When my oldest child received their first smartphone last fall, it ignited a strong desire within my younger child to have her own device. While the teenager genuinely needed it to coordinate after-school activities like rehearsals and social events, my youngest simply wished to feel included in our family communications—especially the occasional voice message to Grandma.
Feeling hesitant to hand over a full smartphone just yet, we sought a means for her to stay connected while prioritizing safety. Enter the Bark Watch: an innovative, child-friendly smartwatch designed with built-in parental controls, GPS tracking, and essential calling capabilities. It struck us as the perfect compromise between outdated walkie-talkies and high-tech smartphones. But does the Bark Watch live up to its safety and usability promises?
Exploring the Bark Watch
The Bark Watch operates on a unique subscription model within Bark’s specialized device network. Unlike traditional smart devices, this watch cannot be purchased outright or transferred to different mobile networks. Users pay a monthly fee of $15 for the device plan, plus an additional $7 monthly for the first two years to offset the watch’s purchase cost. After paying off the device, the monthly fee remains at $15 for continued service.
Inside the package, users will find the Bark Watch, a charging cable, a setup guide, and a pre-installed SIM card. Key features include:
- A vibrant 1.4″ touchscreen display
- A built-in 5MP camera for capturing moments
- An easy-access SOS button for emergencies
- GPS tracking to monitor your child’s location
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for versatile usage
- A water-resistant casing to withstand rough play
The watch runs on a specialized version of Android tailored for child safety and streamlined parental controls, offering peace of mind for guardians.
Setting Up the Bark Watch
To power on the Bark Watch, simply long-press the top right button. Following activation, the device prompts you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Depending on the device’s state, it may initiate a firmware update, which took just a few minutes during my initial setup.
Once powered on and updated, the watch will prompt you to scan a QR code using the Bark Parent app to link it to your account. If you ordered directly from Bark, you’ll utilize the same account credentials established during the purchase. Otherwise, a new account setup will take only a few additional minutes.
In my experience, I arrived with an existing Bark account from testing parental options on Android devices, which posed a few challenges during the setup. Fortunately, Bark’s tech support resolved my issues within a day.
Leveraging the Bark App
The Bark Watch’s standout feature includes robust parental controls accessible via the Bark app on any Android or iOS device. Here’s what you can manage:
- Contact Management: Approve or block contacts for secure communication.
- Text, Photo, and Video Monitoring: Scan messages and media for risks like bullying or inappropriate content.
- GPS Location Tracking: Track your child’s location with alerts; note that real-time tracking is not available.
- SOS Emergency Alerts: Get instant notifications if your child triggers the SOS feature.
- Screen Time Management: Control usage times to foster healthy digital habits.
- Website and App Blocking: Prevent access to inappropriate content online.
- Customizable Watch Faces: Allow personalization with different watch face options.
- Device Location Sound: Use the app to make the watch emit a sound when misplaced.
- Activity Monitoring: Keep tabs on your child’s physical activity, promoting a healthy lifestyle.
- Parental Alerts: Receive notifications for concerning activities detected by Bark.
Bark Watch Features and Drawbacks
After setting up the watch and configuring parental controls, it becomes a straightforward communication tool for your child, fostering safe connections. However, the device is simple by design, lacking the comprehensive features of conventional smartwatches—making it an ideal introductory device for younger users.
Calls and Text Messaging: The Boundaries
The Bark Watch permits phone calls and text messages but restricts interaction only to contacts pre-approved by parents. Outgoing calls and incoming calls are clear; however, I encountered challenges with text capabilities during testing. Messages sent from the watch were received, but responses from my phone often failed to arrive within the watch, primarily due to incompatibility with RCS messaging protocols.
Camera Functionality: Limitations
The Bark Watch features a basic 5MP camera for capturing photos—adequate for a child’s use but quite inferior to most smartphones. While children can send photos to contacts, the images remain inaccessible to parents. Bark claims the software monitors tagged images for safety, but without directly viewing the photos, parental oversight feels limited.
To view photos, children must share them through messages instead—adding unnecessary steps for parents trying to maintain watchful eyes over their child’s shared media.
Bluetooth Connectivity and Extras
Much like other contemporary devices, the Bark Watch supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to connect headphones for audio and video functions. This feature proves useful when in public spaces, enhancing usability.
GPS Tracking & Other Features: Contentious Advantages
Bark positions its smartwatch as a parental ally with supposed benefits like GPS tracking and communication monitoring. However, my experiences revealed these functionalities have significant limitations. The GPS service doesn’t operate with real-time tracking—essentially requiring the child to either enter predefined locations or actively share their position through a check-in option. This limitation can hinder parents’ ability to locate their child effectively.
Similar shortcomings plague the monitoring systems. Rather than providing direct access to messages, Bark utilizes an automated scanning process with sensitivity options, alerting parents only when issues arise based on its detection algorithm.
My Unbiased Assessment of the Bark Watch
The Bark Watch could serve as a transitional device for younger children, offering basic calling and texting alternatives while eliminating access to problematic applications or unrestricted internet browsing.
Nonetheless, text messaging glitches and additional limitations suggest that more advanced alternatives might provide parents better control. As parental control solutions evolve, tools like Google Family Link offer sophisticated options that surpass the capabilities of the Bark Watch. Despite this, the Bark Watch presents a more affordable alternative to conventional smartphone plans, especially for families seeking simplicity.
If you’re in search of an entry-level solution that can function with a few caveats, the Bark Watch could be worthwhile. Yet, based on my experience, I lean towards preferring the extensive controls available with my oldest child’s smartphone as opposed to what the Bark Watch could offer. Evaluation is key—what works for one family may not suit another’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the main features of the Bark Watch?
The Bark Watch includes GPS tracking, SOS emergency alerts, parental controls via the Bark app, text and voice communication with approved contacts, and a built-in camera. It serves as a safety-focused communication device for young kids.
2. How does the Bark Parent app enhance the experience?
The Bark Parent app allows parents to manage contacts, monitor messages and photos for potential risks, track their child’s location, and establish screen time limits. This app provides a comprehensive toolset for ensuring a safe and monitored digital environment.
3. Are there any limitations I should be aware of?
Yes, some limitations exist. The Bark Watch does not support real-time GPS tracking outside of predefined zones, and text messaging can be inconsistent due to compatibility issues with RCS messaging. Additionally, parents cannot access images directly taken by the watch, limiting oversight of the content shared by their child.
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