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Child Tech &

Internet Safety

As we all navigate the world of technology together with our kids, there are three important questions that are impacting our decisions as parents:

  1. How quickly do we grant our children growing independence?
  2. What technology should we provide to our children to help protect them?
  3. What technology should we withhold for the sake of their protection?

Below are some good options worth looking into, as well as some statistics that remind us why the tech that is available to our kids is such a serious matter. This list below is not an official recommendation of products, but simply a jumping off point to help parents. Do your own research & share what you find with the parents in your circle of influence. Let’s continue to fight together for the health of our kids!

PHONE OPTIONS

Website | bark.us

Pro’s

BARK

Website | bark.us

Pros

  • Gives parents the freedom to decide whether their kids should have internet access & what kind of apps they can use.
  • As your child matures, the parent can grant access to more options. (including web browser and social media)
  • Notifies parent of texts, email, YouTube, app or social media activity that shows any signs of issues like cyberbullying, sexual content, online predators, depression, suicidal ideation, threats of violence.
  • Allows parents to control which contacts children can communicate with.
  • Prevents children from deleting their own texts.
  • Remote Internet shut down.

Cons

  • Bark’s content monitoring does not notify parent of all activity, only activity it recognizes as potentially dangerous.

Website | pinwheel.com

Pro’s

PINWHEEL

Website | pinwheel.com

Pros

  • Allows parents to set up picture texting preferences unique to each contact so that the parent can decide who you will allow to receive pictures and who you don’t.
  • Provides a full log in the parental settings of every text message sent and received, as well as every call made and received.
  • Allows parents to control the contacts with which children can communicate.
    Prevents children from deleting their own texts.
  • The Pinwheel Phone offers no social media or internet options.
  • Pinwheel’s curated App Library has a rating system that informs you about potential dangers of each app so you can choose which you want to allow your child to download.

Website | ourpact.com

Pro’s

OURPACT

Website | ourpact.com

Pros

  • GPS tracking
  • App and website blocking
  • Screen time monitoring
  • Live views of what your child is viewing on their device

Cons

  • Does not monitor calls or texts.

WEBSITES

Website | safewise.com

SAFEWISE

Website | safewise.com

Offers in depth reviews for Family Tech Safety. Also offers reviews for Home security & safety, and Senior adult safety.

Website | thefreedomfight.org

THE FREEDOM FIGHT

Website | thefreedomfight.org

Provides information about the prevalence or porn, effects of porn, and steps to recovery from porn addiction. 

For a scientific look at why porn is wrecking so many of our sons and daughters, follow this link thefreedomfight.org/health/brain-health to look at how porn affects brain health.

TECH & INTERNET RELATED STATISTICS

PORNOGRAPHY

Shimer, Ted. The Freedom Fight. 2021.
Shimer, Ted. Thefreedomfight.org. 2021.

  • Of Christian young men who are practicing their faith – 89% look at porn occasionally, 24% view it daily. Of Christian young women – 51% view it occasionally, 24% view it monthly.
  • 20-27% of persons who look at porn daily see a change in their sexual preferences.
  • Average age of first exposure to porn for young people: 8-11 years old.

SOCIAL MEDIA & DEPRESSION

from the US Surgeon General’s Advisory released in May, 2023

  • Adolescents who spent more than 3 hours per day on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  • More than 1/3 of teens reported using social media “almost constantly.”
  • A small, randomized controlled trial in college-aged youth found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes daily over three weeks led to significant improvements in depression severity.

BULLYING

Patchin, Ph.D, Justin. “2019 Cyberbullying Data.” Accessed July 30, 2019, cyberbullying.org/2019-cyberbullying-data.

  • 37% of 12-17 year olds have been bullied online.
  • Only 10% of teens will inform a parent or a trusted adult of their abuse.
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