Bark - Parental Controls

Parental controls for connected families

Bark - Parental Controls helps parents and guardians manage how children use phones, apps, websites, and other connected devices. It suits families who want practical oversight without reading every message or checking every screen manually. Bark Technologies, Inc. publishes the app, which is listed in the Parenting category and has more than 500,000 installs.

Alerts for potential online risks

Bark checks activity across text messages, email, YouTube, and more than 30 supported apps and social platforms. It looks for warning signs such as cyberbullying, threats, adult content, profanity, sexual exploitation, and indications of self-harm or violence. Instead of presenting every piece of activity, the service sends parents an alert when content may need attention, helping them focus on potentially serious concerns.

Screen time and web controls

Parents can set time limits and schedules for when a child’s device may connect to the internet through Wi-Fi or mobile service. The web filtering tools allow specific websites to be allowed or blocked, along with broader categories such as streaming, online gaming, or adult content. These settings are designed for families establishing consistent digital boundaries at home.

Management beyond a single phone

The app can also work with Bark Home, a separate device connected to the household router. With an active Bark subscription, parents can manage internet access and filter websites and apps on Wi-Fi devices such as tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and game consoles. A separate Bark for Kids app is required on a child’s device for monitoring and device-management features. Bark holds a rating of 4.2 out of 5 from more than 10,000 reviews.