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Key Takeaways: Are Parental Control Apps Bad or Good?

Screen time addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and cyber threats are just some of the reasons to implement parental controls. Since there aren’t any legal authorities that can enforce strict regulations online, parental control apps play a crucial role in keeping children safe and help regulate the time they spend on their devices. Based on our research, Qustodio ranks as the best parental control software parents can use to manage their children’s online activity.

Social media and gaming companies have been successful in attracting their target audience to use and actively engage with the products they create. However, it becomes a problem when teens and children fall into the trap of too much screen time or when they become victims of cyber threats. If you’re noticing unusual behavior in your child and wish to be involved in their online activity, this article will explain why parental control is important.

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What Does Parental Control Do?

As the term implies, parental control is software that allows you to keep an eye on and set restrictions on what your child does online. These tools let you set boundaries, from simply blocking specific apps or sites to filtering out inappropriate images on various sites in real time. You can set parental controls on your child’s device in different ways. Some internet providers allow you to set specific internet usage hours. Mobile operators can also offer a child label feature that enables parents to set restrictions on the number of calls and texts allowed and set limitations on app purchases. In this article, we will focus on platforms that develop parental control tools as their main product. These companies usually operate a subscription-based model, where the pricing depends on the number of devices being monitored and the features offered.

10 Reasons Why Parental Control Is Important in the Digital Age

The internet and the use of digital devices play a significant role in our day-to-day lives. There’s a vast amount of information online that is easily accessible to anyone. Children and teens may encounter different types of content and connections that can easily misinform and manipulate them. Since there are no legal entities that can hold scammers and cyber predators liable, parental controls are the next best solution. Below, you’ll discover more reasons why parental control is important.

1. Protect Your Child Against Cyber Threats
2. Prevent Digital Addiction
3. Monitor Your Child’s Location
4. Block Inappropriate Content
5. Block Unapproved In-App Purchases
6. Enable Emergency Alerts
7. Protect Your Child Against Cyberbullying
8. Promote Safe Browsing
9. Supervise Your Child’s Educational Content and Progress
10. Protect Your Child’s Personal Information

Children are described as one of the groups that are most vulnerable to identity theft. In fact, in a study funded by the AARP, it was found that almost one million children fell victim to identity theft and approximately 1.7 million children were affected by data breaches in 2022. Some parental controls do have features that enable you to block outgoing content. You can set these tools to alert you the moment your child receives messages that include the need to provide any private information.

Parental Concerns vs Children’s Internet Privacy: The Tightrope of Trust

When parents decide to use apps that monitor, track or control what children do, it can make or break the trust between both parties. Though parental control tools offer a list of benefits, it’s important to look at the main drawbacks as well in order to avoid excessive use and learn how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries.

Damaging the Trust Between a Parent and Child

Using parental control applications on your kid’s devices can make them feel uncomfortable and untrusted. Over time, they may start acting more withdrawn and secretive. Before using any parental controls, it’s crucial to communicate your reasons with your child and emphasize that it’s meant to protect them.

Savvy Children Will Find Workarounds

Some children may possess the skills to easily manipulate parental control settings. Certain parental controls require a computer to install and connect applications for both the parent and the child. The installation process may be complicated, but it provides a solution to prevent your child from altering the settings you’ve configured.

Choosing the Right Parental Control App

If you’re overwhelmed with the number of parental control solutions available online, we’ve narrowed down the list below by researching and testing over 20 options. The list below contains our favorite parental control app overall, the best app for iOS devices and the best app for Android gadgets.

1. Qustodio
   • Pricing: $54.95 per year for five devices
   • Free plan: Available to protect one device
   • Website: qustodio.com
   • Pros:
     • Free plan available
     • Call blocking on Android
     • Easy-to-follow web interface
   • Cons:
     • Useful features paywalled
     • Difficult to find free plan
     • Difficult to contact support

Qustodio is our top pick for the best parental control app overall. It ticks all the boxes for the features you need for younger and older kids alike. With Qustodio, you can set screen time rules and limit access to the internet if you notice that your child is struggling to balance study time and play time.

With its “family locator” feature, you can track your child’s whereabouts anytime. Using it will let you see the places your child has visited, as well as their location in real time. Its geofencing technology lets you set virtual boundaries on the places your child frequently visits. As soon as your child enters or leaves those zones, the app notifies you in real time. Though not advertised clearly, Qustodio…

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