We are living in a digital era where kids can have easy online access using smartphones, tablets, and computers, among other devices. While this can be a good thing for education and entertainment, it is undeniable that there are dangers involved. For instance, children can be prone to cyberbullying, sexual abuse, and identity theft. Not to mention, they can access age-inappropriate content, such as those related to pornography, drug, and violence, among others.
If you want to have peace of mind, then you should consider using parental control software. According to Future Market Insights, the parental control software market is expected to reach a combined value of $223 million in 2028. This shows how more and more parents will be looking for a way to regulate the online activities of their children.
Some might frown at this idea, thinking that it goes overboard. However, most parents want nothing but the best for their kids, and hence, they are willing to do what it takes to protect them online.
Want to know more about the parental control software market? Curious about who the major players are? Keep on reading and we’ll talk about some of the most important things you need to know.
Why is The Market Growing?
With the growth of the internet, the dangers are being more apparent, and that is why the parental control software market is growing. There is a growth in demand, so we are seeing new companies offering products to exploit the opportunity.
The Kaiser Family Foundation notes that children from eight to 18 years old have an average screen time of 7.5 hours a day. To regulate such, you need an app that can manage screen time. To add, it is also important to have a software that will monitor who kids are talking to in social media, block in-app purchases, limit access to mature content, and check the photos being shared. Incidences of catfishing are also on the rise. All of these things are reasons why the parental control software market is growing!
Sure, most phones have built-in features that will let you set parental controls. However, more often than not, they lack powerful features. Plus, they are easy to bypass, which means that kids can easily change the setting when you are not around. This gave way to the rise of apps with more restrictions.
Based on the current market share, it seems that most of the parental control apps are in the video and computer games segment. It represents more than half of the market. This is because parental controls are often used to limit the time kids spend playing video games and also to restrict access to certain games, especially those that deal with extreme violence.
Moreover, in terms of location, North America seems to be the biggest user of parental control software in the world. Europe is the second, but the numbers are far when compared to the global market share of North America.
It should also be noted that there are two main types of parental control software available in the market today. It can either be for residential or institutional use. In the case of the latter, the software is mostly used by schools. Aside from users, parental control software is also categorized based on the platform, which includes iOS, Android, and Windows.
Major Players in the Global Market
Now, let’s quickly talk about some of the most popular options you will find in the market, as well as some of the things that make them exceptional:
Bark
With more than 5.2 million children protected, it is unsurprising that we are seeing a lot of favorable Bark reviews from its satisfied users. Whether in iOS, Android, or Amazon mobile devices, it is packed with features that parents will love. It can monitor more than 30 apps and social media platforms. Plus, it lets you set screen time limits to manage gadget use.
Qustodio
Offering flexible plans that can monitor up to 15 devices, Qustodio is one of the most powerful options for parental control software. It has a well-designed interface, which will make it seamless to use. You will also love how it is easily configurable, allowing you to maximize its functionality depending on the features that you want to use. It also has good features for location reporting and emergencies.
Kaspersky SafeKids
The name alone is already enough to choose this over many of its competitors. Kaspersky is a company known for offering online security solutions, and their parental control software is equally impressive. It has robust web filtering, geofencing, and alert systems, among other features. The best thing is that it is affordable!
Norton Family Premier
This is another product that comes from a reputable manufacturer, so that alone is enough for your peace of mind. It is also affordable even if it is from one of the most trusted brands in the global market. They are also offering a 6-month free trial, which is one of the most generous offers we have seen so far. However, there are also significant problems, such as the lack of geofencing.
McAfee Safe Family
McAfee is a popular name when it comes to antivirus protection, so it makes sense that their parental control software is equally amazing. One thing that you will love is that it offers compatibility with unlimited devices, although, some might find it to be quite expensive. It has excellent time management features, so you can easily regulate the duration kids are on their gadgets.
Conclusion
In sum, the global parental control software market is growing. Judging by the current trends, it will continue to grow as more and more parents want to regulate the screen use of their children while also controlling the things that they can do online, such as the content that they are visiting or the people they are talking to. There’s no sign of slowing down as parental control software proves to be an essential tool in this digital era. As kids spend more time online, parents should be more protective.
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