Tag: parental control app

With the invention of the internet, came a new way for people to communicate and access information. Along with this, came concerns about its use by children. One common concern is that children might be exposed to inappropriate content online. This has led to schools blocking everything on the internet in an attempt to protect their students. However, schools blocking everything on the internet for students has both advantages and disadvantages. In this post, we will explore why schools block everything on the internet, its pros and cons, and above all, why parents should also keep limited internet access at home.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

How Does Internet Content Blocking Keep Students Safe At School ?

1. Students’ Ethics

It’s no secret that on the internet, a lot of information is available that kids just aren’t ready to deal with. That’s why some schools have decided to block internet usage in order to keep their students’ innocence intact. This way children stay protected from accidentally coming across offensive or disturbing content online. Moreover, using the internet in schools can bring ethical issues too. Blocking internet usage can help prevent cheating by ensuring that students cannot access answers online.

2. Parents’ Concern Over Child Internet Safety

Many parents often feel concerned about their children using the internet excessively. They may feel clueless about whom their children interact with and what information they share online. To make the parents feel stress-free about their children’s internet safety, many schools block everything on the internet and protect the students from online predators and inappropriate content. 

Do Schools Block the Internet Harm Kids?

While content-blocking may have some benefits, it’s important to be aware of the potential downside as well. 

1. Children Live In An Unfiltered World

The internet can be a menacing place, full of predators and explicit content. So, many schools choose to block certain websites and content from students’ views. However, this approach has its own dangers. First of all, it’s important to remember that children live in an unfiltered world, even without the internet. They are exposed to many things that are inappropriate for their age on a daily basis, whether it’s through the TV, movies, or even conversations with other kids. Blocking internet content will do nothing to protect them from this reality. In fact, it may even make them more curious about the things they’re being denied access to. Additionally, it can prevent children from learning about important topics like sex education and cyberbullying.

2. They Never Discover Something New

Another disadvantage of internet content blocking is that children may not discover anything new. If all they ever see is what’s on the approved list, they’ll never stumble upon anything that expands their horizons. In addition, content blocking can give children a false sense of security. They may think that the internet is a safe, controlled space. It’s important to talk to them about online safety and help them develop a healthy relationship with technology.

3. They Start Looking To Break That Barrier

Another noteworthy disadvantage of internet content blocking is once kids realize there’s a barrier in place, they want to find a way to break it. And let’s face it, kids are pretty resourceful when it comes to finding things on the internet that they’re not supposed to see. In addition, content blocking can give children a false sense of security. They may think that because they can’t see certain things, that means those things are not available. But unfortunately, that’s not always the case. 

Why Should Parents Block Websites at Home?

In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever for parents to be concerned about their children’s internet safety. By monitoring their online activity and blocking access to inappropriate content, parents can help protect their kids from potential harm. In addition, by talking to their children about responsible internet use, parents can teach them how to stay safe online. As a result, children will navigate the digital world more safely and responsibly.

FAQ

Final thoughts,

Blocking internet content in schools can have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore instead of blocking everything on the internet schools can use content filtering to protect students from harmful content without restricting their access to helpful educational resources. To safeguard the kids from the internet’s harmful effects, as parents, you should also block internet content at home. They can also use a parental control app to monitor their children’s online activity. By doing this, you can help your children stay safe while they are online and keep them from being exposed to inappropriate materials.

Day by day, the usage of social media among children is growing. In fact, teenagers spend almost nine hours daily using the internet. Social media use among teenagers and tweens has grown by 17% from 2019 till now. One such social media platform is Tumblr. It is popular among kids these days, as it offers the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and share anything. Children using Tumblr have both advantages and disadvantages. However, if parents monitor their children’s online activities, they can protect the kids from the bad things about Tumblr. 

In this article, you will learn about the adverse effects of Tumblr on children and how to keep them safe. But before diving into that, let’s briefly overview what Tumblr is used for.  

What Is Tumblr?

Tumblr is a platform where microblogging and social networking can be done effortlessly. It allows users to post images, videos, and other content to a short-form blog. Users can keep their blogs private or public, and follow other users’ blogs. The dashboard of this platform has the most features. Various multimedia content and articles can be published with a single click on Tumblr. Tumblr has been compared to other social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

What Is Tumblr Used For?

Tumblr is a social media platform that allows users to share text, images, videos, and audio files. It is also possible to follow other users and reblog their posts. Many people use Tumblr as a way to connect with others who share their interests. It is also a popular platform for artists and photographers to share their work. Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo in 2013.

Is Tumblr Safe For Children?

While Tumblr is not technically a social media site, it does allow for social interaction through likes, reblogs, and comments. Users can follow each other, and browse through tags to find the content they’re interested in. However, because Tumblr relies heavily on user-generated content, there is no way to guarantee that all posts will be appropriate for children. In addition, Tumblr does not have any age restrictions, so children may be able to access content that is not meant for them. Tumblr may not be the best platform for parents who are concerned about their children’s safety online.

Bad Things About Tumblr

While Tumblr can be a fun and creative way to express oneself, there are also some serious concerns that parents should be aware of –

1. Security Issue

In 2016, 65 million Tumblr users had their accounts hacked, and personal information was found on sale on the darknet. This led to concerns about the site’s safety, and many parents began to restrict their children’s access to it. In addition, the hack also exposed several sexually explicit images and videos that had been posted on Tumblr. As a result of these concerns, many parents now view Tumblr as an inappropriate site for children.

2. Privacy Issue

Is Tumblr safe from malware? The answer is a resounding “no”. The reason is Tumblr’s privacy settings. It is not particularly robust, which means that children’s posts can be easily viewed by anyone who knows their Tumblr URL.  Tumblr has been known to host cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment. Therefore, you should closely monitor your children’s activity on Tumblr and make sure they understand how to use the site’s privacy settings.

 3. Inappropriate Content 

Tumblr does not have age-appropriate content filters in place, meaning that children may be exposed to mature or explicit content without their parents’ knowledge. In 2018, Apple removed Tumblr from its app store for keeping child abusing content. While Tumblr has now taken some steps to address these issues, it still remains a controversial social media platform.

How Can You Protect Your Child From Tumblr?

If your children use Tumblr regularly, as parents, you may often have a question in your mind – “Is Tumblr safe for my child?”. Instead of having doubts about it constantly, here are a few tips you can follow to protect your child from Tumblr’s harmful influence.

1. Show them to block inappropriate content

While Tumblr is generally a safe website, there is some inappropriate content you may not want your child to see. You can help protect your child by showing them how to block certain content from their Tumblr feed. You can also block specific users, blogs, and tags. Taking these precautions can help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience on Tumblr.

2. Talk about privacy on social media

Talk to your kids about privacy and online safety. Explain to them the importance of keeping their personal information private, and teach them how to identify and report online predators. By having a heart-to-heart conversation with them about the importance of maintaining privacy on social media, you can help keep your children safe while they enjoy the benefits of social media.

3. Use the parental control app

You should monitor your children’s online activity through the parental control app and stay aware of the sites they visit. Using a parental control app, parents can receive alerts any time their child posts or views something inappropriate on Tumblr. Additionally, parental control apps can help parents to monitor their child’s screen time, ensuring that they are not spending too much time on their devices. Overall, parental control apps offer a valuable tool for parents who want to keep their children safe online.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final thoughts,

Overall, Tumblr is a website used for expressing oneself and sharing things with others. While it has some good aspects to it, there are also many bad things that come along with using the site. These bad things can include cyberbullying, pornography, and other inappropriate content. Therefore, it’s essential to be cautious of these dangers and take steps to protect your children from them if you allow them to use Tumblr.

Japanese anime is a type of caricature that is different from cartoons. On the surface, both are animated, but anime has visually discrete features for characters. Although anime is for kids, a few mature themes included in anime are now available for adults. On average, 73% of Indians watched anime in 2020. Thus, parents must decide what type of anime is appropriate for kids. Do we need an Anime parent’s guide?

Anime Parent’s Guide

What Is Anime And Its Origin? 

Sailor Moon and Pokemon are the best examples of Anime. It is one of the most popular types of entertainment with growing in popularity in America. Anime originated back at the beginning of the 20th century. Japan had a tradition of entertainment with colourful figures moving across the projection screen. Inspired by European shows, the earlier animators used mechanical slides to control the motions of these projected figures. The first anime feature film was made during World War II and adopted by mega cartoon houses like Disney.

 Is anime good for students?

Difference Between Cartoons And Anime

The cartoon is a two-dimensional visual art with a typically non-realistic drawing or painting intended for humour, satire, or caricature. On the other hand, the illustrations in anime are much exaggerated in terms of physical features. One can easily differentiate cartoons from Anime by observing the physical traits of the characters. Anime characters have large eyes, elongated limbs, or big hair. They are dramatically shaped and onomatopoeic with exclamatory typography. Anime has more distinctive highlighted facial expressions than cartoons. Cartoon has more human facial expressions.

Is Anime Appropriate? 

Animated shows and cartoons are usually made for and marketed toward kids. In Japan, animated shows are made for all ages but are commonplace for people in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. Even when the content is animated, Anime may have very adult themes like serious drama to inappropriate content. If such shows reach children, then they can be very harmful viewing and can harm them psychologically. Moreover, these shows are available for kids to find online. Is anime child friendly?

How Do Kids Find Anime? 

A lot of anime is easily available on the internet. It is readily available on many channels as described below:

1. Netflix & Amazon Prime – The popular subscription services have old and new anime. Crunchyroll is a Netflix just for anime.
2. YouTube – Kids can watch clips of favourite anime shows and movies, mashups, and more.
3. Reddit – Subreddits where the fans gather to talk about anime like r/anime and r/animemes (memes about anime)
4. TikTok – Anime-themed TikTok works as sounds in non-anime videos. 
5. Instagram – Fan art, memes, and other popular anime found on the photo-sharing platform

Choose Anime For Children

There are many shows dedicated to these graphic novels. If a child expresses interest in anime or is an anime aficionado, then you can choose harmless anime for kids. Kids across the world love these shows and characters. You can sit with your kid and learn more about anime and what the best one offered on the web is. Find out what kids are passionate about, their favourite characters, and what they like to watch. You can discuss the family values about acceptable content appropriate for them.

let’s deep dive into last point of these anime parent’s guide.

How To Track Anime Shows On A Child’s Phone? 

All types of phones including iPhones and Android phones can be tracked using a parental control device. Parents allow kids or teens a phone as a form of communication and security. A huge concern that parents face is content monitoring. You can use parental control apps for accessing inappropriate videos or sites that kids watch. These apps also help parents to track the location of their kids and monitor whom their children converse with online. These parental control apps are a great way to save kids from harmful content and online predators.

Summing Up on Anime

Although anime can be harmless entertainment if kids get access to the wrong kind of anime, it can be dangerous. Online parental apps help parents to monitor kids and block them from accessing their devices whenever needed. These can block the content and grant access to the sites that are trusted by parents. These features help parents manage smartphones or tablets and customize the web filter for their children to keep them safe.

Have Video Games Taken Over Your Child’s Life? They May Have an Addiction!

Today, the video game industry is one of the biggest markets- valued at over 85 billion dollars in the United States. From the origin of basic video games in the 90s to the high-tech PlayStation games we have today, the youth have always been hooked to their consoles.

Video Games are considered a welcome escape from the real world, a fun distraction that gives the player purpose and a mission to complete.

Today, over 5 million people are playing the game Fortnite, 240 million people are playing Candy Crush, and similarly, millions of others are hooked on the other games that have entrapped them. However, this has led to a rise in gaming addiction in teens, proven to have several harmful effects.

What is Mobile/Video Game Addiction?

Video Game or Mobile Game addiction is a growing concern among parents today, affecting most teens and pre-teens.

The excessive or uncontrolled use of Video Games to such an extent that it begins to affect other aspects of one’s life.

Video game addiction can negatively impact academics, relationships, food habits, health, and mood.

Over 16% of young adults that play video games show signs of addiction. Children and teenagers addicted to video games often isolate themselves and avoid social situations to play these games.

Symptoms Child is Addicted to Video Games

• If your child is always thinking of and talking about video games.
• Your child avoids social situations to play video games.
• Your child spends excessive amounts of time playing video games.
• Your child’s only hobby is playing video games.
• Your child gets angry or throws a tantrum when asked to stop playing video games.
• Your child has academic problems due to playing video games all the time.
• Your child has no other hobbies and refuses to participate in activities they used to enjoy.
• Your child isolates themself from friends and family to play video games.
• Your child is in a bad mood when they cannot play video games.
• Your child lies to you about playing video games.

A Solution To Video Game Addiction

1. Set Screen Time Limit

As a parent, one of the most effective ways to curb your child’s video game Addiction or prevent it before it forms is to limit screen time.

Enforce a screen time limit on your child’s electronic devices using parental control app like TiSPY. For example, allow your child to use their iPad/phone/gaming console for an hour a day.

By setting a screen time limit, you can ensure that your child has plenty of time to participate in other activities during the day.

An hour a day limit on devices also encourages discipline and healthy development in your child.

2. Teach teens to use mobile for knowledge or growth

Today, the lives of most teenagers revolve around their phones. However, this does not have to be a bad thing.

Technology today has allowed learning to become easily accessible and even fun utilizing apps and videos.

Encourage your teenagers to use educational apps that facilitate learning through fun games and interactions. Ensure that they spend an hour or two a day watching informational videos and content.

By ensuring that your teenagers make this a part of their daily routine, they will develop the habit of learning on their mobiles.

3. Change the daily routine of your child.

To curb addiction in your children, keep your child engaged by introducing them to new activities.

If your child is addicted to video games, their whole day likely revolves around playing their games.

To prevent this or put an end to this, change up your child’s daily routine by introducing them to new activities that will capture their attention.

This can include sports, creative arts, exercise, meeting their friends, learning new skills, etc.

This distracts your child from their video games, but it will also facilitate essential life skills like restraint, discipline, and new life skills.

Hobbies To Replace Video Games

1. Read Books With Teens

Today, most teenagers begin to play video games out of boredom or a need to do something that will distract them.

Encourage your teenagers to begin reading books and novels during their free time instead. Let them pick any genre that interests them, and ensure they start reading a few chapters every day.

This will lead to your teenagers developing the habit of reading, which will keep them distracted and content.

This will also help them develop better vocabulary and grammatical skills and encourage creativity.

2. Outdoor Games

Ensure that your children engage themselves in playing any outdoor game every day.

This can be something as simple as hiding and seek, or it can even be a sport like basketball or a tennis.

Once you get your teenagers to go outside and play games or sports, they will automatically begin to enjoy it.

Outdoor games and exercise facilitate the release of “happy chemicals” in your body, like serotonin and endorphins.

Soon, your teenagers will be able to replace the temporary pleasure they gain from playing video games with sports and outdoor activities.

3. Dance, Music, or Other Creative Activities

If your teenager has a creative side, encourage them to pick up new hobbies like dance, music, art, or writing.

Help them enroll in classes that will help them hone these abilities. They might end up discovering a hidden talent or passion.

4. Martial Arts or Judo

Practising Martial Arts or Judo can also be an excellent solution to curb teens’ video game addiction.

Like any other physical exercise, martial arts can help your teenagers make friends, learn a new skill, and control their emotions better. It also teaches values like discipline in them.

Martial arts can also help teenagers overcome anxiety and attention disorders, depression, and sleeping disorders.

Today, video games have taken our youth by storm. With the wide range of games, easy accessibility, and ease of playing, children and teenagers find themselves trapped in the grips of these games. As parents, it is vital to ensure that your children do not fall into the depths of addiction to develop into functional adults. Hence, if you have a teenager addicted to gaming, ensure that you check out these solutions to curb addiction and inculcate hobbies to replace video games in your children!

The internet has become an inseparable element of our lives. Today, individuals from all generations are using the internet. While it is beneficial to our lifestyle, the internet has also brought many threats. Young kids are most prone to fall prey to dangers on the internet. Due to this reason, parents are always concerned about their kids’ safety.

A boon to parents, parental control apps help to keep their kids safe. The parental control apps allow parents to monitor their kid’s overall phone and internet usage activity. With the several features of parental control software, parents can ensure their kid’s safety effectively.

The following article compares three parental control software; mSpy, FlexiSPY and TiSPY for their features.

Features Comparison between mSpy vs FlexiSPY vs TiSPY

1. Facebook Monitoring

The user ratio of people using Facebook is very high. The high number of Facebook users makes it a primary platform for cybercriminals to fulfil their ill intentions. Parents can monitor their kid’s Facebook activity using parental control apps. TiSPY and mSpy provide Facebook monitoring features to the parents while FlexiSPY offers the feature only in premium versions.

2. Read IM Calls

Sexual predators and cybercriminals often call the kids to attract them to do something harmful. Parents need to keep a check on the call logs of their children. Parental control apps help parents to read the incoming IM calls. It allows parents to identify the caller and ensure the safety of their kids. TiSPY and FlexiSPY provide this feature to the parents. But, mSpy does not offer any such feature.

3. Record Phone Surrounding

Your child might be interacting with predators or might be in danger. In such cases, parents can record phone surroundings to use as evidence later. TiSPY and FlexiSPY allow parents to record phone surroundings but mSpy does not offer any such feature.

4. Listen to Phone Surrounding Live

There are times when parents are unable to discover the real situation with just text messages and call recordings. Phone surroundings can help parents discover the exact situation their child is in. Prenatal control apps like TiSPY and FlexiSPY allow parents to listen to phones surrounding live. mSpy does not offer such a feature.

5. Take Photo/Video With Phone Camera

You never know what situation your child might be in. If you are often worried about your child’s whereabouts, monitoring through parental control software may help you. Parents can take photos and capture videos through their child’s phones remotely. The feature allows parents to know the exact situation their child is in. TiSPY and FlexiSPY allow parents to capture photos and videos remotely. mSpy does not provide this feature.

6. Live Screenshot

Techy children are smart enough to delete chats, call history and web browser history. Due to this parents can never monitor the knowledge their child is consuming through the internet. Parental control apps allow parents to take live screenshots of the screen to track the phone usage activity of their child anytime. Of the three apps we are comparing today, only TiSPY offers a live screenshot taking feature. mSpy and FlexiSPY do not provide this feature.

Conclusion

The parental control apps are helping parents to monitor their child’s phone usage activity. With effective monitoring of various applications, parents can ensure their safety. The article compares the three most loved parental control apps in the market. While all of them offer several features, only TiSPY offers all the relevant monitoring features to the parents. With TiSPY parents, can track the overall kid’s phone activity and keep them safe from any danger.