Review: Norton Family Parental Control App

Overview: Norton Family Parental Control is a monitoring solution developed by the well-established cybersecurity company, NortonLifeLock. Designed to provide parents with insights and control over their children’s online activities, the app aims to foster a safer digital environment for younger users.

Features:

1. Web Filtering: The app offers a robust filtering system that allows parents to block inappropriate or distracting websites based on categories. This ensures children don’t stumble upon content that’s not suitable for their age.
2. Time Supervision: This feature gives parents the ability to set time limits for device usage, ensuring that kids aren’t spending excessive time on screens.
3. Location Tracking: Parents can track the physical location of their children’s devices in real-time.
4. Mobile App Supervision: Get insights into which apps are being downloaded and installed, and block those you find inappropriate.
5. Instant Lock: If needed, parents can remotely lock their child’s device – useful in enforcing study times or family moments.
6. Search Supervision: Parents can see what terms their children are searching for online, providing insight into their online curiosities.
7. Email Alerts: Instant alerts for parents when children try to access blocked content.

Pros:

1. Reputation: Norton is a trusted name in cybersecurity, ensuring reliability.
2. Comprehensive Reports: The app provides detailed reports on your child’s online activities.
3. Versatility: Works across multiple devices, including PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
4. User Interface: Intuitive design that’s easy for parents to navigate and understand.

Cons:

1. Price: Compared to some competitors, Norton Family might seem a bit pricier, especially for families with multiple devices.
2. Limited Social Media Monitoring: While the app provides basic monitoring capabilities, it doesn’t offer detailed insights into social media activities, which can be a blind spot for many parents.
3. Occasional Glitches: Some users have reported occasional bugs, though updates seem to address most of these over time.

Price: $49.99/year for 10 devices.

Conclusion: Norton Family Parental Control is a comprehensive and reliable solution for parents looking to ensure their children’s online safety. While it covers most bases effectively, parents concerned mainly about social media might want to supplement it with other tools. Given the reputation of Norton, parents can be relatively assured of its efficacy and updates. It’s a solid choice for families entering the realm of digital monitoring for the first time. Always remember, communication with children about why monitoring is essential can make the process smoother and more effective.