FamilyTime App: Can It Help Prevent Technology Addiction?
Living in the era of a technological boom has limitless benefits. However, we cannot overlook its downside and how it is impacting modern-day young generations. In the past, people didn’t have easy access to as many gadgets and appliances as we do today.
Modern-day kids learn to use smartphones as toddlers. While that is impressive, it also makes them vulnerable to the negative influences of technology. For instance, issues like technology addiction were not as widespread as they are now.
Though technology has hurled new challenges at us, it has also brought us solutions so we can deal with such problems effectively. FamilyTime is one such example. It can help curb technology addiction in kids in addition to solving various modern-age digital parenting issues.
Before we dive into what FamilyTime can do for parents, let’s demystify what technology addiction means and how it impacts kids.
What is Technology Addiction?
Have you ever observed kids using smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.? Kids are inherently curious and like to explore. They learn and adapt quickly as well. When kids use smartphones or other hand-held devices, they often get too invested and do not want to put them away. That is because modern-day smartphones and hand-held devices are designed to engage and captivate their audience.
When one becomes dependent on technology to the extent that they cannot survive without it, it means they have developed a technology addiction. Can you imagine your day without looking at your phone or computer? This issue is equally affecting kids and adults. However, its impact is significantly more detrimental to kids.
Impact of Tech Addiction on Young Minds
Technology addiction is a serious problem and is equivalent to developing any other type of addiction i.e., addiction to substances, gaming, social media, etc. Young kids and teens are a lot more vulnerable to technology addiction than adults. Why? Let’s take a look.
Shrinking Attention Span & Learning Deficiencies
Technology addiction negatively impacts kids’ learning abilities in several ways. It is proven scientifically that overexposure to technology leads to a shrinking attention span in kids. That means kids gradually become less attentive. They find it challenging to stay focused on anything for a longer duration. Ultimately, it hinders their learning capacity. The inability to focus in class means lower chances of retaining any knowledge gained in school.
Negative Influence on Physical & Mental Health
Technology addiction also impacts kids’ mental and physical health in several ways. The more time kids spend with their devices, the less time they spend with others. Consequently, they face the risk of developing a lack of social skills, sleep deprivation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, computer vision syndrome, etc.
Now that we have an idea of the impact this problem can have on kids, let’s look into the means that can help prevent this menace from spreading in modern-day society.
How to Prevent Tech Addiction in Kids?
Parents play a vital role in preventing kids from developing any of these issues, including technology addiction. Let’s look at some of the most effective tips that may help parents out of this jam.
Raise Awareness
It is better to talk to kids openly about the negative impact of misuse of technology. The proverb, excess of everything is bad, hints at doing things in moderation. Excessive use of technology can expose kids to several digital threats.
Establish Tech-Related House Rules
Another effective technique is to introduce some house rules regarding the use of technological devices. You can start by,
- forbid screen use in bedrooms
- create screen-free zones in the house
- assign a dedicated area for kids to use screens (i.e., the shared living area, computer/study room/area, etc.)
- no screens at the dinner table or during family events
- not allowing screens or access to the internet an hour before bedtime etc.
Be an Actively Involved Parent
Talking to kids and establishing rules is not enough. Parents must be actively involved in their kids’ lives and know what they do online/offline. Indeed, parents must be aware of what kids are up to, but it doesn’t mean they should become helicopter parents or disregard their kids’ privacy. There are better ways to monitor kids’ digital activities, such as using the FamilyTime parental control app.
What is FamilyTime?
FamilyTime is one of the most revered parental control apps for iPhone and Android devices. It can help parents monitor the activities of kids as well as teens. Its extensive array of features caters to almost every need of digital parenting. Let’s unravel what it can do for parents.
What to Expect from It?
It offers a plethora of impressive features that not only help prevent technology addiction, but also make it easy to deal with several other digital-age parenting issues. Here is how it can aid parents in keeping an eye on their kids’ activities.
Screen Time Limit
One of the biggest hurdles in digital-age parenting is optimizing kids’ screen time. It is indeed a challenging task since we are surrounded by screens. The digital billboards, computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc., never let us take a break. Kids like spending time interacting with screens more than they enjoy the company of people. That is why parents struggle with limiting their screen time.
Not anymore! With FamilyTime by your side, you can decide how much time your kids can spend with their screens in a day and ensure they don’t go overboard with a mere push of a button. You can also limit time for individual apps so that kids don’t play games or stay on social media for too long.
Screen Time Schedule
Having a set routine can help kids use their time more productively. It brings stability and peace of mind, especially during troubled times. Doing simple tasks like homework, house chores, eating meals, sleeping, etc., at a pre-determined time can help kids in several ways.
The screen time schedule feature of the FamilyTime app allows parents to establish a healthy daily routine for their kids. Parents can specify times for various activities like homework, dinner, bedtime, etc., and kids would not be able to use their devices during those activities. That way, kids will be able to carry out their designated chores/activities with complete focus.
App Blocker
Technology addiction is a serious problem. It occurs swiftly and takes hold. Parents must never allow kids unrestricted access to devices or the internet. Modern-day kids play games, watch YouTube, or use social media on their devices for hours without taking any breaks. That leads them to become dependent on (or, dare I say addicted to) technology, a.k.a. smartphones, game consoles, TV, etc.
Another huge problem is that kids may get exposed to inappropriate apps, games, or content. They may play unsuitable games, use teen dating apps or do something worse like sexting. Parents can use FamilyTime’s App Blocker feature to prevent that from happening. It blocks all newly downloaded apps by default, and parents receive immediate notifications. So, even if kids download an unsafe app, they will not be able to use it without parental approval.
Internet Filter & Schedule
Granting kids and teens unrestricted access to the internet is one of the most common mistakes modern-age parents make. Indeed, it is a source of unlimited information, but not all of it is suitable for children. Kids may get exposed to inappropriate content, play indecent/violent games, sext, or indulge in underage dating.
The FamilyTime app offers Internet Filter and Schedule features to help parents avert this crisis. Parents can use its internet filter to block all age-inappropriate websites, games, and content. On the other hand, they can set up an internet usage schedule to make kids’ day more productive and ensure that kids do not sneak around to use the internet past their bedtime.
Social Media Monitoring
Technology addiction is directly linked to social media apps and platforms. Kids (especially teens) use social media to stay updated on the latest gossip, follow social media influencers and celebrities, get fashion and makeup updates, talk to friends, get entertainment, etc. Social media is the hotspot for everything nowadays. The more kids spend their time using social media, the higher their chances of developing technology addiction.
The solution lies in monitoring what your kids do online on social media apps. Knowing who they follow and analyzing whether parents should allow their kids to follow social media influencers is vital. Parents can limit kids’ exposure to inappropriate content using FamilyTime’s YouTube and TikTok monitoring features. They can see what type of content kids are watching and keep an eye on the amount of time they spend on these apps.
Teen Safe Drive
Letting teens learn how to drive is a memorable moment for parents and teens alike. It brings a mixture of emotions for both parties. While teens may feel excited to enter the realm of adulthood, they are not mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come along. On the other end of the spectrum, parents feel nervous and anxious to let their teenage kids drive alone.
Teens often show off their driving skills to their friends by speeding. Not adhering to designated speeds puts everyone at risk. FamilyTime’s Teen Safe Drive feature enables parents to ensure their teens’ safety on the road. It allows them to assign a speed limit for teens and if they cross that limit, parents receive immediate notifications.
Family Pause
Another problem related to technology addiction is kids using their devices when they are not supposed to. Most parents are aware that kids outsmart them and sneak away to use screens even when they are grounded, or supposed to be asleep.
FamilyTime offers a simple solution. If parents need to discipline their kids or take away their screen privileges, they can do so by using Family Pause feature. It helps disable kids’ devices and prevents kids from using them altogether.
Time Bank
Teaching kids to be more productive or helping them learn the importance of saving time has never been easier. FamilyTime offers a feature called Time Bank. It helps parents accomplish this arduous task seamlessly. Parents can motivate kids to save their screen time during exam days or even on regular basis. That way, kids can save their unused screen time and use it later when their parents allow them to have some fun.
Is That All?
FamilyTime offers features like Web History, Location Tracking, Geofence, FunTime, Call & Text Monitoring, and a whole lot more. It is suitable for monitoring activities of kids of all age groups, including kids and teens. Parents can manage everything remotely from their parental devices. It has everything a parent may need.
What Does It Cost?
One might think it would be a very expensive app considering the extensive list of features it offers. However, FamilyTime is quite affordable. Parents can benefit from its 3-days free trial version (with some basic features). They can use it to test the waters and see if they like it.
For those who wish to get access to all premium features, FamilyTime has four monthly payment plans that range from $1.15/per month to $2.25/per month. These payment plans depend on the number of child devices you need to monitor.
Does It Work Across Multiple Operating Systems?
It is a versatile app and can work across various operating systems. It is fully compatible with iPhone and Android devices. That means parents can monitor kids’ activities without a hitch even if they own iPhones and kids use Android devices (or vice versa).
In conclusion dealing with kids has never been easier, and parenting has always been the toughest job. However, apps like FamilyTime and its impeccable features help parents fight modern-day problems like digital/technological addiction and make parenting easier. It can help protect kids from several threats, digital or otherwise. If you are intrigued and want to explore it, visit its website for more information. If you want to download the app directly, visit Play Store or App Store.
