Bark Technologies Releases 2020 Annual Report
More than 2 billion messages analyzed across 30+ apps and platforms show alarming trends in children's online activity
ATLANTA, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bark Technologies today released its 2020 annual report of statistics and trends on children's online activity, with a specific focus on kids ages 10 to 18. The Atlanta-based social media monitoring and screen time management company is known for developing highly sophisticated AI-powered parental safety tools that include an app, hardware device, school-specific monitoring systems, books, and educational resources that help keep more than 5 million children safe at home and in more than 2,600 schools nationwide.
Throughout the challenging months of 2020 — the hardest year for families in recent memory — Bark analyzed more than 2 billion online activities from teens and tweens across the U.S. Kids faced a pandemic, social unrest, and a switch to virtual learning, and through it all, they relied heavily on online communication to connect with family and friends. Below are Bark's notable findings from the past 12 months across family accounts.
Between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020:
- 76.7% of tweens and 82.0% of teens experienced cyberbullying as a bully, victim, or witness
- 45.5% of tweens and 66.3% of teens engaged in conversations about depression.
- 70.9% of tweens and 87.9% of teens encountered nudity or content of a sexual nature.
- 41.4% of tweens and 66.6% of teens were involved in a self-harm/suicidal situation.
- 78.0% of tweens and 91.1% of teens engaged in conversations surrounding drugs/alcohol.
- 88.5% of tweens and 94.1% of teens expressed or experienced violent subject matter/thoughts.
"The increased reliance on technology due to distance learning, as well as the nation's volatile political climate, have resulted in a significant uptick in certain online behaviors. This has only served to reinforce our dedication to providing tools and educational resources to help protect kids online," said Brian Bason, founder and CEO of Bark. "We believe that it is critical to highlight which trends are of particular concern so that we can collectively effect change and provide a safer and more supportive environment for kids."
In addition to providing detailed stats on online behavioral trends, Bark's 2020 annual report also ranked popular apps and platforms for severe content in various categories.
Visit bark.us/annual-report to read the full report and learn more about how technology affected teens and tweens in 2020. For a complete list of apps and platforms monitored by Bark, visit https://www.bark.us/what-bark-monitors. For interview requests and state-specific stats, contact the Department of Media Relations.
SOURCE Bark Technologies
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