bark phones glitchy; customer service is awful I have bark phones for my two kids. The controls do not work consistently. So far, glitches have resulted in their phones telling them that they’re out of time when they shouldn’t be. This morning my son woke up and his phone said he was out of time already because he had used texting for nine hours over the night. I know that’s not true because my parental controls won’t let him use texting overnight and even if they did, he has a time limit of three hours on all apps. So, literally, using his phone for nine hours is impossible with the settings I have in place. Customer service really sucks. You can’t talk to anybody without scheduling a meeting well in advance. They try their best to handle everything via text and email. It’s awful. By the time they reach out to contact me, it’s while I’m at work and I don’t have my son‘s phone with me etc. For $50 a month per Phone. I expect better service and better performance. I definitely will be looking into alternatives. Really disappointed because I really was hoping Bark worked. On paper, they really seemed like the best option for us.

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.

App broken doesn’t work -

Spyware stole my kids data -

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.