Customer Reviews (500)

Xmom1011x • 2025-03-28T15:52:19-07:00

This monitored my son’s android phone fine, although I get tons of alerts over nothing. However, it cannot automatically monitor my other son’s apple phone unless I take the password at login off. I am not comfortable with that. I also couldn’t get the app on my kids kindlefires. They show up as incompatible. So it may be worth while if your kids all have android phones. Also worked well on a Chromebook. But google family link gets pretty close for free.

Bcants77 • 2025-03-28T15:44:41-07:00

I think this is a helpful service and has been a good transition to more independence on an Android device for my teen. It’s less invasive than manually checking his phone and still notifies me of (most) concerning messages. The new app redesign just released is pretty bad though. It’s significantly harder to navigate than previously and I get more errors when reviewing alerts that just crash the app. Definitely no longer as user friendly anymore.

Plunk9876 • 2025-03-27T07:21:44-07:00

This app I do not really care for I pay for it and it does not monitored my son’s phone like it’s supposed to it always has issues connecting to his phone. It’ll go good after I for about a few days to a week and then it’ll say that there’s another issue with it does not let me know when he leaves or comes home. It does not let me know his location. I have contacted a support team about this. You can never talk to a live person. You have to do it all And sometimes you would like just to talk to a live person very unhappy with the app and if it was not for me being a mom that monitors her son’s phone and just relied on this app to do it then there would’ve been stuff falling through the cracks like that should not have been going on on my son’s phone, but this app that I pay for is supposed to catch that

Summary of Key Insights

The Bark - Parental Controls app receives overwhelmingly negative reviews, with a significant proportion of users expressing dissatisfaction and frustration. The app's core functionality, particularly on iOS devices, appears unreliable and difficult to set up, leading to a poor user experience. While some users appreciate the concept and potential benefits of the app, the execution and compatibility issues overshadow the positive aspects. The reviews highlight a significant gap between the advertised features and the actual performance of the app, especially regarding monitoring capabilities and ease of use. A common theme is the negative impact on parent-child relationships due to perceived privacy invasion and mistrust.

Key Strengths:

  • The concept of monitoring for safety concerns like cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, and predators is appreciated.
  • Some users find the alerts for concerning content helpful, when the app functions as intended.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Unreliable performance, especially on iOS devices.
  • Difficult and complex setup process.
  • Poor customer service and lack of phone support.
  • Overly sensitive alerts and false positives.
  • Perceived invasion of privacy and negative impact on parent-child relationships.
  • Limited monitoring capabilities on certain platforms (e.g., Snapchat, TikTok).
  • Functionality is easily bypassed by tech-savvy children.

Overall Sentiment: Negative

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (implied from review breakdown): Low (likely below 2 stars)
  • Score Distribution:
    • 1-star: 70.8% (354/500)
    • 2-star: 11.8% (59/500)
    • 3-star: 6.8% (34/500)
    • 4-star: 2.8% (14/500)
    • 5-star: 7.8% (39/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but the reviews appear to be from the recent past, with many referencing current iOS versions and recent app updates.
  • Analysis Methods: Qualitative analysis of user reviews, focusing on identifying recurring themes, sentiment expressed, feature requests, and pain points. No automated sentiment analysis or keyword extraction was used; the analysis was conducted through manual review and interpretation of the text.

Key User Pain Points

  • iOS Incompatibility: The most frequent complaint is the app's poor performance and limited functionality on iOS devices. Users report difficulties with setup, constant disconnections, the need for a persistent desktop connection, and the ease with which children can bypass monitoring.
  • Difficult Setup and Configuration: Many users find the app difficult and time-consuming to set up, with confusing instructions and a non-intuitive user interface.
  • Poor Customer Service: Users consistently complain about the lack of phone support and the unhelpful nature of the AI chatbot. Email support is slow and often ineffective.
  • False Positives and Overly Sensitive Alerts: The app generates numerous alerts for harmless content, leading to alert fatigue and distrust.
  • Privacy Concerns and Relationship Damage: Many reviewers, especially teenagers, express concerns about the app's invasion of privacy and its negative impact on their relationships with their parents.
  • Unreliable Monitoring: The app frequently fails to monitor activity as advertised, with users reporting missed messages, inaccurate location data, and the ability for children to easily circumvent monitoring.
  • Constant Passcode Requests: iOS users report constant prompts for passcodes on the monitored device, making the app intrusive and annoying.
  • VPN Issues: The required VPN slows down internet speeds and interferes with other apps.
  • Billing Issues: Some users report unauthorized charges, difficulty canceling subscriptions, and disputes over refund policies.
  • Outdated Technology: Some users have noted that the Bark phone is outdated and slow.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved iOS Compatibility: A more reliable and seamless experience for iOS users, without the need for a persistent desktop connection and constant passcode prompts.
  • Phone Support: A direct phone line for customer service and technical support.
  • More Granular Control: More precise control over alerts and filtering, reducing false positives.
  • Real-time Monitoring: The ability to monitor activity in real-time, without relying on scheduled scans or desktop connections.
  • Snapchat and TikTok Monitoring: The capability to monitor activity on Snapchat and TikTok, which are popular platforms among children and teenagers.
  • Dual Parent Accounts: Support for multiple parent accounts with separate logins.
  • Ability to monitor when child is not on home wifi.
  • Ability to set a daily limit of screen time (not just schedule blocks of time).

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Potential for Early Intervention: Some users appreciate the app's ability to detect potential safety concerns and facilitate important conversations with their children.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring (in theory): The app's advertised monitoring capabilities across various platforms are appealing to parents.
  • Location Tracking: When it works, the location tracking feature provides peace of mind for some parents.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Improve iOS Compatibility: Address the fundamental issues that cause the app to perform poorly on iOS devices. This includes streamlining the setup process, eliminating the need for a persistent desktop connection, and reducing passcode prompts.
  • Enhance Customer Support: Implement phone support and improve the responsiveness and helpfulness of email support.
  • Reduce False Positives: Refine the app's algorithms to reduce the number of false positives and overly sensitive alerts.
  • Address Security Concerns: Fix the expired web certificate on saferonline.com to address privacy concerns.
  • Be More Transparent: Clearly communicate the limitations of the iOS app on the website, before users purchase the subscription.

Medium Priority:

  • Expand Monitoring Capabilities: Add support for monitoring Snapchat and TikTok.
  • Improve User Interface: Redesign the app's user interface to make it more intuitive and easier to navigate.
  • Implement Dual Parent Accounts: Allow multiple parent accounts with separate logins to improve account security.
  • Enhance Bypassing Prevention: Improve the app's ability to prevent children from circumventing monitoring.

Low Priority:

  • Update Bark Phone Technology: Offer newer models with faster processors and improved features.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Contextual Analysis: Develop a parental control app that uses AI to analyze the context of online conversations and content, reducing false positives and providing more accurate insights into children's online activities.
  • Privacy-Focused Monitoring: Create an app that balances parental monitoring with respect for children's privacy, offering features like limited access to specific data or the ability for children to review alerts before they are sent to parents.
  • Gamified Digital Safety Education: Develop a platform that teaches children about online safety through interactive games and challenges, empowering them to make responsible decisions independently.
  • Family Communication Platform: Build an app that facilitates open and honest communication between parents and children about online safety, fostering trust and mutual understanding.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Negative Sentiment: The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, indicating a significant need for improvement.
  • Recurring iOS Issues: The problems with iOS compatibility are a consistent theme across many reviews.
  • Teenage Dissatisfaction: Teenagers express strong opposition to the app, citing privacy concerns and damaged relationships with their parents.
  • Lack of Trust: The app is often seen as a sign of parental distrust, leading to resentment and rebellion.

Conclusion

The Bark - Parental Controls app faces significant challenges in terms of reliability, usability, and user perception. While the concept of online safety monitoring is valuable, the app's current implementation falls short of meeting user expectations. The high number of negative reviews, particularly regarding iOS compatibility and privacy concerns, necessitates immediate action to address these issues. A fundamental shift in product strategy is needed to prioritize user experience, improve reliability, and foster a more positive relationship between parents and children.

Overall Recommendation: The app is not recommended in its current state. Significant improvements are needed to address the identified pain points and enhance user satisfaction. Focus should be given to iOS compatibility, customer support, and privacy concerns.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bark-parental-controls/id1477619146?uo=2