Parental control apps are software applications that allow parents to monitor and control their children’s online activities. These apps provide a range of features, such as call and message monitoring, screen time management, website and app blocking, and location tracking.
They enable you to set boundaries and limit access to inappropriate content or online risks. These apps are typically easy to install and use. And they can help you ensure your children’s internet safety and well-being in the digital world.
However, your child may not like these applications watching over their activities and question your trust in them. So, it is crucial to come to an agreement with their consent before using these apps. It keeps your relationship healthy, which is the utmost parental responsibility, and the rest will follow.
As a parent, you are responsible for ensuring the use of these apps is transparent and complies with data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA. You should ensure the data collected by these apps is securely stored and only used for legitimate purposes.
Plus, be aware of the potential risks of using these apps, such as the possibility of the apps being hacked. It is important that you choose reputable apps that are transparent about their data practices and have strong security measures in place.
By using parental control apps responsibly and complying with data protection laws, you can protect your children online while respecting their privacy rights.
So let us look at some of the best parental control apps.
5 Best Parental control apps in 2023
Qustodio
Qustodio is our top pick for parental control software for legitimate reasons. It offers everything parents require to track, monitor, and maintain their child’s online safety. Basically, it ticks all the requirement boxes.
Qustodio’s parental allows parents to monitor calls & SMS, block adult content & websites, track their child’s location, receive alerts, and more. Parents can also generate weekly and monthly reports to overview their child’s digital habits.
Qustodio parental control is compatible with most platforms and supports up to 15 devices depending on the subscribed plan. Its pricing plan has three tiers ranging from $54.95 to $$137.95 per year.
Key Features:
- Filter content and apps
- Monitor real-time activity
- Set time limits
- Location Tracking
- Get reports, alerts & SOS
Platform Compatibility:
- Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS
Pricing Plans:
- Starting at $54.95 per year (5 devices)
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids enables you to watch over and monitor your child’s activity 24/7. It offers flexible tools and features to protect kids from inappropriate and harmful content. This monitoring app for parents allows you to locate your kids and get alerted with live GPS tracking.
You can also easily access your child’s phone, set time allowance, and customize & block potentially harmful sites and applications. You also get to access and control your kid’s YouTube browsing history.
This application is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS platforms. It costs only $14.99 per year but allows only 1 user account. Plus, its UI isn’t as intuitive compared to Qustodio.
Key Features:
- GPS Tracking & Location History
- Screen-time Controls
- Website and App Filters
- YouTube Safe Search
Platform Compatibility:
- Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS
Pricing Plans:
- Starting at $14.99 per year (1 user account)
Norton Family
Norton Family enables parents to stay in the loop of their children’s online activities. It keeps everything in check to establish peace of mind with super effective parental monitoring supervising features.
Norton Family parental control blocks inappropriate content, forces access requests, and facilitates instant email alerts with weekly and monthly reports. Parents have complete control over a child’s device with an instant lock and supervision of web, time, video, app, search, and location.
This popular parental control app runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms. However, it facilitates only one pricing with $49.99 per year with a single user account.
Key Features:
- Location Supervision
- Monthly/Weekly Reports
- Instant Lock & Access Request
- Email Alerts
- Supervision (Web, App, Search)
Platform Compatibility:
- Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS
Pricing Plans:
- Starting at $49.99 per year (1 user account)
Google Family Link
Google Family Link lets parents decide what’s best for their children’s online experiences. Its simple yet elegant control features help parents understand and build their children’s digital well-being.
This app does everything from time monitoring and web filtering to blocking apps. You can establish digital ground rules for your child– from setting time limits to approving age-appropriate content.
Google Family Links help you track your kids’ live locations and get notified of their activities. Plus, you can manage and keep their accounts secured with strong password managers. On top of everything, it is free and supports unlimited devices on Android & iOS platforms.
Key Features:
- Set screen time limits
- Guide age-appropriate content
- Manage child’s passwords & accounts
- Live location tracking
- Notification and alerts
Platform Compatibility:
- Android, iOS,
Pricing Plans:
- Free (unlimited devices)
Net Nanny
Net Nanny has standard parental control features that allow parents to monitor their child’s online activities. It compensates for the lack of ability to call and text message monitoring with social media monitoring.
This application enables setting screen time limits, blocking websites, and generating digital well-being reports. These features allow parents to help their kids cultivate healthy digital habits and keep them safe online.
Net Nanny is compatible with several platforms like macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and FireOS. It has three-tier pricing ranging from $39.99 to $89.99 per year. It supports up to 20 devices depending on the subscription plan.
Key Features:
- Screen Time Management
- Internet Filter
- Website & App Blocker
- Live Alerts and Notifications
Platform Compatibility:
- Android, iOS, Windows, Fire Os, and macOS
Pricing Plans:
- Starting at $39.99 per year (1 device)
Ways to follow by parents to keep their child’s online data in their control
As children are spending more time online, it is important for parents to take measures to ensure their child’s online safety and privacy. You can keep your child’s online data in their control by taking various measures, such as:
Teaching your child about online privacy
Explain to your child why online privacy is important and how their personal information can be used against them. Discuss with them the types of information they should not share online, such as their full name, address, phone number, and social security number.
Using the parental control software
The parental control software can limit your child’s access to inappropriate websites and restrict their online activity. It can also monitor your child’s online activity, including their search history, social media activity, and chat conversations.
Monitoring your child’s devices
Regularly check your child’s devices, including their phone, tablet, and computer, to see what they are accessing and who they are communicating with. Be aware of the apps and websites they use and ensure they are appropriate for their age.
Setting strong passwords
Ensure that your child’s devices are protected by strong passwords that are not easy to guess. Use two-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.
Using a virtual private network (VPN)
A VPN can encrypt your child’s internet traffic and protect their online activity from prying eyes. It can also help to hide your child’s IP address and location, making it harder for advertisers and hackers to track them.
Talking to your child about online behaviour
Encourage your child to be responsible and respectful when using the internet. Teach them to be wary of strangers online and to never share personal information with someone they do not know.
Reviewing privacy settings
Review the privacy settings of your child’s social media accounts and adjust them to ensure their personal information is not shared with strangers. Also, make sure that their profiles are set to private.
Following these steps can help control your child’s online data and ensure their online safety and privacy.
Detail about Data protection, its importance, steps, and prevention
Data protection in parental control refers to the practices and technologies used to safeguard children’s personal information and online activities. Protecting children from online threats, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and identity theft is crucial.
While parental control apps are meant to help protect children from online dangers and inappropriate content. These apps collect your children’s data and information. So, it is equally important to protect that personal information.
Children’s personal information, such as their names, ages, and location, should be kept confidential to prevent them from falling victim to identity theft, cyberbullying, and other forms of online harm.
Therefore, choosing reputable parental control software that prioritizes data protection and configures the settings to collect only the necessary data is important. Parents should also limit data sharing with third-party services and use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
Here are some steps and prevention measures that can be taken to ensure data protection in parental control:
- Using a trusted parental control software
- Configure the settings to collect only necessary data
- Limit data sharing with third-party services
- Educate children on the importance of online privacy and data protection.
You can also read article on: Children’s Safety Online and Beyond
Conclusion
Parental apps can help establish a safe online environment for children to explore and learn while minimizing exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or online predators. These tools allow parents to monitor and restrict their child’s online activities.
However, parents are responsible for ensuring that their child’s personal information is protected while using these apps. It can be achieved by choosing reputable parental control software, configuring settings to collect only necessary data, limiting data sharing, and educating children on online privacy.