Bark

Bark is a comprehensive parental control and online safety service designed to help families protect their children in the digital world. It offers a unique approach that focuses on monitoring and alerting parents to potential dangers rather than giving them full, intrusive access to a child's device.

Key Features of Bark

Bark's main features are built to provide a safety net for kids while also encouraging open conversations and respecting their privacy.

• Content Monitoring: This is Bark's standout feature. It uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to scan a child's online activity for potential issues. It monitors texts, emails, photos, videos, and over 30 social media and app platforms. The AI can detect a wide range of concerns, including:
  • Cyberbullying
  • Signs of depression or self-harm
  • Sexual content and online predators
  • Drug and alcohol-related discussions
  • Hate speech and threats of violence
  • Inappropriate behavior or content
  • It's designed to understand slang and context, making it more effective than simple keyword filters. When it detects something concerning, it sends an alert to the parent's device, showing only the problematic content, not everything on the phone.
• Screen Time Management: Bark allows parents to set healthy time limits and create custom schedules for when their children can use their devices. This can include blocking internet access during school hours or at bedtime.
• Web Filtering: The service gives parents the ability to block specific websites or entire categories of content, such as adult sites, streaming services, or online gaming. It also enforces safe search settings on popular search engines and YouTube.
• Location Tracking: Bark provides GPS-powered location tracking, allowing parents to see their child's location in real-time. It also has "Check-in" features and can send location alerts when a child arrives at or leaves a specific place.

Bark Products and Pricing

Bark offers a variety of products to fit different family needs, with pricing that typically includes unlimited devices for a single subscription.

• Bark App (Bark Premium / Bark Jr.): This is the core service that can be installed on a family's existing devices (phones, tablets, computers).
  • Bark Premium includes all the monitoring features (texts, social media, email, etc.), screen time management, and location tracking.
  • Bark Jr. is a more basic plan that focuses on screen time management, web filtering, and location tracking, without the in-depth content monitoring.
• Bark Phone: This is a physical smartphone preloaded with Bark's monitoring and parental controls. It's designed to be tamper-proof and includes features like contact and app approval, and the ability to prevent texts from being deleted.
• Bark Home: This is a small device that connects to your home's Wi-Fi router, extending Bark's controls (web filtering, screen time schedules) to all internet-connected devices in the house, including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
• Bark Watch: A kid-friendly smartwatch that includes talk/text capabilities, GPS tracking, and Bark's content monitoring for texts, but without browsers or social media.

The pricing for these services varies by plan and billing cycle (monthly vs. annually), but the ability to cover unlimited devices is a key selling point for many families.

COUPONS

Bark.us, a parental control and internet safety service, and BarkBox, a dog-centric subscription box, are two different companies with similar names. Both frequently offer coupons and discounts.

For Bark (the parental control app):

• Annual Subscription Discounts: One of the most common ways to save on a Bark subscription is by opting for an annual plan. This can often result in a significant percentage off the monthly price.
• Free Trials: Bark typically offers a free trial (often 7 days) to allow new users to test the service before committing to a paid plan.
• Referral Programs: If you are a current Bark user, you may be able to earn rewards (like gift cards or free responses) by referring friends to the service.
• Military Discounts: Bark offers special savings for military families. It's best to contact their customer support directly to inquire about these exclusive offers.
• Promo Codes: You can find promo codes on coupon websites, or through partnerships with bloggers or influencers. These codes can offer a percentage off your subscription or other special deals.

For BarkBox (the dog subscription box):

• First Box Deals: BarkBox frequently offers promotions for new subscribers, such as getting their first box for a significant discount, or receiving a free bonus item or an extra box.
• Longer Subscription Plans: Similar to Bark, subscribing for a longer period (6 or 12 months) usually results in a lower per-box price compared to a month-to-month subscription.
• Refer-a-Friend: BarkBox has a referral program where you and a friend can both receive benefits when they sign up using your unique link.
• Newsletter and SMS: Signing up for the BarkBox newsletter or text message alerts is a good way to receive exclusive deals and be notified of upcoming sales.
• Seasonal Sales: Keep an eye out for promotions around holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other seasonal events.

To find the most current coupons for either service, you can check their official websites, sign up for their newsletters, or look on popular coupon aggregator sites like Groupon, Honey, and others.