As a cyber security professional specializing in protecting cloud data, I know firsthand the myriad dangers that children face in today‘s digital landscape. From cyberbullying and online predation to exposure to inappropriate content, parents are rightfully concerned about keeping their kids safe online. Two of the most robust and popular parental control solutions aiming to mitigate these risks are Bark and Net Nanny. In this in-depth comparison, I‘ll break down the key features, pricing, pros, and cons of each to help you determine which is the best fit for your family‘s needs.
Feature Comparison
While both Bark and Net Nanny offer an array of tools to monitor and manage children‘s internet use, there are some notable differences in their capabilities, particularly when it comes to social media and content monitoring.
| Bark | Net Nanny | |
|---|---|---|
| Web filtering | Yes | Yes |
| App blocking | Yes | Yes |
| Screen time management | Yes | Yes |
| Text message monitoring | Yes | No |
| Email monitoring | Yes | No |
| YouTube monitoring | Yes | No |
| Social media monitoring | Yes (30+ apps) | Limited |
| Location tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Detects risky content | Cyberbullying, sexual content, self-harm, substance abuse, more | Blocks 15 predefined content categories |
Bark stands out for its incredibly comprehensive monitoring capabilities. By analyzing SMS/MMS, emails, YouTube activity, and messages within popular social apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Discord, Twitter, and more, it can alert parents to potential issues like cyberbullying, adult content, violence, hate speech, profanity, drug-related content, and even mental health concerns such as self-harm and suicidal ideation.
This is powered by advanced AI and machine learning algorithms that don‘t just look for keywords but understand the context and nuance of digital interactions. The technology is even able to decipher slang, emoji use, and attempts to circumvent detection. Perhaps most critically, instead of giving parents a firehose of information, Bark only sends alerts when a potential issue is identified, sparing you from invasively reading through all your child‘s messages.
In contrast, Net Nanny primarily focuses on web and app filtering. It allows you to block specific apps and websites as well as restrict browsing activity across 15 predefined categories such as pornography, gambling, weapons, alcohol, and suicide. An interesting feature is Net Nanny‘s profanity masking, which automatically censors vulgarity on web pages. While this filtering is certainly valuable and highly customizable, the lack of text, email, and social media monitoring ultimately provides a less complete safety net compared to Bark, particularly for older children.
Both solutions offer screen time management tools to set time limits and schedules, as well as location tracking to keep tabs on your child‘s physical whereabouts. Bark‘s functionality is a bit more extensive, with the ability to outline specific screen time allowances for different apps and device usage history reports. Net Nanny has geofencing capability to alert you if your child leaves a designated area.
Pricing & Value
| Bark | Net Nanny | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $5/mo (Bark Jr.), $14/mo (Bark Premium) | $39.99/yr (1 device), $54.99/yr (5 devices), $89.99/yr (20 devices) |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days |
| Number of devices | Unlimited | 1, 5, or 20 (depending on plan) |
When it comes to bang for your buck, Bark is the clear winner with its unlimited device coverage for a single reasonable monthly fee. Net Nanny‘s device-limited subscription model means costs can quickly add up for larger families. Both offer free trials, though, so you can test drive them for yourself before committing.
Ease of Use & Support
Getting started with either solution is fairly straightforward, with clear setup instructions and user-friendly interfaces. Bark is particularly impressive in its onboarding process, with helpful video tutorials and the ability to seamlessly connect accounts across all your child‘s devices and services.
In my experience, Bark also has the edge when it comes to customer support, with highly responsive and knowledgeable representatives available seven days a week via phone, email, and live chat. Net Nanny‘s support is limited to email and an online ticketing system with slower turnaround times.
One area where Net Nanny shines is its Family Feed feature, which provides a collaborative view of activity across all managed devices. This gives older children and teens some autonomy and buy-in while still keeping parents in the loop. Bark has a similar feature called Family Alerts that delivers a regular recap of your child‘s activity.
Data Security & Privacy
As with any service that handles a significant amount of personal information, data security is paramount when it comes to parental control solutions. A breach of these systems could put your child‘s sensitive data and online interactions in the wrong hands.
Fortunately, both Bark and Net Nanny take data protection seriously, with strict privacy policies, industry-standard encryption, and a commitment not to sell user info to third parties. However, Bark goes a step further by offering two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized account access, an added layer of security that is notably absent from Net Nanny.
Drawbacks & Considerations
While internet filtering and monitoring tools can be incredibly effective in shielding kids from online risks, they‘re not a silver bullet. Over-restrictive filters can sometimes block legitimate educational resources or stifle curiosity. Constant surveillance may also hinder the development of critical thinking skills and erode parent-child trust if not implemented carefully.
It‘s crucial to have open and ongoing conversations with your children about digital citizenship, online etiquette, and why you‘re using these tools. Parental controls should be a springboard for meaningful dialogue, not a replacement for active engagement in your child‘s online life.
Additionally, tech-savvy kids may look for ways to circumvent these safeguards, so it‘s important to stay vigilant and keep communication channels open. No system is infallible.
The Bottom Line
After rigorously testing and evaluating both solutions, I believe Bark is the superior choice for most families. Its ability to intelligently analyze online interactions across a wide range of platforms and alert parents to potential concerns is unmatched. The fact that it covers unlimited devices for an affordable cost makes it an excellent value. While Net Nanny is a solid tool for web filtering and app blocking, its lack of text and social media monitoring leaves some gaps in its protection.
Ultimately, though, the best parental control solution is the one that aligns with your family‘s unique needs, values, and parenting philosophy. Whether you choose Bark, Net Nanny, or another reputable option, the key is to use these tools as part of a holistic approach to digital parenting – one that prioritizes open communication, mutual trust, and a commitment to raising kind, resilient, and responsible digital citizens.
As our children navigate an increasingly complex online world, it‘s up to us as parents to provide the guidance, support, and safeguards they need to thrive. With the right combination of proactive oversight and thoughtful conversation, we can help them develop the skills and judgment to confidently and safely explore all the opportunities the digital landscape has to offer.
