It’s easy for parents to get how Bark can help keep their kids safe—but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your kids will immediately understand. The best way to get your kids on board is to have an open conversation about why you think it’s important for them to use Bark. Here are a few talking points to help get the conversation started:
- Bark helps keep kids safe by monitoring their social media accounts for signs of cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and more.
- Bark allows parents to NOT have to snoop through their kids’ devices and conversations. It actually builds trust and gives kids privacy by flagging areas of concern and alerting parents to possible issues.
We recommend sharing Bark’s parent testimonials and safety resources with your kids so they can see how Bark has helped other families just like yours.
Of course, every family is different, so tailor your conversation. Parents have to do everything they can to help protect their kids from digital dangers, and Bark lets you do exactly that.
Explain Content Monitoring
Parents should give their kids some credit—they’re often capable of handling challenging situations on their own. But they can’t handle everything alone. For times when they’re in over their heads—if they’re being groomed by a sexual predator or if someone is extorting them with inappropriate photos, Bark allows kids to have someone in their corner.
Start the conversation: “I think it’s cool that you have so many followers on Instagram. But some of the comments I’ve read are concerning, and I want to help you stay safe online. Bark will let me know if someone is harassing you or sending inappropriate messages.”
It’s also worth noting that 99.91% of all communications are reviewed only by Bark’s artificial intelligence. Kids can rest assured knowing that neither their parents nor Bark are watching their every move.
Start the conversation: “You know how when you first got your permit, you had to have someone else driving with you to help you watch for dangers on the road? That’s kind of how Bark works—it helps me keep an eye out for hazardous drivers on social media who might be endangering you.”
Have Open Conversations
Bark encourages families to have sensitive talks about what they’re seeing on the Internet. Whether it’s a classmate threatening to bring a weapon to school, a friend self-harming, or viewing cyberbullying on Instagram, children must know how to react. These discussions may be difficult, but they’re necessary.
At the end of the conversation, it’s a good idea to give your child time to explain how they feel about the situation—listen to them and be open. If you let them know that you care about their perspective and want to hear them out, that can reduce friction and help them adjust.
Whether you’re a parent of a preteen or a teenager, these conversation starters should help you get the ball rolling on discussing Bark with your kids. Trust is essential in any family relationship, and kids need to know that you’re not interested in reading their private thoughts or invading their privacy—you just
want to keep them safe from digital dangers.
