Smartphones also offer parents the ability to set limits and have safeguards such as which shows and movies they can watch on their phone and which apps are allowed to be downloaded. Parents can monitor what their children are doing during screen time and set time limits on gaming, social media, and entertainment.  Examples of helpful tools include:

Bark:  monitors a child’s activity on social media, apps, YouTube, email, and text messages and alerts parents if any potentially dangerous and harmful content is accessed or mentioned ex. material on sexual activity, violence, mood disorders, suicidal ideations, and bullying as well as limit screen time and block specific websites)

Aura: restricts internet access, social media use, limits screen time, and blocks specific websites or apps

Screen Time:  a feature on iPhone and iPads that limits screen time, blocks out times when screens should not be used, and monitors individual websites accessed by the child.  

Please refer to this Consumer Report for detailed instructions on how to set these limits for both iPhones and Android phones.

Regularly review the specific activities your child engages in on apps on their phones and try to engage in what they find interesting or enjoyable.  Focus on viewing healthy content rather than solely on how much time was spent on their phones. 

This publication was authored by CPCMG Associate Director of Behavioral Mental Health, Dr. Patty Lee, and Harrison Howard, P.A.

Reviewed by: HH P.A., PL M.D., HB M.D. | 06/2024