Keeping kids safe is important to all of us at Hunter Communications, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Bark. Bark provides content monitoring, screen time management, and web filtering features designed to protect younger users on the internet. While it may seem obvious to parents that Bark can be a great tool to help keep kids safe while using the internet, it’s common for kids to not understand the reasons for using it or not feel that it’s necessary. This article provides you with some tools and talking points to help you have an open conversation and talk to your kids about Bark.
Three Easy Talking Points to Get the Conversation Started
Even if it’s difficult, it’s critical that you talk to your kids about Bark. Here are a few talking points to help facilitate your conversation with your kids about why Bark is an important tool for being safe on the internet:
- Bark can help keep kids safe by monitoring their social media accounts for signs of cyberbullying and inappropriate behavior. Unfortunately, kids can be mean, and the internet provides an avenue for bullying to happen 24/7/365. Bark monitors communications to watch for signs of cyberbullying when teachers, parents, or other responsible individuals aren’t around.
- Bark allows parents to avoid snooping on their children’s devices and conversations. It builds trust and gives children privacy by flagging areas of concern and alerting parents to possible issues. With Bark, kids have an opportunity to be independent while still having a level of supervision.
- Bark protects kids against scams that even parents fall victim to. Bark filters out texts and messages coming from strangers, which can often lead to trying to steal money or make the child susceptible to physical or mental abuse.
Of course, every family is different, so tailor your conversation. We understand you want to do everything you can to help protect your kids from digital dangers, and Bark lets you do exactly that.
How to Explain Content Monitoring
Some kids are concerned parents will be snooping through all their conversations if they allow Bark to monitor their online accounts. In reality, parents use Bark because it allows them to avoid doing so. When alerted by Bark alerts, parents don’t have to search through every text, email, or social media post. Using this tool gives children more privacy, not less.
Start the discussion: “I believe it’s important you have your privacy. The reason I want to use Bark is because it will only notify me if there is a problem. I don’t want to read every time you ask your friends what’s going on, but I do want to know if anyone is cyberbullying you or sending you indecent photos.”
It’s also worth noting that 99.91% of all communications are reviewed in Barks artificial engine. Kids can rest assured knowing that neither their parents nor Bark are watching their every move.
Start the conversation: “Remember when you first got your driver’s permit, and you had to have someone else driving with you to help you watch for dangers on the road? That’s kind of how Bark works – it keeps an eye out for hazardous drivers on social media who might be endangering you.”
Parents should give their kids some credit. They’re often capable of handling challenging situations on their own, but they can’t handle everything alone. For times when they’re in over their heads, Bark allows kids to have someone in their corner.
Start the conversation: “I think it’s cool you have so many followers on Instagram. But some of the comments I’ve read are concerning, and I want to help you stay safe online. Bark will let me know if someone is harassing you or sending inappropriate messages.”
Bark makes raising kids in the digital age a little bit easier
These discussions may be difficult, but it’s important to talk to your kids about Bark and the risks inherent with the internet and social media. At the end of the conversation, it’s a good idea to give your child time to explain how they feel about the situation – listen to them and be open. If you let them know that you care about their perspective and want to hear them out, that can reduce friction and help them adjust.
With Bark from Hunter Communications, you can have peace of mind knowing that your children are protected online without having to snoop through their devices and conversations. If you have any questions about how Bark works or would like more tips on talking to your kids about online safety, our team is always here to help.