Bark.us I recently came across Bark.us, a platform that claims to help parents monitor their children's online activities to ensure their safety. While the concept behind Bark.us is promising, I can't help but feel that they are missing out on a significant opportunity to assist agencies in keeping kids in residential care safe. As someone who works closely with such agencies, I find their current offerings falling short in addressing the unique challenges faced by these establishments. Bark.us primarily targets parents who want to monitor their children's online interactions, which is undoubtedly important. However, there is a glaring gap when it comes to helping agencies responsible for the care of children in group homes, foster care, or other residential settings. These agencies have a critical need for tools that can help them ensure the safety and well-being of the children under their watch, especially in today's digital age. The missed opportunity lies in the fact that Bark.us could have extended its services to cater to the specific needs of these agencies. Children in residential care are often vulnerable and can be at a higher risk of exposure to online dangers, just like any other child. In fact, the risks might even be amplified due to their circumstances. The agencies responsible for these children need robust tools that can effectively monitor online activities, detect signs of cyberbullying, harassment, or grooming, and intervene to prevent potential harm. Bark.us could have explored features such as: Customizable Alerts for Agencies: Agencies could receive alerts tailored to their unique concerns, enabling them to quickly respond to any potentially harmful situations. Comprehensive Reporting for Accountability: Detailed reports could assist agencies in keeping track of online interactions and demonstrating their efforts to ensure child safety to regulatory bodies. Collaborative Monitoring: A system that allows both agency staff and assigned caregivers to stay informed about a child's online presence would foster a holistic approach to child protection. Integration with Reporting Channels: Direct integration with appropriate authorities or helpline services could streamline the process of reporting any suspicious or dangerous activities. Training and Resources: Offer guidance and resources to agency staff on identifying online risks and implementing best practices for digital safety in a residential care setting. It's disappointing to see that Bark.us has not ventured into this realm. By targeting agencies responsible for children's residential care, Bark.us could have positioned itself as a comprehensive solution for child safety in various contexts. This missed opportunity not only affects the potential growth of Bark.us but also raises concerns about the platform's commitment to the broader goal of child protection. In conclusion, while Bark.us has a valuable concept for monitoring children's online activities, they are missing out on a lucrative opportunity to extend their services to agencies in charge of kids in residential care. The potential to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children is significant, and I hope Bark.us reevaluates their offerings to include these underserved areas of child safety.

This phone sucked and my child hated… This phone sucked and my child hated it. He used it for maybe a few weeks and then I asked if he wanted me to return it and he said yes. It was literally is perfect condition and always has its case on it. I get sent photos of it all scratched up front and back the funny part is the imei is on the back of the phone where they showed the photos.. not smart because that wasn't the imei of my phone. I demanded a refund, I doubt I get one. But I want others to know not to bother with this bs or their bs "customer service"

I've been an app customer since 2016 I've been an app customer since 2016. Wonderful, responsive, helpful company. I recently purchased the Bark Phone and it truly is the best first phone for kids. It was hard to not go with an old Apple phone, but I chose safety and I don't regret it.

Spyware stole my kids data -

Impossible to Cancel - Misleading Billing Practices I purchased a device with Bark parental control software pre-installed, but soon realized the extremely intrusive monitoring was not suitable for my needs as an adult user with Autism. When I attempted to cancel service through their website and app, I encountered constant runaround and deception from Bark representatives. No matter how many times I clicked "cancel account", Bark would claim there was a "technical issue" preventing cancellation and that I needed to contact support for help. When contacting support via email and phone, I was given circular explanations that made no sense and seemed intentionally confusing. Even after explicitly stating I wished to cancel service multiple times, Bark continued to bill my credit card monthly fees. When I disputed the charges, they tried claiming the recurring payments were somehow not under their control despite being the service provider. I filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau detailing Bark's misleading cancellation practices and inability to process a standard request to stop services. Other online reviews show I am one of many dealing with similar deceit from Bark when trying to end the account relationship. Unless major changes are made to simplify and properly respect cancellation requests from users, I cannot recommend Bark's parental control software due to their unethical business operations focused on stringing customers along rather than honoring basic consumer rights. Proceed with extreme caution or select an alternative provider.