With their child’s first smartphone, parents are often looking for solutions to keep media use safe. Kidgonet is a parental control app that aims to impress with its ease of use and special focus on data protection. We took a closer look at the app.
When children get their first smartphone, parents often have a lot of questions: How much use is sensible? How can we set and monitor usage times together? How can I protect my child and at the same time support them in using their smartphone sensibly? Parental control apps or programs often come into play here. Offers such as Google Family Link, JusProg or Salfeld parental controls promise parents an overview and control over their child’s media usage times. Kidgonet also aims to make it easier for parents and children to start using media independently. The app is available as a subscription – families pay between €29.64 and €39.48 per year, depending on the duration of the contract. Parents can use the app to set and monitor their child’s device usage: Parents themselves register very easily in the Kidgonet parent portal and set how long their child is allowed to use media and set “media breaks”. In the parent portal, they can also see how much time their child has already used. The children have their own app on their smartphone, which uses a traffic light system to display their own time usage. The app can add up screen time from different devices so that the screen time can also be set for several devices.
The special feature: Kidgonet only transmits pure times to parents. It is not possible to see what content the child is using. And the provider itself also promises not to forward or store any data. All of this is intended to protect children’s data and privacy. And by encouraging parents to talk to their children about the content instead of simply deactivating apps.
In order to still offer content protection, Kidgonet claims to have integrated an age-appropriate filter. The criteria used for filtering are not described in detail. For children, on the other hand, the app has an emergency button and a direct link to youth counseling services. The service is suitable for children from primary school age.
As with all technical usage limits, it should always be clear when using Kidgonet that a mere time limit is no substitute for media education. Although the duration of media use can be controlled by the app, the content remains unaffected. Parents should not be lulled into a sense of security and should continue to pay attention to their child’s media use.
Even the integrated filter should not be seen as a substitute for your own caution when dealing with content. No filter is 100 percent safe. The ultimate responsibility for assessing content remains with the children or parents themselves.
It is also important that set times, media breaks etc. are well discussed with the children and, if possible, determined together. If children feel patronized here without being asked, the supposed protection can quickly backfire – for example, if the children find other ways to get media time. Be it with friends or via other devices.
In principle, the restriction of privacy must always be treated sensitively.
Kidgonet sees itself as support in limiting usage times. The app should therefore not be seen as a substitute for media education and communication about content. The creators emphasize in their “Parents’ Guide”: ” Parents’ role model function, shared media use and the involvement of children in decision-making are key elements in creating a healthy digital environment.”
Kidgonet is purely a time limiter – and not an educational aid in terms of content. The app can be used to set and limit media times. Of course, such media times work best if they are discussed together in the family and, if necessary, negotiated by means of a compromise so that the children also agree to their time budget.
It is at least as important to accompany your child in terms of content when using media. Regardless of how long or short your child uses their smartphone or tablet, keep talking about which programs and content they use, what questions or problems they have and how they are doing. This is the only way your child can learn to assess offers, make sensible choices and deal well with difficulties. This media education cannot replace technical limitations.
Regularly adapt the settings and arrangements to the age and needs of your child. As your child becomes more independent, the restrictions should be relaxed.
