In the wake of the Santa Fe school shooting, parents around the nation want to keep a closer eye on their children. And one app, Bark, says it can help parents do that in the digital age.
The people behind Bark say the app monitors children's messages and alerts parents if there's any problematic behavior. It looks for signs of sexting, cyberbullying, depression, and suicide.
But the alert isn't given in a vacuum. The app follows the alert with suggestions on how to approach the topic. Bark Chief Parent Office Titania Jordan says "Our best advice for parents is be as nonjudgemental and non-lecture-y as possible." She emphasizes keeping an open and honest line of communication with the child.
That's why the company says they want to maintain the line between notifying parents and keeping the child's privacy. They say they'll only notify parents if something suspicious is found.
The service is $9 a month and $99 a year. It's available on both Apple and Android products.