Top Resources And Apps For Parents To Connect With And Protect Their Children

Raising a child to be a productive member of society is a tremendous privilege and responsibility. But parenting isn’t easy; there’s a lot to navigate – toddlerhood, starting school, childhood illnesses, making friends, the constant worry, the list goes on. Add the influence of the internet and social media and it’s more than enough to cause sleepless nights.

With 96% of teens using the Internet every day and platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram drawing teens in, it’s no surprise that parents have concerns. Recent surveys indicate that parents are most worried about cyberbullying, harmful content, screen time, social media use, and the impact on their children’s mental health.

For millennial parents navigating the digital safety maze, read on to learn about the top resources available to help you guide and protect your children.

One of the best things parents can do is nurture a sense of digital citizenship in their children so that they can learn to navigate the Internet safely. This starts with honest conversations about the dangers of social media and online content. 

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) offers free digital parenting resources, articles, and tips. Parents can use these resources to have open conversations about online safety, establish rules around social media and internet use, and stay up to date with digital safety. Resources are family-friendly and parents can search by topic or by resource to find what will be most relevant to their family situation.

Parental control apps allow for hands-on monitoring as children learn to navigate the online space. They provide parents with more peace of mind since they allow for transparency, connection, and safety. 

Ranked the best parental control app of 2024 by Safety Detectives, Qustodio is a good option for children who need stronger boundaries. It offers parents options for managing screen time, call and SMS monitoring, location tracking, and filters for sites and apps.

One reviewer said, “It spans nearly every device and platform out there, and it is intuitive and simple…We have far more ability to set boundaries with this app…”

It can be difficult to recognize when our children are struggling emotionally or mentally if they don’t share their feelings. Bark Parental Controls stands out because it uses AI to detect issues like bullying, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations. 

Parents are notified through alerts and can be proactive where otherwise they may not have known what was going on with their child. To date, Bark has identified 2.2 million self-harm situations and 4.1 million bullying situations. 

One parent review stated, “It has absolutely produced excellent conversations and has built trust…My children understand I trust them but I need to be alerted to some things.”

If your greatest concern is how much time your children spend on their devices, you may want something a little simpler, such as Apple’s Screen Time for iOS users or Google Family Link for Android users. 

Screen Time is embedded into iOS and can be found in Settings while Family Link requires a download and allows parents to set limits on screen time and access to certain apps and content. Both are free. One caveat: Google Family Link is best for children under 13, and according to reviews, once children turn 13, they can opt out of monitoring.

Millennial parents face unique challenges in protecting their children in the digital age. Apps are useful tools but remember that open communication is essential to developing trust and digital citizenship in your children.