The internet is a scary swamp in which there is a lot of age-restricted and distracting content, which can spoil your kids. As a parent, if you have heard about Bark Phone for kids, which can help you keep a check on your kids’ devices, but you don’t know anything about it, don’t worry. In this blog, we will discuss all the features of the Bark Phone, its monthly/yearly subscription plans, and its pros & cons. So keep reading and get the answers to all of your queries!
At what age should kids get their first cell phone?
A clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, Jerry Bubrick, says he is often asked what the right age is for a kid to have a phone. I tell parents that,
“It’s not so much about a particular age as it is about a kid’s social awareness and understanding of what the technology means.”
What should be the right age for kids to have a mobile phone? It’s not just a simple question; it’s a complex headache for parents nowadays. Max Stossel, the founder and CEO of Social Awakening, recommends that parents wait to give their kids smartphones until at least eighth grade.
Moreover, age is not the only factor in getting a mobile phone; mental level defines the time needed. If your child is mature enough to understand the difference between good and bad and follow the limitations set by their parents, then he or she can have a phone at that age (with some rules set by you for them).
According to Common Sense Media, 42% of kids have their phones by the age of 10; by the age of 12, it’s 71%; and by the age of 14, it’s 91%. However, smartphones have negative impacts on kids beyond the positive ones, and they need to be monitored carefully by their parents. Some of the serious concerns include:
- Cyberbullying
- Screen addiction
- Sleep disturbance
- Addiction to bad content
- Reduced physical activity
- Mental issues, i.e., stress, anxiety
- Self-comparison & lower self-esteem
To solve all these issues, parents need parental control applications to monitor their children’s mobile usage, and for that, Bark Phone for kids is one of the best parental control applications, with many undeniable features that help parents monitor their kids’ smartphone use.
What is the Bark Phone for kids?
“Bark Phone is a powerful parental control application that makes it easier for you to monitor your child’s mobile usage.”
In today’s rapidly evolving technological escape, where children are increasingly swamped in online activities, Bark Phone works on a monitoring principle to ensure the kids’ safety. The exceptional difference between Bark and other parental control applications is that this phone allows kids much more privacy but instantly alerts parents regarding all the activities that might be concerning.
The Bark phone combines Bark parental control features and the Samsung A series. It is equipped with 5G network tech. When it comes to its memory, it can store up to 64 GB of data and 4 GB of RAM. Moreover, this phone has a size of 6.6 inches and a battery of 5000 mAh capacity, which can last for many hours. Last but not least, it has a 8MP selfie camera and 50 MP main camera.
Standout features of Bark Phone
Bark Phone provides parents with all the tools and features they need to raise their children in the digital age, including:
+ Remote camera: With the help of this feature, the Bark Phone app can take pictures from any angle so that parents can easily look at where and with whom their children are.
+ Location tracker: Bark Phones has a location tracker through which parents can easily monitor their kids’ locations 24/7, even when they are not around.
+ Content Monitoring: Bark Phones allow parents to monitor what their child looks at on their mobile easily. You can see with whom your child chats, what he or she searches and watches on different search engines, etc.
+ Web & app filtering: This fantastic feature of Bark Phones has made life so easy for parents by blocking all the unethical content from their kids’ phones so that they cannot access it, allowing only good and learning content for them.
+ Alerts & notifications: Bark Phones immediately send you alerts and notifications when your child opens any irrelevant or age-restricted content that might be concerning.
+ Tamper-proof control: This app helps you prevent and detect unauthorized access to your child’s device if someone snatches it from him or her. This completely ensures your child’s safety.
+ Screen time limitation: This app allows parents to set limits for their kids’ screen time. When the limit is reached, the phone’s screen is turned off.
How much does the Bark Phone cost?
Bark phones are basically free. Yes, you are reading it right; you don’t need to pay any money to get this phone. But there is a catch here, which is that you need to buy a subscription, which costs from around $39 ~ $49 per month, and after 3-month payments, the phone will be yours.
The starter plan costs $39/month for unlimited talk, and text, and no internet, app store, social media, or games.
Advanced plans including:
- $49/month for unlimited talk, text, and Wi-Fi only (no data)
- $59/month for unlimited talk, text, and 4GB data
- $69/month for unlimited talk, text, and 8GB data
- $89/month for unlimited talk, text, and data
What are the cons of the Bark Phone?
Beyond Bark Phone’s standout features, it has cons and demerits that must be considered. Some of them are described next.
– This app doesn’t allow family identity theft protection.
– The free plans of Bark Phone don’t support mobile data.
– It has very expensive subscription plans, which every parent can’t afford easily.
– This phone allows the App Store from which kids can download any apps and get addicted to them.
– Bark phones don’t offer data breach alerts, so children could lose their personalized data, and parents don’t even get a notification.
– This app doesn’t offer dark web monitoring, which sometimes leads kids towards unethical data, i.e., porn and nude sites, age-restricted content, etc.
Better parental control solution: FlashGet Kids app
Bark Phones are undoubtedly a great parental control application. However, not everyone can buy a separate phone for their kid due to the high price. But don’t worry. There is an amazing alternative app called FlashGet Kids app, which is better than the Bark phone in many aspects:
- FlashGet Kids has comprehensive parental control features to safeguard kids online and offline. For instance, more stable and accurate live location tracking, screen time limits, keywords detection on WhatsApp and YouTube, live monitoring, and more incredible functions.
- The app supports stealth mode on the target phone. It Allows parents to be more involved in their child’s activities and growth, but maintains a balance of respect and attention.
- A bark phone subscription costs $39 ~ $49 per month, while FlashGet Kids starts with &8.99 per month.
- FlashGet Kids is an app that can be installed and works well on most phone models, while Bark phone is a extra device that needs to be bought from the market.
Final thoughts
Bark Phone is a reliable tool for kids that undoubtedly does its job well. However, it has some drawbacks that cannot be neglected when discussing parental control applications. For example, the Bark phone is costly, can’t be used with present phones, has a limited camera, and much more.
In contrast, FlashGet Kids has all the basic features like content filtering, app blocking, keyword detection, screen mirroring, access to camera & microphone, and much more. Above all, it is compatible with both iPhone & Android devices and can be installed in a few minutes.
FAQs
Can Bark phone take pictures?
Yes, the Bark Phone app can take pictures due to its remote camera feature. This feature allows parents to see where and with whom their child is.
Does the Bark phone have internet?
Bark Phones allow kids to text and call, but they don’t have an internet feature. They only work with Wi-Fi data. The free plans of Bark Phone don’t support mobile data.
Can an adult use a bark phone?
Technically, yes, the Bark phone is also a phone, so adults can use it. But it is important to note that it has many restrictions which make this phone impractical for adults.
Can kids delete text messages on the Bark Phone?
No, kids cannot delete text messages on the Bark Phone but can alter parental control settings or download a VPN.
Is the Bark Phone available outside the U.S.?
No, the Bark Phone is not available outside the US. It is only available in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.
