Which Free Parental Control App Is Best For You? IOS VS Android

The continuous evolution of technology is of utmost importance to human race. Today, life seems to be impossible without television, digital gadgets, laptops etc. In the contemporary world setting, technology plays a crucial role in our day-to-day lives and living without it could now become one of the world nightmares of our life.

Technology caters to the needs of kids and adults alike. From the prospects of education available for kids through digital platforms like Khan Academy and StudyIq towards providing market insights to adults through web platforms like Business insiders and Forex application, technology offers something to everyone. The impacts of technology on our everyday life are multiple, and you cannot deny them.

But the future is not entirely bright and optimistic for the technological evolution. Just like Industrialization led to one of the worst climate changes to occur; similarly, cybercrime, online harassment, privacy infringement and hacking are one of the byproducts of this advancement in technology. In such an environment, the biggest concern for parents is to keep their children safe and protect them the from evils of technology.

So, what can you do to protect your kids online? If you want to keep a check on your child's device, what you need is the parental control software that monitors their device. Parental control software is a shield between your child and the harmful, inappropriate content available online. Such software provides real-time analysis of all the content, restricts the content they watch on the Internet, and even tracks their social media activity.

A variety of software is available for both IOS and Android users. For your convenience, here is our guide on Which parental control app is best for you? IOS vs Android. These parental control apps keep your kids safe on their mobile devices even if you are not around to keep a watch on them.

Take your children into confidence

The foremost thing you need to do is to take your children into confidence. A recent report by Common Sense Media reveals that 75% of kids under the age of 8 are using mobile, which is still rising. Most parents want their kids to engage with their digital devices for education, but about 80% of them are concerned about the sexual content available online. Digital atmosphere does not discriminate between adults and children and your children are prone to sexual content at a very early stage of life.

So, you don't want your child to engage in any malicious activity without your knowledge. Children who are exposed to sexual/violent content at an early age suffers from psychological problems at a later age. Therefore, the best option to protect your child and his initial phases of development from malicious content is by using parental control application.

But before setting up one, the basic prerequisite for a parental control app is to take your child into confidence. Forcing your child towards something can be catastrophic. To build his self-esteem, love your child and give him praise and positive feedback. Understand his needs and build confidence in kids. Homes are the primary classroom for education so miss any chance to educate your child at home without relying on these digital technologies. You can also set realistic goals for your child early to help them avoid feelings of failure. If the plans are not achieved, tell him about short-term steps to help him along the path.

To further enhance your knowledge, you can also read the Talk home guide on the prospects and consequences of mobile phone usage among students. The guide helps you in understanding the impacts mobile phones are making on the mindset of children.

Now we have expostulated why we need a parental control application. Let us look at things you need to know before setting up one.

Things you need to know about Parenting control

Parenting control are software used to limit your child's access to the system. For instance, you can prevent the younger members of the house from accessing what may deem inappropriate. The option of 'Parental control for any user' is to select the account you want to set parental controls.

 The parenting control helps you in blocking programs for the user. With the help of these software's, you can control which applications the users can access and control their usage. There are two types of parental control:

• Behavioral Control:  It refers to supervising and managing the behavior of your child.

• Psychological Control:  It relates to intruding into children's emotions and development.

The features of the parenting control application include the following:

• GPS location

• Saved photos

• Call history

• Deleted text messages

• Access to screenshots

• Browser history

 Now you have understood the meaning and purpose of parental control, let us examine which device is better for you in terms of parental control.

IOS vs Android: Who has better apps

Both Android and iOS devices have multiple applications available to create schedules, limit internet access, and block inappropriate websites on the child's device. A couple of applications can also update your child's call log and even share his instant messages.

So, whether you are an Android user or a User IOS, there are multiple options available on each application store to control the data. But before we decide which operating system is better, let us examine the application available for each software.

Google family link: Pros and Cons

Google family link is an easy-to-use app that lets you monitor the activity of your child online. It is an attempt by Google to ensure that parents can provide a safe digital environment to their kids. This app will help you establish digital rules to manage screen time and protect your kids from the danger available in the online world.

Setting up a Google family link is an easy job, and all you need is a google account to set up one. Download the app from either the Google Store or Apple Store, and after adding your account, follow the screen instructions. Once the application is good to go, you can put your personalized restrictions.

The pros and cons of the app include the following:

Pros:

• Works on both iPhone and Android.
• Free of cost.
• Diversity of options available.

Cons:

• Does not log website activity or search history.
• No SMS or call monitoring feature.
• No messaging apps monitoring.
• Limited features when compared with other Apps.

One of the best features of the app is location tracking. It lets you keep track of your child's location. Whenever you want to reach out to your kid, simply use the app and determine their exact location.

Apple Screen time: Pros and Cons

Apple screen time is designed to keep a check on the excessive use of mobile or tablets. This versatile parental control app assists parents in managing their kid's devices to check their usage. With Screen time Parental control, parents can figure out how long the kids spend on their cell phones and set restrictions on applications.

One good thing about the app is that children cannot change the settings or uninstall the app. Moreover, if your child crosses the number of hours set for each day, a notification will be sent to the parents, and it will also lock your child's device.

The pros and cons of the app include the following:

Pros

• It helps in adopting a healthy lifestyle
• Encouraging learning
• Sets time limit
• Remotely controlled
• Free-of-cost

Cons

• May lag
• Not a cross-platform application

So which operating system is effective when it comes to parental control?

To decide which operating system is more effective, let us first look at the applications offered by t both iOS and Android. The parental control application found in the Apple store includes Mobicip safe and Kids safe Browser. They are internet filters. On the other hand, Google play store offers applications like NQ Family Guardian, Kids place, and Norton Parental Control.

A comparative analysis of these applications shows that Android offers more flexibility and granular protection options than iOS. A comparative study of two applications Qustodio and Norton, reflects those certain features like web filtering, time limitation, text monitoring and location tracking, were available on the interface of Android. At the same time, they were not available on iOS.

This segment represents the options available for each software on both iOS and Android.

For parents who want more control over how a child uses a smartphone, Android boasts some clear advantages over Apple's iPhone. We know the iPhone is a great device, but the monitoring features available to parents with Android phones are broad and fully featured. Android takes the lead here and provides a much comprehensive feature for monitoring. In brief, if you are sensitive about your child protection, then Android is the right pick for you.

Conclusion

In short, picking the right phone for your child in the development stage is essential. While both Android and iOS have strengths and vulnerabilities, the best way to protect your kids online is to go to old school. Instead of relying on digital devices, rely on ongoing communication to educate your child and help them build self-esteem for themselves. Nevertheless, a child's education relies primarily on his parents, and digital devices come secondary.

But if you made up your mind to give your child his first digital device, you can adopt the following practices.

• Set screen time limits.
• Explain parental control to your child.
• Educate him about the hazardous effect of technology.
• Reassure your child that you are not spying on him.
• Make education a fun activity.

But whether you love Android or Apple, parents are highly advised to install parental control applications on their kids' devices. Tell them that their activity is monitored to restrict them to ensure a healthy digital environment for them.