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Comparing Family Safety Apps: MamaBear and Net Nanny

Choosing the right family safety app isn’t easy. That’s why we’re taking the time to compare the features of MamaBear with a few other family safety services now on the market.

Let’s take a look at Net Nanny and review it’s similarities and differences compared to MamaBear.

Net Nanny created internet filtering software that allows parents to be in control of web browsing – preventing selected sites to be viewed while allowing others. Initially the software was created for computers and now has extended to mobile web browsing. They clearly state their benefit as families being able to “use the Internet as a resource for homework and fun without fear of accidental exposure to undesirable material, or encounters with dangerous individuals.” Net Nanny has added social media monitoring and mobile device monitoring.

The Net Nanny service allows parents to:

  • Set filtering for nearly twenty categories of online content to either block the site, send a warning or allow the child to view;
  • Send a warning message or completely block access to adult content like pornography;
  • Limit the total number of hours spent on the internet in a 24-hour period OR set specific times of the day when a child is allowed to be online;
  • View a web page without being bombarded by vulgar language;
  • Monitor social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, Tumblr, Google+)  in order to protect kids from online threats and monitor activities related to your child’s “friends,” cyberbullying, sexual predators, privacy concerns and reputation-damaging pictures or videos;
  • Send parents reports and mail alerts about a child’s online activity;
  • Check usage reports, change a child’s profile settings and much more remotely from any computer with an Internet connection;
  • Use preset user profiles or customize settings for each family member; each computer can have unlimited user profiles.

Mobile device monitoring on iOS and Android replaces the mobile browser being used with Net Nanny’s browser for secured browsing.   Net Nanny can also set time controls and monitor apps used on Android devices.

See Also: Protecting Kids from Internet Stranger Danger

MamaBear’s main similarity to Net Nanny is social media monitoring.  Both allow parents to monitor a child’s social media accounts to protect them from cyberbullying, predators and other threats. Both apps send parents alerts based on a child’s online activity.

There are some key differences between the services as well. Net Nanny is primarily a web browsing monitoring service for desktops and mobile devices with added service for social. MamaBear is taking a mobile first strategy focusing on the child’s location, social media activity and driving speed delivering all communication through the parent’s mobile device reducing the amount of emailed reports to thumb through and figure out.

Location monitoring and driving speed awareness are services offered through MamaBear.  These features are not a part of Net Nanny’s service. With MamaBear parents receive an alert when their child drives or rides over a preset speed limit that tells them how fast they were going and where they were when they exceeded the preset limit. You can also view the child’s location history and pattern for the day.

See Also: Monitor Teen Driving with the MamaBear Driving Monitor App

There are many wonderful apps and protection services that offer a variety of useful features to fill different needs for families. Some apps, like Net Nanny, are designed to focus on web browsing behavior on both desktop computers and mobile devices; others, like MamaBear, track children’s behavior both on social media and in real life situations. It’s helpful to know what the options are so parents can choose a service to help them keep their families safe while allowing freedom without worry.

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MamaBear Cell Phone Contract for Kids

cell phone contractThere comes a time – often earlier than we want – when our kids want or need a cell phone. Maybe they’ve started walking home from school alone and you want to be able to reach them quickly. Or maybe you surprised them at birthday or Christmas and bought them the latest version of the iPhone. It’s likely your child will have a smartphone as a middle schooler offering them a staggering amount of freedom and access. Nielsen’s recent study says 70% of teens (age 13-17) own a cell phone.

See Also: iPhone vs. Android: MamaBear Weighs in on Smartphone Shopping for Your Kids

How can you ease your worry, protect them from too much access and monitor behavior? A great first step is to have a conversation about boundaries and even create a written agreement – a contract with your child.  Then, be sure to check out parental restrictions offered on most devices on the market.  You can also install a family safety app like MamaBear on your family members’ phones to monitor their behavior on social media, check in on their location and even know their driving speeds.

See Also: The MamaBear Worry Free Parenting App

As parents, we know that talking out safety issues can go a long way toward helping kids make the right choice when faced with divergent situations. Drafting and talking over a cell phone behavior contract can help provide some guidance for your kids as the whole family navigates smartphone ownership.

We’ve seen a few great family cell phone contracts and pulled our favorite points to help you as you customize one for your family.

  • I promise not to send mean or bullying texts to others or post bullying or hate language on social. I will treat others the way I want to be treated;
  • I will not prank call or text anyone – if I text a friend, I will identify myself beforehand;
  • I will not send any embarrassing photos of myself or friends via texts or post them on social media;
  • I will discuss which social media apps I install and provide the username and password;
  • I will review privacy settings to all social media apps with you;
  • I promise to keep an eye on my data usage and stay within the monthly limits; I won’t abuse the family plan by downloading too much content and will always use WiFi when it is available.
  • I understand that I may be responsible for paying any additional charges for over usage or that I may lose my cell phone privileges;
  • I will not use my phone when I have homework or other work to finish first;
  • I promise not to call or text anyone after hours and will observe respectful phone etiquette;
  • I will keep my phone charged at all times and am responsible for knowing where my phone is at all times. I will keep my phone in good condition;
  • If I drop my phone or damage it in any way, I am responsible for repairing or replacing it;
  • I will always answer the phone when my parents or siblings call and I will respond to texts as soon as I get them;
  • I will not use my phone at the dinner table or at family events;
  • I will not share my phone with friends (beyond letting them make quick phone calls to their own parents) and will not let them use my phone pretending to be me;
  • I will not share my phone passwords with anyone;
  • If I choose to password protect my phone, I must provide the password to my parents if asked;
  • If I fail to do my chores, get bad grades or disobey my parents I may have my phone taken away from me;
  • When I am in school, in an elevator or other public place I will not use my cell phone;
  • If I receive a suspicious, disturbing or harassing phone call or text message I will tell my parents;
  • I understand that having a cell phone is a privilege, and that if I fail to adhere to this contract, my cell phone privilege may be revoked.

Whether you use this list or make your own, creating a family cell phone safety contract will help everyone know what the expectations are when your children finally get their first smartphones.

Image Credit: imom.com

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The Best Apps for Parents in 2014

Apps for Parents

The new year is a great time to explore apps designed to entertain and organize our lives. With so many Android and iOS apps to choose from, it can be difficult to know which ones are best for you and your family.

Here are  some of the best apps for parents. Enjoy!

1. iReward Chart: iRewardChart includes a customizable, interactive interface that helps parents keep track of their child’s good behavior and reward them appropriately.  The child can install and follow along!

2. Evite:  Evite makes it easy to send and manage invitations on the go. With the Evite app, you can create and send invitations, manage your guest lists and RSVP to events.

3. Cozi Family Organizer: Cozi, an Appy Award Winner for Best Family App and the number one “must-have app for a better life” by the TODAY Show, includes a shared calendar, shopping lists, to do lists and more. Cozi Family Organizer is shared, so you only need one account for the whole family.

4. OpenTable: Open Table helps you make reservations at over 20,000 restaurants in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Explore great restaurants, find available tables, and earn reward points for every reservation.

5. Fandango: With Fandango you can access the latest movies, show times and movie trailers as well as exclusive Fandango content. Fandango is the number one movie ticketing app featured in Apple commercials and winner of three Webby Awards.

6. Great Clips: Use the Great Clips app to check in before you get there.  So great when you’re with the kids. Just open the app and the salons nearest your current location will appear. Touch the salon that has the estimated wait time that fits you best, then tell them your name, number and how many are in your group.

7. Splice: Splice together HD photos and videos very simply with this app. Add music tracks from your library, sound effects, transitions, borders and effects, trim video and audio, narrate with your own voice and much more.

8. All Recipes Dinner Spinner: Dinner Spinner is a free app from Allrecipes.com, the #1 food site with recipes tested and reviewed by home cooks. With this app you can access your Allrecipes.com shopping lists, search by dish, cooking time, and ingredient, find recipes that match gluten-free, vegetarian, or other diet and share recipes on Pinterest, Twitter, or by email.

9. FavToday: Jot down the best thing that happened to you today.  As time goes, you’ll have an amazing collection with moments of gratitude and memories with the family.  It doesn’t take but a minute to reflect on your favorite thing today.

10. MamaBear App:  Of course, when it comes to family safety there are many apps, but none offer all that MamaBear does in one convenient app. MamaBear is your all-in-one family safety app providing parents information to worry less and encourage larger boundaries for kids to explore more. The app provides you information about your child’s location, when they’ve exceeded a preset driving speed, insight to their social media behavior and more.

Let MamaBear and these other apps help you organize and enrich your life in the new year!

 

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What is Twerking? What Parents Should Know about the Teen Twerking Craze

Miley Cyrus TwerkingWhat is Twerking?

It’s hard to avoid hearing references almost daily to Miley Cyrus and her recent turn from sweet little Hannah Montana to the twerking, tongue-wagging, pot-smoking-on-stage persona she has become. Of course, when a Disney sweetheart kid role model goes wild so publicly, many parents worry about the impact such a public image change can have on their kids.

In recent weeks, one of the top search phrases on Google was “What is Twerking.” The answer, according to Wikipedia: “Twerking is a type ofdancing in which an individual dances to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involvingthrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.”

See Also: Is Instagam Safe for Kids?

The Twerking Craze

The salacious twerking dance has caught fire in some circles and has even gotten itself banned at a few schools such as the school in Baltimore that asked students to sign a contract committing to not twerking.

As parents try to wrap their minds around how Billy Ray’s little girl has headed down this bizarre new path, some of our kids are trying to figure out how to twerk, memorizing every line to Miley’s songs, watching her every move.

See Also: How Can You Monitor Your Child’s Facebook Page Easily and Effectively?

Know More

The MamaBear Family Safety App can be used to know if the word “twerking” is being used on your child’s social profiles. Parents can use the app to add “twerking” to restricted words on facebook and instagram and know when a new photo has been uploaded to their social media profiles

We certainly can’t shield our kids from everything, but sometimes being in the know helps enough to have a conversation . . . most likely about reputation management. So when our kids’ heroes go sour, let’s stay informed, stay calm and MamaBear on.

Image Credit: NY Daily News