Schoolchildren are not easy to tear themselves away from their gadgets even in normal times, let alone during a period of self-isolation when there are no opportunities to go out with friends and ride bikes. Exactly now the question of cyber security has become especially urgent: spending time on the Internet should bring pleasure and benefit, not negative emotions. At the same time, some parents are too detached from teenage virtual interests. With the trolling, hate, and unwanted content out there, it can be difficult to know how to protect your child online. Fortunately, there are several apps and tools that can help you control what your child sees and does online.

Isn't The Internet Safe?

Not really. The Internet, indeed, offers a lot of useful services and makes life much easier. With its help, you can find friends, watch movies, study, work, saturate your cultural experience, and get inspired and motivated. But just like in the real world, the Internet can be dangerous, especially if you are a child. If you don't take action, your child can face such troubles and consequences:

Cyberbullying. Unfortunately, children and teenagers are often the victims of cyberbullying. They can be teased and humiliated online by their peers, which can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression.

Exposure to inappropriate content. The Internet is full of all kinds of information, both useful and harmful. Your child can accidentally or on purpose come across content that is inappropriate for their age, such as violence, pornography, and hate speech. This can hurt their development and worldview.

Identity theft. Another danger your child may encounter online is identity theft. Hackers can use your child's personal information to access your data as well, such as credit card and bank account numbers.

How Can I Protect My Child From Unwanted Content?

Most parents know: to ban means to increase interest in the subject. So don't categorically limit your child's time on the Internet or try to completely control their every move online. Instead, talk to your child about responsible Internet use and help them develop healthy habits. Here are some tips to get you started:

Set rules and limits together. Talk to your child about what they can and can't do online. Set clear rules about the amount of time they can spend on the Internet, what websites they can visit, and what they can share.

Keep track of their activity. It's important to know what your child is doing online. Install parental control software on their devices to screen out inappropriate content and monitor their activity, these software programs are also the best apps to catch a cheater. You can also check their browsing history from time to time to see what sites they've visited.

Teach them to be responsible. As your child grows older, they should start taking responsibility for their online safety. Teach them to never give out personal information, such as their name, address, and phone number, to people they don't know online. Show them how to spot fake news and teach them to be critical of the content they see online.

What Apps Are There To Control Children?

There are several different parental control apps available that can help you keep your child safe online. Some of the most popular ones include:

Qustodio. Qustodio is a comprehensive parental control solution that lets you monitor your child's activity across all their devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. It also blocks inappropriate content and limits screen time.

Kaspersky Safe Kids. Kaspersky's parental control app lets you manage your child's online activity, set limits on their screen time, and block harmful content. It also sends you alerts if your child tries to access restricted content or contacts someone you don't know.

Norton Family. Norton Family helps you supervise your child's online activity and provides tools to help them develop healthy Internet habits. It also blocks harmful content, sets limits on screen time, and lets you see what your child is doing online.

mSpy. mSpy is a parental control app that lets you monitor your child's activity on their smartphones and tablets. It also provides features such as GPS tracking, call and text blocking, and the ability to view your child's browsing history.

How Do These Tools Work?

These apps work by installing a software program on your child's device that lets you monitor their activity and set limits on their use of the Internet. Most of these apps also have a web-based interface that you can use to access your child's activity from any computer.

What features are available for parental control:

Limit screen time: You can use these apps to set limits on how much time your child can spend on their device each day.

Block harmful content: These apps can block access to websites that contain inappropriate content for children, such as pornography, violence, and hate speech.

Monitor activity: Most of these apps let you see what your child is doing online, including the websites they visit, the searches they make, and the people they talk to.

GPS tracking: Some of these apps also let you track your child's location via GPS, so you can see where they are at all times.

Conclusion

Parental control apps are a great way to keep your child safe online. You can use them to monitor your child's activity and set limits on their use of the Internet. However, it's important to remember that no app can completely protect your child from all the dangers of the online world. No app can replace your communication with your child. You should talk to your child about online safety and teach them to be responsible online.