Any parent of a child who’s switched into technology, which literally covers any kid old enough to point a finger, fights constant battles around appropriate usage, time spent and time wasted on personal devices.
Developed by a team in Western Australia, curbi is a new app that parents direct from their own smartphone or home computer.
Once set up, it links parents into all devices used by their kids – iPhones, iPads and iPods – so that they can direct, block or monitor their internet time in detail.
With the touch of a button, you can put young Beau’s tablet into 10 minutes of ‘Time Out’ (that’s zero internet access), or block Billie’s access to social media and time-wasting apps to keep her focused during study.
The beauty of its scope is that parents can set the rules (eg a ‘bedtime’ mode that allows no social media or video apps like YouTube) and apply them any time, anywhere – whether children are on the home network, or using free wifi or mobile data.
It is believed to be the first app to work across all networks and on roaming internet.
It can even disable the device’s camera, photo stream and block in-app purchases, screenshots and app installations.
Curbi’s most obvious application is for keeping kids safe, allowing parents to permanently block content such as adult, TV and video sites.
The monitoring aspect allows parents to check what each of their techno tots and teens is up to on their device, at a glance – a detailed report of how many minutes are spent on each site or app can even be emailed.
Curbi’s developers Systemic worked with child psychologists and a school to bring their invention to light and are also working on an android version.
Currently, a 14-day trial is free then it’s a $65 per year subscription.
If nothing else, it eases the inevitable confrontation as you don’t have to physically handle the child’s device to enforce your usage rules.
So even if your kids can run faster than you, are at a friend’s or lock their bedroom door, you’ve got them covered (cue evil laugh of satisfied parent).
Whether this is the height of helicopter parenting or a workable alternative to the nagging and never quite knowing where your child has been online, parents and professionals are hailing it as a constructive, safe way of dealing with the ever-present nature of technology.
