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Published on 2024-09-18
School bullying, particularly in its digital form known as cyberbullying, is a growing problem that affects thousands of children and teenagers worldwide. With the rise of social networks and increasingly early access to electronic devices, young people are exposed to risky situations online, often without being aware of it. In this context, technology is not only the medium through which bullying occurs but also a key tool to prevent it. In particular, parental control solutions have become an effective option for parents to monitor and protect their children from bullying behaviors, whether as victims or aggressors.
What is parental control?
Parental control is a set of technological tools that allow parents to monitor and, in some cases, restrict their children's use of the internet, apps, and social networks. These tools range from supervising online activity to limiting screen time, as well as automatic alerts for dangerous or inappropriate behaviors. Through parental control, parents can gain a detailed view of what their children are doing on their devices and act quickly if they detect behavior that exposes them to risks.
Tools to prevent school bullying
Nowadays, several apps and platforms allow parents to control their children's use of electronic devices and detect situations of school bullying. Some of the most prominent tools are:
1. Qustodio: This parental control app allows parents to monitor the use of social networks, apps, and screen time of their children. It also offers detailed reports on visited websites and social media interactions, facilitating early detection of school bullying cases, whether the child is a victim or participating in bullying behaviors.
2. Bark: Bark is a highly comprehensive tool that monitors message usage on social networks and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Messenger, looking for signs of cyberbullying, depression, or harassment. The app uses artificial intelligence to analyze the content of conversations and notify parents when it detects worrying behaviors.
3. Google’s Family Link: With Family Link, parents can manage the apps their children download, set screen time limits, and view daily device activity. While not exclusively focused on school bullying, it allows parents to control device usage and prevent exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.
4. Net Nanny: One of the longest-standing parental control platforms, Net Nanny allows the blocking of inappropriate content, filtering of searches, and monitoring of social media and messaging app usage. Additionally, it offers real-time alerts on suspicious or dangerous activities, facilitating early intervention in cases of school bullying.
Control or protection?
One of the most frequent debates about the use of these technologies is whether parents should limit their children’s freedom or if these tools are necessary to protect them. The balance between protection and privacy is difficult to achieve, but more and more experts agree that parental control is a necessary measure, especially in the early stages of adolescence, when young people do not always have the maturity to handle complex online situations.
It is important for parents to have open conversations with their children about technology use and cyberbullying, explaining why supervision is important and how these tools aim to protect them, not invade their privacy. Moreover, educating young people about the risks of the internet and promoting responsible use of social networks is an essential strategy to prevent school bullying.
Conclusion
When used properly, technology can be a great ally in the prevention of school bullying. Parental control tools allow parents to monitor their children's digital environment and act early in possible cases of bullying. However, these solutions must be combined with value-based education and open dialogue about the risks and responsibilities of using technology. Only in this way can we protect young people in an increasingly complex and challenging digital environment.
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