how it could impact your kid as they begin to use the internet on their own. 

Our goal at Bark is always to educate parents on all things Internet to ensure they’re prepared for potential online dangers for their kids. And incognito browsing certainly poses a threat, so let’s take a look at everything parents should know about this feature.  

First, What Is Incognito Mode?

Incognito mode (or private browsing) is a feature on web browsers that allows people to use websites without their activity being saved or tracked. It won’t save any log-ins or passwords you use while in this mode. 

After you close out the private tab or window, the search history is gone with it and can’t be reviewed — at least by consumers. (When you work in an office, the company may still retain this information.)

Naturally, incognito mode has been one of the longest-standing hacks that kids have used since it was first introduced by Apple in 2005. It’s an easy way to avoid the parental gaze when kids become curious about the less family-friendly side of the internet. 

This doesn’t mean, however, that there are no legitimate reasons for using incognito browsing. It can be a good thing when used by well-intentioned, responsible internet users. 

For instance, imagine you were planning a surprise birthday party for your kid who frequently uses your computer — you wouldn’t want the surprise to be spoiled the next time they pulled up Google for homework! So a private browser would ensure your planning didn’t pop up again after you’ve closed it out. Incognito mode can also help with avoiding targeted advertising, as long as you don’t log in to any sites while you browse. There are even some browsers out there that are exclusively private — like DuckDuckGo — that were created mostly to avoid those targeted ads.

But when it comes to kids' online safety, incognito browsing will likely cause a lot more grief than needed, though.

What Parents Need to Know  

All browsers have a private mode option 

Parents should know that no matter what browser their child has access to, they will have the option to browse privately. It goes by different names depending on the browser — incognito mode, private mode, private browsing, hidden browsing, guest mode. But it’s essentially the same feature. 

Private mode isn’t as private as you think

Some may think that when you use private browsing, you’re invisible online. But that’s not the case — it’s that you’re anonymous. Using private browsing on your laptop or phone means that anyone else who uses the device won’t see the activity — but the websites you went to will know you were there. This is also true of your internet provider, employer, or school. It's especially important for parents to know if their child uses any kind of school-issued technology. 

This is a good way to talk to your kids about the golden rule of the internet: Nothing you do online ever completely goes away. Whether this is a disappearing message on Snapchat or a search history on an incognito tab — it’s safe to assume it’s being recorded somewhere. 

YouTube has an incognito mode

Did you know that YouTube itself has an incognito mode? All you have to do is click or tap over to your account and you’ll see the “Turn on Incognito” right at the top. It works just like an incognito tab on any browser: any videos you watch in this mode will not saved after it’s turned off. Seeing as YouTube continues to be one of the most used social media sites among teens, this is especially important for parents to know. 

We do think it’s important to make parents aware of incognito mode within the YouTube App; however, there isn’t currently a way to permanently disable or block that platform setting as far as we know. Please do reach out to YouTube to request this desired feature! Bark can certainly help to limit/restrict YouTube to certain hours, or block YouTube all together, in case that helps.

You can disable the option for private browsing (and here’s how)

Every browser has a private mode, but they also have ways to disable it! Here’s how to disable incognito browsing for Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. 

Safari 

Chrome 

Microsoft Edge 

REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge /v InPrivateModeAvailability /t REG_DWORD /d 1

Firefox 

Want to Monitor Incognito Browsing? Bark Can Help! 

The last thing you need to know is that Bark can help you monitor incognito browsing on Androids and computers. On Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and even YouTube, Bark can still scan for inappropriate content while your kid is browsing in private mode. And if your child tries to access inappropriate sexual content, you’ll be sent an alert so know what’s going on.

Bark’s monitoring covers texts, emails, and 30+ platforms and will alert parents if their child encounters anything concerning online. Our advanced machine learning technology is trained to look for context — not just keywords — to alert parents to instances of cyberbullying, sexual content, predation, suicide/self-harm content, violent content, and much more. We also have comprehensive parental control options to manage screen time and block inappropriate sites and apps on your child’s device. Try Bark for your family with a free, 7-day trial today! 

family reviewing bark alerts

If you’re a parent in the digital age, you’re probably aware of different parental control options that claim to protect your kid online. Whether they’re apps, routers, programs, or podcasts, they all claim to be what you need for your family. It goes without saying that at Bark, we’re confident in all that we offer to help parents raise protected and educated children online. But what exactly sets us apart from the rest? Here are just a few of the things parents have told us they love about Bark. 

Our Unique Approach to Monitoring  

At Bark, we have our hand in tons of different areas in the parental control space. But our pride and joy is the content monitoring technology we’ve spent years developing and perfecting. This is the part of Bark that you can’t find anywhere else because we hold it to the highest standard possible. 

We use AI-powered technology to scan a child’s device or social media account to look for concerning content. This can be things like cyberbullying, sexual content, predation, suicide/self-harm content, or any of the other 45+ categories the algorithm is trained to find. 

If something is detected, parents will be sent an alert straight to their phone. Monitoring like this is easy to underestimate until you’re a parent who’s received an alert crucial to your child’s safety. Sadly, it’s far too easy for kids to end up in tricky situations online, and tons of parents have learned that the extra set of eyes is an absolute game-changer. 

It’s important to note that other parental control apps may use the word monitoring, but they all mean something different. Parental controls like Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time can control when and how you’re child is using their technology, but they can’t give you any insight into what they’re actually interacting with. When most companies use “monitoring” they mean “keep an eye on” — like when you get a Screen Time report from Apple that says your kid spent 2 hours on Fortnite yesterday. 

We Offer Parental Controls to Cover All Bases 

But make no mistake, monitoring is certainly not the only thing we offer. Bark was built on the idea of providing a solution for all the obstacles parents may face while raising their kids in this tech era. So we aim to hear from real parents to know what they’re looking for and know exactly what to build. That’s how the Bark Phone was created — based on real feedback we had collected from parents over the years about what they were looking for in a kid’s smartphone. Even now, we’re constantly improving the Bark app and the Bark Phone to reflect the needs of parents in all areas, including monitoring, filtering, screen time management, GPS tracking, and more. 

We Value Healthy Parent-Child Relationships 

Behind everything we do at Bark is our heart to see healthy parent-child relationships. Ultimately, we believe that parental controls can only go so far in protecting your child and supporting them in all aspects of their life. The real impact comes from a trusting relationship between parents and their kids. This is why we only alert parents to potentially harmful content as opposed to showing parents all of their children’s messages and online interactions. The alerts create space for the parent to initiate important conversations with their children. 

We also make sure to provide parents with as many resources and tools as they need when those tough conversations come up. Parents who’ve received alerts from Bark know that when it’s something severe, such as predation or suicide/self-harm content, we make sure to send tips and resources from child experts about how best to approach the situation. 

We hear stories from parents daily about how Bark alerted them to a problematic situation in their child’s life and as a result, they were better able to understand and support their child in the process. This is why the Bark team works hard every day, to ensure that each family has the tools and knowledge they need to navigate anything the tech world throws their way. 

If Bark sounds like something you’d like to try for your family, we’d love to offer you a free, 7-day trial to get a taste of what Bark can do. You may also consider getting the Bark Phone, which is the whole package of all of our parental controls in a smartphone your child will love. If you’re interested in more resources and support in online safety, check out our resource center for more information.

Girl looking at the child location tracker app on the phone

There’s a new trend among Gen Z that is throwing parents for a loop — teens are using apps like Life360, Find My, and Snapchat (through the Snap Map feature) to share their locations with their friends. It’s now common practice for kids in a particular friend group to share their locations indefinitely so they can know where everyone is at all times. Location sharing is sometimes a battle between parent and kid, but just between Gen Z? That’s the new normal. But what are the dangers of sharing location?

This is something that we definitely didn’t grow up with this as part of our friendships. If your friend didn’t answer their home phone or your IM, that was the end of the story. But our kids can check their friend’s Snapchat, Instagram, BeReal, and see their exact location if they don’t get a response. 

If you’re feeling uneasy about this, you’re not alone. So we’re going to discuss everything parents need to know about the dangers of sharing location, as well as why kids may feel the need to partake. We hope this helps give you a firm understanding of the trend and some next steps to consider for your child's safety.

Why Share Your Location?

While this may seem strange at first, it’s no different than how social media works. We go on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat cause it’s fun to see what your friends are up to. And location apps let you see where your buddies are at any given time. It also makes planning hangouts more convenient — if you can see that your friend Jesse is at dance practice, you know she can’t go to the movies right now, so no need to text her and wait for a response. 

Location sharing among friends can also be used for the same reasons parents use it for their kids — for safety reasons. This is particularly true among college-aged kids. After a night out or when you’re on a date with someone new, it can bring peace of mind that your friend can see your location and know that you made it home safely. 

It’s also worth noting that kids may feel pressured to participate even if they don’t want to, simply because it’s a trend. It could be seen as offensive or even a betrayal if a friend decides not to share their location. So understandably, kids may choose to do so to avoid tension with their friends. 

What Are the Dangers of Sharing Location?

Privacy violations   

The obvious concern with this trend is privacy. Your location is one of the most dangerous pieces of information about yourself if it’s in the wrong hands. Unfortunately, convincing kids to share their location is a common grooming tactic we’ve seen before. That’s why kids should know to never share their location, the school they attend, or any other location-specific information with strangers online. 

But even sharing location with friends can be a privacy concern. Social media already blurs the lines of what personal information is appropriate for others to know, and this trend is another example of that. Especially with kids, they may not have the maturity to know which friends they can actually trust with that information. On the flip side, kids may not be mature enough to use that information responsibly. 

Drama inducer 

Location sharing can easily feed into or even create unnecessary drama between friends. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, location sharing can be very exclusionary and be a huge source of FOMO. Kids can see their friends all hanging out at places and they immediately know they weren’t invited.  

If it’s not FOMO, there are still tons of other drama situations that can come out of always knowing your friend’s location. There are a whole lot of assumptions to be made about seeing where someone is at a certain time. If you see your friend is in your crush’s neighborhood, that could be your worst fear – or it could be absolutely nothing. Suddenly, you’re worrying about something that, without having this piece of information, would’ve been a non-issue. 

How Do I Talk To My Kid About This?

These concerns may seem logical to you, but possibly not for teens. As a teen, your friends become more and more your priority, so it only makes sense that you want to share everything with them. But as parents, it’s our job to watch out for their blindspots and give them the tools they need to navigate them. 

The best thing is to start with questions. Why do they think they should share their location with their friends? Why do they feel they need to know their friend's locations? Do they actually want to or do they feel pressured? Try to ask these, not as an interrogation, but simply to help them explore the reasons behind their actions.

Then, you can explain your concerns and why you feel location sharing may not be in their best interest. There’s a high likelihood that they won’t see your side of things right away, so be prepared to have the conversation a few times before they see the potential issues themselves. 

Track Your Child’s Location Safely With Bark 

If you feel it’s important to track your child’s location but don’t want to give them an app they could use to do the same with friends, Bark can help! Bark’s child location tracker feature allows you to keep tabs on your child’s location using real-time GPS tracking, and kids can’t use it to track their friends. With Bark, you can also block apps such as Life360 and Snapchat to ensure they aren’t sharing elsewhere.

Bark also offers award-winning content monitoring to help parents stay in touch with their child’s online world, without having to search through hundreds of messages themselves. If your child is struggling with something like cyberbullying, predation, or mental health issues, we’ll send you an alert. Sign up today to start a free, 7-day trial! 

parent on a smartphone with illustarted parental control screens

Being a parent usually means you have to wear tons of different hats — parent, cook, therapist, Uber driver, tutor. But nowadays, you can add full-time IT specialists to the list. With all of the tech that kids get their hands on, parents now have the task of not only learning how these devices work but also how to use parental controls to keep their kids safe. 

One parental control that is a must-have in many households is web filtering, or the ability to block access to websites and apps. It seems simple enough, but how does it actually work? Knowing some of the basics can give parents some peace of mind about what exactly their kids can (or can’t) access and how Bark can be a vital tool when it comes to keeping them safe online. 

How Web Filtering Works  

If you think of the internet as a physical place, then each site you go to is like a specific location, like a house, building, etc. Each of these places has an address, just like in the real world. The address is the URL, like “www.facebook.com.” 

Web filtering will intercept the internet connection for the specific “address” or URL in order to block access to that location. It’s sort of like how you have to call the power company to turn on the electricity for your home when you first move in or have them turn it off when you move out. So web filtering services, like Bark, will either “turn on” or “turn off” the internet going to the specific URL. Sites you don’t block will stay open!

Web Filtering: The Two-Way Street 

Web filtering can get you a long way in terms of limiting what sites your child can visit, but unfortunately, no third-party web filtering service can filter content within the site. If we go back to the house analogy, you can filter which houses your child can and can’t go into, but you can’t filter which rooms they enter. And some websites have “rooms” that should definitely only be for adults. 

In an ideal world, web filtering would be a two-way street. Popular apps like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat, would provide adequate web filtering within the platform to keep kids from accessing inappropriate content. Sadly, this is not always the case. If you choose to allow Instagram, it’s binary: all content or no content. That’s how kids can still view inappropriate things.

Another example is streaming apps. Tons of kids are on these apps, and yet almost all of the popular music platforms have porn content easily accessible. Some of these apps have an explicit content filter, but when our team tested these filters, we found them to be inconsistent or inaccurate. Parental control tools like Bark try their best, but these apps seem to not be too concerned with what’s out there, unfortunately.

What Bark Can Filter 

Bark offers robust and reliable web filtering that parents can rely on. Here are just a few things Bark’s web filtering can do:

Tons of families have depended on Bark’s filtering to keep their kids safe. When a kid tries to access something that Bark has blocked, they’ll likely see the app or site trying to load or say something like “This site can’t be reached.” This means our web filtering is doing its job. 

Families can also use the Bark Home to apply Bark’s web filtering controls to all of their home devices. This includes phones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, smart assistants, and more! 

What Bark Offers That No One Else Does 

And when it comes to content within sites and apps, we got that covered, too. We offer powerful, machine-learning content monitoring that scans your child’s device for texts, emails, and 30+ platforms. If your child does encounter something inappropriate, like sexual content on a music app or extreme violence in a YouTube video, you can be sent an alert. This way, you can be there in those moments when your child needs you most. If you’re interested in seeing how Bark can help your family, you can get started with a free, 7-day trial today.

illustrated books and house plant on a shelf

No matter how inundated we are with social media, video games, and TV shows, nothing will replace curling up with a good book. Sadly, the percentage of kids who read for fun has decreased in recent years. But it’s certainly not for a lack of good books! We hand-picked a list of excellent books for teens that will really capture their attention. It’s a wide-ranging list, including fantasy, non-fiction, history, romance, and more.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is a beloved historical fiction author whose writing explores the would-be-forgotten tales of people who lived through some of the most memorable events in history. In this novel, readers are transported to World World II. Specifically, the book takes place leading up to the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ship evacuating civilians and wounded soldiers. There are four main characters, all unrelated to each other and yet share the same fate of being on this ship. The story explores their lives and the hardships they faced that led them to this tragedy. For any teen who’s a history buff, this should surely be their reading list.

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham

Memoirs are a fantastic way to get kids interested in history and the different cultures around them. And this memoir in particular has a special flavor to it. The author, Thien Pham, tells his story of fleeing Vietnam and ending up in California through his experience of food. From his descriptions of salty salmon to crispy American potato chips, the reader gets a feel for how his family processed this huge culture shock. 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Who would’ve thought that a coming-of-age story that takes place in the Civil War era would still be popular among teens today? That’s certainly what we see with Little Women. It’s a story that follows four sisters and the all-too-relatable struggles of entering adulthood. The book explores family bonds, romantic relationships, and societal expectations in a way that teens will find approachable and captivating.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone by J.K. Rowling

There’s hardly a book list for teens that won’t feature this magical, seven-book series. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone follows Harry as he discovers a magical world that exists in plain sight. In fact, he learns that he is actually famous in this world he didn’t even know existed. This book and the rest in the series follow his death-defying adventures as a young wizard, as well as the experiences of a teenager navigating friendships, school bullies, and lots of homework. 

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner is a story about Amir who tells the story of his time growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, when the Taliban was gaining power. In his childhood, Amir had a very close friendship with a servant’s son named Hassan. As Afghanistan began to face trouble from the Taliban, Amir faced a decision that ultimately led to him betraying Hassan. The book follows Amir as he lives with the guilt of this decision until something happens that brings him the redemption and forgiveness he’s hoped for. It’s a deeply emotional story of personal reflection and the lasting impact our decisions can have. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

A good high-school summer romance novel will always be a go-to for teens! This story follows Belly and her life-long crush on a childhood friend, Conrad. They’ve spent every summer at the beach with their families for as long as she could remember, but for the first time, she wonders if Conrad may reciprocate her feelings. Readers will certainly get lost in this easy-to-read, relatable teen drama.

The Giver by Lois Lowry 

Dystopian novels are great ways to simultaneously escape into a good story while also considering philosophical themes that apply in real life. The Giver takes place in a society where all emotion and individuality are essentially outlawed — every step of one’s life and development is structured by the leaders of this society. That is until the main character Jonas discovers the beauty of diversity and emotions and realizes the “utopia” he grew up in is far darker than he ever thought. This is also a series with four total books for teens to dive into! 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson 

This nonfiction book is highly relevant to face the harsh and present realities of the American justice system. Bryan Stevenson is a defense attorney who has seen countless disheartening examples of men, women, and children being mistreated in the system. The book is full of eye-opening statistics and anecdotes that paint a clear and sometimes hard-to-swallow picture. But the real draw of the book is how Stevenson urges readers to not just see the numbers, but consider the real people experiencing these injustices. This is definitely a must-read for any young person with a huge heart.

LED lights, backpack, water bottle, game, blanket, painting

If you ask your teen what they want for their birthday or the holiday season, chances are they’ll ask for something tech-related. A better laptop for school, different headphones for music, a new phone to keep up with friends — things like that. And while tech gifts are certainly awesome to give, there’s nothing wrong with going a little old school and giving them something analog. So we put together some popular non-tech suggestions that’ll make the best gifts for teens. Let’s take a look!

Top Gifts for Teens 

Burrito blanket 

$20 on Amazon

Who doesn’t want to feel like a tightly wrapped burrito when they curl up for movie night? The burrito blanket is certainly a simple and silly gift that’ll make a great addition to your kid's bedroom. Not a fan of burritos? No problem, you can also find ones that look like a pizza or a donut!

Stanley water bottle 

$45 on Nordstrom 

For whatever reason, there always seems to be a new water bottle brand that becomes a must-have among young people. This year, that brand is Stanley. It’s the 40 oz tumbler cup in particular that’s all over TikTok and Instagram. It comes with a reusable straw and a big handle for easy transportation between classes. It also comes in tons of different colors for your teen to choose from. 

LED lights for their room 

$12 on Amazon 

LED lights became popular on TikTok a couple of years back, and the popularity has not yet gone away. Luckily, most LED light strips are fairly easy to put up and not too expensive. They can turn your teen’s bedroom into a raving rock concert or give it a soft ambient glow. 

Paint-by-number kits

$19 on Amazon 

This is a great gift for any artsy teen out there. Paint-by-number kits come with a canvas with a printed picture, brushes, and paints. It tells you exactly where to paint and with what color, allowing your teen to create a masterpiece — without needing too much skill. It’s a great past time and the result is a beautiful work of art! And if you’ve noticed your teen has been a little anxious lately, paint-by-numbers is a recommended anxiety-reducing activity. 

Exploding Kittens card game 

$20 on Amazon 

You can never go wrong with adding to your family’s game collection, and Exploding Kittens is a must-have. This is a fast-paced game of chance that’ll get your teen and the whole family laughing. The goal is to not be the one who pulls an “exploding kitten” card. If you do, you’re out — unless you happen to have a “defuse” card. It’s a game with a comically ridiculous premise and makes for a hilarious experience!

Fjallraven Kanken backpack

$54 on Amazon 

If your kid wants a new backpack, look no further than this Sweden brand, Fjallraven Kanken! Their bags have a simple style yet have become quite trendy among teens. They’re also functional and spacious enough to allow your teen to carry their laptop and notebooks to and from school comfortably. 

Experience gifts 

If you don’t want to get your kid more stuff, you could get them an experience instead! This can be a lot of different things, but here’s a few suggestions to get the ideas flowing:

Gifts cards

Gift cards may not seem like a super exciting gift, but to a teen, gift cards mean freedom! If they don’t yet have a job or don’t have a great budget, gift cards let them pick out what they want without having to worry about the price as much. And it saves you stress from guessing what they want, all you have to do is figure out what places they shop from most! 

Books 

It’s never too late to inspire a love of reading if your teen doesn’t have one already. You can try finding some popular books for teens, or you can find something that matches your kid’s interest or ambition. If they love to cook, get them some fun cookbooks to test out. If they have a favorite sports team, try finding a book about the history of that team. 

Photo album 

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that take you down memory lane, especially for teens getting ready to leave the nest. A photo album is a thoughtful gift that they’ll probably appreciate more than they let on. There are tons of platforms like Shutterfly or Mixbook that make creating a photo album with your digital photos easier than ever. It’ll be a fun project for you to comb through old photos and give them something cherished to keep with them as they become an adult.

kid with a VR headset on. green check and red X illustrations around him

VR (virtual reality) headsets are a relatively new mode of gaming, which can be equally intriguing and intimidating for parents. VR technology takes the 2-D world we’re used to on our phones and TVs and turns it into 3-D simulation. It’s certainly a unique way to game, but as with any new tech, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.

Whether you’re considering a VR headset as a gift for your kids or you simply want more information about it, you’re in the right place! We did the research and put together the best (and worst) parts of VR gaming.

Pros 

Introduces an interactive and unique gaming experience

There’s no doubt that VR experiences are cool. The first time you try it it feels like you jumped 100 years in the future. And it’s only going to get better and more advanced from here. For particularly game-savvy families, this is definitely a train you’re going to want to hop on! 

Promotes physical activity 

This is probably the best part about VR headsets, they get kids up and moving! No more slouching on the couch with a game controller. VR allows kids to play games that make them dance and jump around the living room. Looking for things to do in the winter with a particularly active kid? Try a VR game! Need an intriguing way to get a particularly non-active kid’s blood pumping? Try a VR game! 

Improves hand-eye coordination

Video games in general are good for helping improve hand-eye coordination, but VR headsets take it to a whole new level! Knowing where your body is in space — even when you can’t see what’s really there — is a skill that can be improved upon with VR headsets.

Cons 

Creates a high risk for inappropriate content

Now for the worst part about VR headsets: almost all of them come with a web browser. This should be a red flag for parents that there’s a high risk of their kid encountering inappropriate content. Note: One of the first industries to take advantage of the new VR tech was the porn industry.

Opens the door to predatory behavior

Sadly, we’ve seen many reports of predators using their avatars to groom and then sexually “assault” kids’ avatars in VR chat rooms. At Bark, we’re no stranger to the threat that chat rooms pose to kids online. However, VR chat rooms are an exceptionally dangerous and disturbing risk for kids, as it's experienced far more vividly than other online abuse.

Impacts vision and causes potential motion sickness 

The research on this is very preliminary and it's hard to say for sure how VR experiences can impact one’s vision. However, it’s not a far leap to assume it may not help your child’s developing brain. Our brains are not used to perceiving things “far in the distance” when in reality it’s only inches from our face. Some families may consider keeping a shorter time limit on their kid’s VR use to help mitigate any potential harmful effects.

Additionally, there are many anecdotal reports of those who easily feel motion sickness from using a VR headset even for a short amount of time. These reports come mostly from adults rather than kids. However, it’s a good idea to remind your kid to take notice of how they’re feeling physically while playing. 

Pro tip: Most VR headsets have an “IPD adjustment” setting (IPD stands for interpupillary distance, which refers to the distance between your eyes). Adjusting the IPD on your headset to match your own IPD can help make the VR experience more visually accurate and therefore less likely to cause vision strain or motion sickness. 

Our Tips 

Monitor through TV or phone 

The best way to ensure your child is playing safely is to keep an eye on their activity yourself. The good news is that most headsets allow you to cast the VR game to your TV or phone so you can see what your child is seeing through their headset. 

Consider singleplayer games 

One way to avoid unwanted behavior from strangers through VR is to have your child play single-player games. This way, you can have peace of mind that your child is purely gaming — not interacting with any potential bad actors. 

Research parental controls  

It’s important to always research the parental controls for any new tech or platform before your child interacts with it. Use the parental controls at your disposal and be sure to pair these controls with frequent talks with your child about online safety.

Use the Bark Home

Our last tip for parents is to consider using web filtering at the router level to keep their kids safe on VR headsets. And Bark has just the thing! The Bark Home is a small device that plugs into your router and filters all web traffic for internet-connected devices in the home. This includes tablets, computers, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and of course VR headsets. The Bark Home allows you to set screen time limits and block inappropriate sites and apps, either individually or by entire category. Learn more about how the Bark Home can help protect your kids on their home devices. 

bark phone with "starter plan" sticker

At Bark, we’re hypervigilant about hearing what real parents need for their children’s digital safety. We’re constantly updating our app and the Bark Phone with new features that come directly from parent suggestions. So that’s why we’re thrilled to announce our brand new starter plan for the Bark Phone! 

The starter plan was designed for families looking for a simplified, limited-capability smartphone. For just $39/month, parents will get a phone with zero access to the internet or the ability to download apps. Perhaps this will be your child’s first phone, or you have a teen that needs some extra guardrails. In either case, this is the perfect phone for kids who need a well-structured digital environment without any potential workarounds. 

This is not to be confused with the other plans for the Bark Phone. With those, parents still have the ability to turn off (or turn on) access to the internet and app store from their parent app. The difference with the starter plan is that it comes already locked down without this access, right out of the box. Let’s dig into some specifics! 

The Perfect First Step for Kids

For many kids, their first step into the digital world doesn’t require much. Simply talk, text, and maybe a camera will suffice. So that’s exactly what the starter plan offers — no internet and no access to the app store. But it’s also packed with Bark’s tried and true parental controls that make it a parent favorite. Here’s a rundown of features you can expect from the starter plan:

Upgrade Whenever Your Family Is Ready

What if later down the line you need to add access to the internet or the app store to your child’s phone? Not to worry! You have the flexibility to upgrade and keep the same phone as your child grows and becomes ready for more responsibility. Our advanced plans, starting at just $39 per month, allow you to introduce games, internet access, and additional features when the time is right. In just a matter of minutes, you can have the exact type of phone your child needs, without having to order an entirely new phone. 

Our advanced plans give parents the option to require (or not require) things like app approvals and contact approvals. With the ability to download apps, parents will also have Bark’s monitoring for 30+ platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Roblox. Additionally, parents can create screen time rules and schedules to help kids follow healthy boundaries when it comes to device usage. 

The Bark Ecosystem

By choosing the Bark Phone, you gain access to more of the Bark ecosystem. This starter plan, along with all other phone plans, includes a Bark Premium subscription. This means you can add Bark’s robust parental controls to all other devices and accounts in your home at no extra cost. Do you have a tablet in the home or perhaps an email account for a younger child? Bark’s got those covered!

No matter what your family’s online safety needs, Bark’s got you. The premium subscription covers content monitoring and screen time controls for all mobile devices in your family. Need screen time controls for things like computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles? In that case, the Bark Home is your solution. Learn more about how Bark can partner with you to keep your kids safer in the digital age.

thumbs up emoji and cell phone illustration - safer phone for kids

A common struggle among parents today is finding a safer phone for kids. In recent years, more kid’s phones and parental control apps have hit the market, which is great that there’s a bigger focus on keeping kids safe online. But now it’s harder than ever to choose the right one for your kid! You might already have an idea of the type of phone you want, or maybe you have zero idea what you should be looking for. Either way, we’re here to help! 

We’ve put together a few quick and helpful tips when it comes to finding the best phone for your child. Of course, every parent should do what is best for their family, but these tips give parents a place to start as they begin their research.

Tips to Find a Safer Phone for Kids  

  1. Start with your child’s specific needs

A great place to start is nailing down why exactly your kid needs a phone. Some kids need a phone with just the basics — calling and texting and nothing else. Other kids might need a few more freedoms, such as specific apps for school or extracurricular activities. Whether you’re looking at a regular smartphone or one intentionally designed for kids, you’ll want to ensure it has the features and capabilities you and your child need. 

  1. Look for tamper-proof parental controls 

If you’re a parent in the digital age, you’ve probably felt out-teched by your kids at one point or another. Even for kids who have never tried to bypass parental controls before, it probably wouldn’t take them long to figure out if they tried (or ask a friend at school who already figured it out). 

So if you’re going to give your kid a phone, you’ll want to find one that’s as tamper-proof as possible. Or at least educate yourself on the common loopholes or pitfalls the phone may have. Again, even if your child never attempts to find these, it’s best practice for parents to understand the tech we give them access to. You probably wouldn’t let them drive a car for the first time without some guidelines or boundaries, right? Well, a phone is certainly comparable to that level of responsibility. 

  1. Remember flip phones are not safer phones  

One misconception we hear a lot from parents is that the safest phone is a flip phone: texting and calling only. Just like we had back in the day, right? But what parents don’t realize is that most flip phones come with an internet browser. This makes them more dangerous than a smartphone because not only does it provide unfettered access to the internet, but there’s also no way to block it. So we highly suggest avoiding flip phones while searching for a safer phone for your kid. 

  1. Find out what other parents saying    

The best advice comes from experience, so who better to ask than other parents who’ve already made the same decision? We have a Facebook group called Parenting in a Tech World with over 400,000 parents, all in different stages of navigating tech with their kids. If you need help with a parental control question, you’re sure to find it there! 

Tons of parents have come to the group with this same question of how to find a safer phone for kids. So hop on over, look through the hundreds of posts on this very topic, and hear what real parents have to say about how they’ve made this decision in their family. 

  1. Consider the Bark Phone

At Bark, we’re well-acquainted with the struggle that parents have when it comes to finding a safer phone for kids. So that’s why we created the Bark Phone: the sum total of the years of feedback we’ve gotten from parents about what they want in a kid’s phone. 

The Bark Phone can be exactly the phone you want it to be, no matter what age or phase your child is in. What your child needs when they’re 11 will probably be different from what they need when they’re 16. So the Bark Phone allows you to customize almost all the settings, including access to internet browsers, access to the app store, contact approval, screen time settings, and much more. 

snapchat logo

**This blog post was updated on January 12, 2024.**

Snapchat this week announced that it was rolling out new parental control features for families, but as usual, these additions are merely all smoke and no substance. Let's break them down:

**This blog post was updated on December 6, 2023.**

Snapchat — for many parents, it’s the bane of their existence. It’s the app that every kid wants and every kid seems to have before yours does. Parents are constantly asking why kids are so attracted to it and, more importantly, how to monitor Snapchat. The app came out in 2011 and has been popular ever since for its unique photo messaging and fun face filters. It’s also the first app to introduce stories to the social media scene. 

But its popularity among kids has brought certain risks that have proven tricky for kids — and parents — to navigate. That’s why we put this handy guide together to give parents the low-down on everything you need to know about its features, as well as how to keep your kids safe. 

So, Why Kids Are So Obsessed With Snapchat? 

For many kids, Snapchat is an essential pillar of their social life. One main reason for this is the instantaneous connection it provides kids with their peers. Whether it’s through stories or direct messages, users can easily share the happenings of their day with a text, photo, or video. Other platforms like Instagram and TikTok are more about the content, like posting edited selfies or scrolling through entertaining videos. But Snapchat serves a slightly different purpose in providing a quick and unique way to interact with your friends. This is exemplified in Snapstreaks, a feature that essentially records how many days in a row you’ve sent a Snapchat to another user. 

But make no mistake, Snapchat still has lots of content to consume. Kids can find some of their favorite celebrities and influencers on Snapchat and get an inside look at their everyday lives. Just like any other social media, kids can easily find themselves scrolling through the Discover page for hours at a time. 

What Are the Dangers Parents Need to Know?

Disappearing messages 

Snapchat was the first app to introduce disappearing messages and parents have been battling the misconceptions that come with it ever since. Kids are quick to believe that since the messages disappear, they can send whatever they want without any repercussions. But the truth is that the messages are never really gone — kids have been known to screenshot, either with their own phone or with another phone to take a picture of the messages. This feature has made Snapchat a hotspot for the spread of tons of inappropriate behavior, such as cyberbullying, sexting, drug sales, predation, and more. 

On the flip side, there’s still a danger even if the messages do disappear because this means there’s no record of any misbehavior that may happen on the platform. So for things like cyberbullying, you wouldn’t have the context or the evidence you need to bring to the school, for instance. The app is inherently secretive, which can cause a lot of grief for the parents, kids, and anyone else involved in a sticky situation. 

Discover page  

The Discover page, as previously mentioned, is like Snapchat’s public feed for their more prominent users, brands, and publications. Users can find any and all types of content here. And the page runs on clickbait, which means the more shocking or eye-catching a video is, the more views it’s likely to get. 

Parents should know that Snapchat’s Discover page has a high propensity for overtly sexual content and generally concerning content. Aside from this, it’s also addictive just like TikTok and other short-form video platforms. 

Snap Map 

Snapchat has a location feature where you can see where your friends are, as well as post a story to the “OurStory” feature that’s based on a location or event. For example, you can look up a school or concert and look at stories from users in that specific area. Kids could find (or be found by) strangers through this feature, which is a serious privacy concern. Sadly, we know that online predators flock to the platforms where the kids are, and this feature opens the door to kids being targeted for grooming and other predatory tactics.

What Can Parents Do?    

Prioritize open communication 

When it comes to Snapchat, the best strategy a parent has is communication. Once you’ve done your own research on the app and understand its dangers, talk to your kid about what you’ve learned. Especially with the disappearing messages, it’s extremely difficult to catch all potentially inappropriate activity on the platform. However, it provides a great opportunity to teach kids about why online safety is so important and give them the tools they need if they encounter these dangers. Whether your kids already have Snapchat or they’re just asking for it, make sure they’re educated on the risks and know you’re a safe place to go, no matter what. 

Take advantage of Snapchat’s parental controls

While Snapchat still has a long way to go in making its platform safe for kids, parents should still take advantage of what parental controls they offer. Parents can use Family Center to link their own personal Snapchat accounts with their kids to get some general insights into the child’s app activity. Additionally, there are some privacy settings that can help mitigate the risks relating to the location and messaging features.  

Can Bark Monitor Snapchat?

The good news is that Bark is here to partner with parents to help them navigate the dangers of Snapchat with their kids. With Bark’s premium controls, you can block Snapchat entirely or manage when your child is allowed to access it during the day. 

On Android devices like the Bark Phone, Bark can monitor text DMs, searches, and AI chats for concerning content such as cyberbullying, sexual content, predation, suicide/self-harm content, and much more. If anything is detected, Bark will send you an alert so you can be there for your child when they need you most. Start your free, 7-day trial of Bark today!

collection of gifts such as Nintendo Switch, headphones, cloud slides, and board game.

With the holidays just around the corner, parents are already racking their brains for what gifts to get their teens. Sometimes, teens can feel like the hardest one in the family to shop for! They’re too old for toys, but not old enough that they don’t want something exciting. And there’s actually tons of stuff out there that strikes the perfect balance between fun and functional — you just have to know where to look. So we did some of the leg work for you and scrubbed the internet for the most popular gifts for teens for 2023!

And to make it even easier, we’ve split our list into two categories: the fancy stuff and the not-so-fancy stuff. Because some families may be looking for the big, showstopper gifts and other families may be looking for something that won’t break the bank. We hope this helps as you plan to make this holiday season special for your kids! 

The Show-Stopper Gifts for Teens 

Nintendo Switch

$299 on Amazon

Nintendo Switch is a fan favorite for both kids and parents. Kids love playing all the available games, especially some of the popular ones like Super Smash Bros and Animal Crossing. And parents get to enjoy easy parental controls for teens who need a little help managing their screen time. Nintendo Switch is a great gaming console to add to the mix or start out with if your family is new to gaming. 

Bark Phone 

Starts at $39/month 

If your tween or teen needs a phone, you’ll want to get one that they’ll be excited about and one with parental controls you can trust. The Bark Phone is the perfect mix of those two things! The Bark Phone is a Samsung Galaxy A series and looks just like a normal phone, so kids aren’t embarrassed to use it. And yet it’s way better than a normal phone because it comes with Bark’s award-winning parental controls built-in. With the Bark Phone, parents can monitor for concerning content, block harmful sites and apps, approve contacts, track location, and pause the internet anytime. This phone will be a gift to yourself just as much as a gift to your kid!

Pro tip: We highly suggest setting up the Bark Phone a few days before giving it to your child. This way, you can customize the phone with the settings you feel are best for your child before they even get to it. And the good news is that the Bark Phone has an easy and quick setup!

Beats Headphones

$129 on Amazon 

For many teens (and even adults) it’s essential to have a reliable, high-quality way to listen to music. And it has become more popular for kids to opt for headphones instead of earbuds. Headphones allow kids to zone out the world and really concentrate — either during study time or when their favorite band just dropped a new album. 

Magento Longboard

$70 on Amazon

Here’s a gift if you want to get them out of the house — a snazzy, smooth cruising longboard. Even if your teen doesn’t seem like a skater, longboards are great because they’re easier to learn than skateboards. Skateboards are more for gnarly tricks at a skatepark, longboards are for enjoyable rides in the neighborhood. This is great for any adventurous teen who wants to pick up a new skill. 

CORSAIR gaming chair 

$249 at CORSAIR

Kids who are avid gamers could probably use a good chair to sit in, so why not pull out all the stops and get them one with peak comfort? This chair from CORSAIR has a thick and wide cushion, so your kid can sit however they want while they build in Minecraft or win battles in Fortnite. It also has tons of options to adjust the height, armrests, and seat back. 

Gifts for Teens That Won’t Break the Bank

Ring light for phone 

$24 on Amazon 

If your teen loves taking selfies and videos, this is the perfect gift for them! This clip-on light attaches to their phone and brings the best lighting no matter where your teen is snapping pics. And it can work with any phone your child may have, iPhone or Android. 

Just One game 

$16 on Amazon 

Games are a great, easy gift that is not only enjoyed by your teen but also by the whole family. Just One is a fun group game that tests how well you know your family members and how they think. This game is definitely the way to go for a teen that loves game night. 

Cloud slides 

$29.99 on Cloud Slides

Say hello to the latest trend in comfort fashion: cloud slides. Everyone needs a pair of shoes that are easy to slip on, comfortable, and still stylish to wear out and about. Think of these as Croc’s younger, cooler friend. Your teen is sure to love one of their many colors and styles! 

The Comfy hoodie 

$49.99 on The Comfy 

And to match with their brand new cloud slides, they can wear their Comfy hoodie! A hoodie is a slight understatement for this piece — it’s more like a blanket that you can wear. Its thick wool material and length that comes down to your knees make it an absolute must-have in the winter season. 

Gift cards 

We know this one’s a little different, and some may even feel like it’s a “cop out” present. But for teens who are exploring their new interests and independence, gift cards can actually be the best thing to give them! This way, they have the freedom to shop at their favorite places and decide what they want for themselves. Not to mention the pressure it takes off you to find the perfect gift. So consider finding out what stores they’d like to splurge at and let ‘em have at it! 

screen grabs of educational youtube channels

You can probably think back to your childhood and recall your favorite actors/actresses, movie stars, and athletes. Well, kids growing up today will probably remember their favorite YouTube channels more than anything else. YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world and kids have been flocking to it for years. 

As a parent — especially those of us who didn’t grow up with YouTube — it can be intimidating to navigate everything on the platform. There are tons of awesome videos and creators to find, but there’s also just as much inappropriate and harmful content.

So to help you cut through the clutter, we’ve researched and verified educational YouTube channels that are great for kids to watch. They include a range of topics including science, art, history, and even food! We hope this helps you find some fun content to show your child and even enjoy yourself. Let’s begin! 

Our Top Picks For Educational YouTube Channels 

Mark Rober

Mark Rober is a fan favorite of both kids and parents these days. A former NASA engineer, he makes videos that bring the fun of physics and chemistry to life. His videos are fast-paced, engaging, and easy to follow along with even as he’s explaining complex topics. And the fun part is that his videos are usually based on a random question or curiosity that lots of us have thought about before. Questions like, “Why are carnival games so hard to beat?” or “Is it possible to create a real-life jello-swimming pool?” This is a great channel to spark curiosity in your kids and begin their love of science.

Linus Tech Tips  

This channel is for all the budding techies out there. Linus Tech Tips brings viewers into the inner workings of tech and the tech industry at large. Has your kid ever wanted to build a PC? Linus and his team are a great place to start. Do they love keeping up with the latest releases in the tech world? Linus probably has a review on it!

Crash Course 

Crash Course is the epitome of YouTube education. Started by brothers John and Hank Green, their easily digestible and engaging videos take viewers through just about every topic imaginable — like organic chemistry, literature, world history, philosophy, and much more. The content is generally based on topics covered in school ranging from high school to college, so this is great especially if your kid is struggling with a particular topic in class. 

Burls Art 

Burls Art is a unique gem to come across. In his videos, Burl builds guitars and explains how he makes them — but with a twist. Each guitar build is made out of something completely different and random. In his very first video of him building a guitar, he made the whole thing out of colored pencils. And it only grew from there, going on to build guitars out of newspaper, LEGOS, jawbreaker candy, even an old shovel. And the crazy thing is, the guitars work! At the end of each video, he plays the audience a short tune on the new build. Each video is a delightful mix of engineering and music. 

The Dodo

This one will itch your brain and touch your heart. The Dodo channel is a massive collection of the best animal stories, from dogs, cats, turtles, donkeys, whales, and so much more. Each video features a different person or family sharing their story with a particular furry friend (or gilled, winged, etc.) You’re sure to end each video with a newfound love and appreciation for the animals!

Ted-Ed

Ted Talks have become a well-respected and highly successful platform for sharing ideas from around the world. The Ted-Ed channel takes interesting concepts and puts them in short, animated, easy-to-understand videos that are perfect for any curious kid. It’s quite a collection of topics, so your kid is sure to find something that piques their interest.

Rosanna Pansino 

If your kid loves to experiment in the kitchen, Rosanna Pansino is a great channel to inspire their culinary passions! Your kid can find hundreds of videos of fun recipes, food challenges, and dessert masterpieces with Rosanna. They can learn how to make something extravagant like a Little Mermaid-inspired cake or something more simple like the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Red Ted Art 

This channel is perfect for young kids who need something to do with their hands! Red Ted Art is an arts and crafts channel that has countless tutorials on fun and easy art projects. You can find a video for just about any craft you can think of and even more of ones you’ve never thought of. These videos can also be a jumping-off point for your child’s own creative crafting ideas.

How Bark Can Help Keep Your Kid Safe on YouTube 

Even with all this great content to find on YouTube, it’s still important to ensure your child is safe on the platform. Bark can help you by managing when your child can use YouTube throughout the day or even blocking it entirely if needed. We also offer our award-winning content monitoring for YouTube, so you can be alerted to potentially inappropriate videos your child might have come across. Start your free, 7-day trial of Bark today!

mom and son playing video games together

As a parent trying to navigate the dangers and pitfalls of the tech world, you might find yourself with a bad taste in your mouth when you think of anything tech or social media-related. And that’s completely valid — by now, we’ve heard countless stories about online predators, cyberbullying, screen addictions, dangerous TikTok trends, and more. So a logical question might be, what exactly is the benefit of technology for our kids?

At Bark, we believe there can be a healthy balance when it comes to parenting with technology. Whether we like it or not, tech and the internet are here to stay. So it’s imperative that we take advantage of all the good has to offer (as well as protect from all the bad, of course), and teach our kids how to do so as well. So we picked what we believe are the three most foundational ways you can use the power of tech to positively impact your kids. 

Our Top Three Ways Parents Can Positively Use the Power of Tech 

Family bonding: Using tech to spend time together    

Technology and social media can be a slippery slope into isolation. Scrolling through Instagram or playing certain video games are often solo activities. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are lots of games and activities that are online but can still be a social activity. 

If you have regularly scheduled family time, it’s okay if sometimes that time is used playing a video game as a group or even watching a movie together. Especially starting this at a young age, you can help your child associate tech with group experiences, as opposed to a solo experience. 

Your family can also use the power of tech outside of just games and movies. You can use technology to explore new topics together and learn new things. Maybe you and your child can find an educational podcast that you listen to on the car ride to school. Or maybe when your child asks an interesting question about the world around them, you can make it an activity to go on a Google deep dive to find the answer or some fun facts. In this way, the focus isn’t on technology, it’s on the conversation — technology just adds to it! 

Exploring interests: Using tech to inspire your child’s hobbies  

If your kid already loves sports, art, cooking, etc., the internet is a great place for them to get inspired for those things! That’s one of the best things about the internet — it exposes you to new ideas, people, and topics that you never would’ve known about otherwise. 

But that’s also the greatest danger — it exposes you to inappropriate, disturbing, and even scary content that you would’ve lived in blissful ignorance about otherwise. So to be clear, while we encourage using the internet to explore kids’ hobbies, we also strongly encourage parental monitoring and web filtering! 

But to get the ideas churning, here’s a list of some interests your child might have and where they can find some inspiration online:

Teaching independence: Using tech to encourage responsibility  

One of our most important jobs as parents is teaching our kids how to be independent, responsible human beings in the world. This applies to all areas — school, extracurricular activities, friends, first jobs, and family. As kids get older, we have to give them a little more freedom and responsibility to practice being self-sufficient. Perhaps at 12 years old, they’re responsible for doing their homework without being told, and at 15 years old, they’re responsible for planning transportation when their afterschool club is over. 

The same principle applies to technology. Parents can use tech as an opportunity to give their children a certain amount of responsibility and independence with tech, as it makes sense for their age. Perhaps at 12 years old, they can play select video games with friends on the weekend, and at 15 years old they can have their own phone with supervised social media accounts.

Once your child has some independence on the internet, they’ll likely come across something concerning or problematic (not if, but when). So it’s important to give them the tools they need beforehand to react wisely in the situation. And even if they don’t make the smart decision, that’s still an opportunity to teach a lesson. Sometimes, those are the ones that sink the most and will motivate them to make better decisions going forward. 

How Bark Can Help

Bark was actually created for this purpose — to allow parents to help keep their kids safe online while still allowing them to explore the power of tech. We do this with our award-winning monitoring technology that will scan your child’s texts, emails, and 30+ social media apps for concerning content.

 If your child encounters something such as cyberbullying, sexual content, predation, suicide/self-harm content, etc., you’ll receive an alert straight to your phone so you can investigate and take action as needed. 

Bark also allows you to set screen time schedules, block inappropriate sites and apps, pause the internet on your child’s device, and track their GPS location for peace of mind. Start your free, 7-day trial of Bark today!

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Location tracking is one of the many technological advances that’s become a common part of life for most of us. We can track the exact location of almost anything — our packages, food deliveries, and even loved ones at any moment we want. 

When it comes to parenting, location-tracking begs some important questions. Like, “What’s the best way to track my kid’s location?” “Does it matter if it’s GPS or Bluetooth?” “Should I even be tracking my kid in the first place?”

These are all great questions — and a tricky subject to navigate for some families. So we created this handy guide that includes what options are out there as well as our researched recommendations on what’s best. 

What’s the Difference Between GPS and Bluetooth?

When it comes to tracking devices, there are generally two main options: GPS tracking and Bluetooth. There are quite a few differences between these, such as battery life, size, and price. For the sake of this conversation, we’re going to focus on the most important: connection range. 

GPS location tracking

GPS tracking uses the signals that come from all the satellites above the earth to pinpoint something’s exact location. So the GPS in your car is constantly communicating with the satellites in order to tell you what exit to take on your road trip.

Bluetooth location tracking

The technology for Bluetooth devices is more local: instead of using satellites in the sky, it communicates directly with your phone using radio waves. Popular examples of Bluetooth location tracking are Apple Airtags or Tile trackers, which people use to keep track of things like keys, wallets, and other personal effects. 

What’s the Best Option To Track My Kid’s Location?

If you think about your Bluetooth headphones, you’re most likely using them within just a couple of feet of your phone. Now imagine trying to listen to music with your headphones if your phone suddenly floated down the street to your kid’s school. You probably wouldn’t expect the connection to last very long, right? 

That’s why it is highly recommended to not use Bluetooth tracking devices on kids. Their connection range is usually a maximum of 200-300 feet, and your kid could very easily find themselves outside of that range.

So instead, we turn to GPS! GPS tracking technology, due to all the satellites available to communicate with, is highly reliable and efficient in tracking the location of anything that moves around a lot (like Ubers, rogue dogs, and teenagers.)  This is why Bark utilizes real-time GPS location tracking on both our app and Bark Phone, to give our parents peace of mind when keeping tabs on their kid’s whereabouts. 

Why Should I Be Tracking My Kid’s Location in the First Place?

The short answer is, it’s up to you! There’s really no right or wrong here. For some parents, they prefer knowing where their kids are, even if it’s just down the street at a friend’s house. There could also be outside factors, such as the child has a disability or it’s specifically used when the child is away at a sports competition, camp, etc. 

Other parents, however, feel it’s not as necessary for their family. Maybe they have a different system worked out for when the parent wants to know where their child is. (Remember growing up when our parents would say “Come home when the street lights come on”?) It may feel old school, but for some families, it works!

How Bark Can Help

If you decide it’s best to use location-tracking for your kids, consider using Bark! Bark doesn’t just offer real-time GPS tracking, we also offer location alerts and check-ins. Location alerts will automatically tell parents when kids arrive at frequently visited places, such as school, home, or a best friend’s house. And with check-ins, your child can proactively push their current location to you, without having to call or text. 

Bark can also help you monitor your child’s online content across texts, emails, and 30+ social media, and send you alerts if they encounter harmful content. We have robust screen time features that allow parents to set screen time schedules, block inappropriate apps and sites, and pause the internet on their child’s device. Start your free, one-week trial today!

app logos for snapchat, google docs, discord, kik, and wizz

The way kids communicate nowadays is worlds different than when we were kids. For many young folks, social media and texting are how they feel connected to their friends and classmates. This isn’t always a bad thing, but when kids can communicate on secret messaging apps without any parental supervision, that can mean lots of trouble. 

To help parents out, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 power players in the social media space for secret messaging apps. We’ll break down what the app is and the danger it poses for teens and tweens.

It’s important to talk to your kids about safe internet use, whether or not they use these specific apps that we’ve listed. Kids can always find themselves in tricky situations on lots of different apps, these are just some of the most popular. 

1. Snapchat 

This app is always at the top of the list for the most popular — and most dangerous — messaging apps. The biggest grief Snapchat gives parents is the disappearing messages feature. Kids can send texts, images, and videos to each other that “disappear” after 24 hours. Kids may think this gives them license to send inappropriate or harmful content to each other, believing there will be no repercussions. But in reality, all of this content can easily be saved and distributed. And a lesser-known danger of Snapchat is the drug dealers who use the app to target kids. It’s incredibly easy to get connected with strangers on Snapchat, making it very dangerous. 

2. Discord 

Discord is probably a close second to Snapchat, but definitely the most popular in the gaming world. This app has different “servers” to join that are either private or open to the public. If your child only uses it to communicate with friends and family, the risk is minimal. But kids can easily end up talking to complete strangers where grooming and sharing inappropriate content is very likely. 

3. Wizz  

Imagine if there was a dating app for kids. Sound safe? Absolutely not! That’s essentially what the Wizz app is. It doesn’t claim to be a dating app for kids, though — it claims to be an app to “make friends” with people online. You can swipe through profiles of people from all over the world and start a conversation. Kids quickly started using it as a dating app, making them vulnerable to encountering inappropriate content or chatting with an online predator. This is one app we definitely do not recommend for kids. 

4. Google Docs

You might not expect to see this one, but trust us, kids have been using Google Docs to send and receive secret messages for a while now. If you don’t already know, Google Docs allows you to share a document with other people to collaborate on a project together. Kids used this to write messages out in the doc, and then quickly delete them without ever leaving a trace. Sadly, this has happened in cases of cyberbullying at school. It’s very easy to simply share the doc with a whole class or even a whole school so that everyone sees the revealing or harassing content. 

5. Kik

Kik is another app that’s similar to Discord where kids can either chat with friends or join public group chats full of strangers. This app highly values anonymity so it’s easy for someone to pretend to be someone or something they're not. Kids can encounter predation, inappropriate content, and cyberbullying from Kik. And their lack of parental controls makes all of this even more likely that your child may experience these things. 

Stay in the loop with Bark

The good news is that Bark can monitor many of the platforms listed above! We’ll send you alerts for things like cyberbullying, sexual content, predation, suicide/self-harm content, and more. Additionally, we'll provide help with creating screen time schedules as well as blocking apps and websites entirely.  Start your free, one-week trial today!