Free App Allows Parents to Remotely Manage Children's Mobile App & Web Use

Helps Parents Address Kids' Screen Time Addiction

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Aug 17, 2016, 07:15 ET

WESTPORT, Conn., Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WebWatcher today announced the launch of Screen Time Manager, a new mobile app that allows parents to remotely manage their children's time spent on smartphones and tablets. This free app, which can be found in the iTunes App store and Google Play stores, allows parents to remotely block access to apps and the Internet on both iOS and Android devices. With the swipe of a finger, parents can now manage their kids' smartphone usage both on demand and on a pre-set schedule.

Kids are engaging with mobile devices more than ever. Recent research by Influence Central shows that on average, kids get their first cellphone at age 10. Common Sense Media reports the average "tween" (age 8-12 years) spends six hours online, while teens spend an even more alarming nine hours online each day. All this excessive screen time can lead to problems in school, attention and anxiety issues, as well as sleep and eating disorders.

The American Association of Pediatrics recommends children and teens spend no more than one to two hours per day using media devices. "In today's digital age, parents are challenged with helping their kids find a healthy balance between 'real' and 'digital' life," remarked Erika Miller, Director of Online Safety for WebWatcher. "Parents are frustrated with the daily battle of telling kids to put the phone away. Our goal with Screen Time Manager is to help empower parents by giving them a 'remote control' to help manage their kids' digital lives without the battle."

With Screen Time Manager, parents can choose to schedule specific times to block usage or can also block and grant access on demand as needed. "The majority of kids don't have the maturity or self-discipline to know when they've had too much screen time. Our app allows parents to proactively help their children put the phone down and engage in real life activities," added Ms. Miller.

WebWatcher's Screen Time Manager allows parents to manage up to 5 devices from one centralized account either through a secure online account or from their own parental control app on their iPhone. Screen Time Manager allows parents to remotely control the following features:

All third-party apps (Facebook, Instagram Snapchat, WhatsApp, Kik, games etc.)
Internet Browsers (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
Camera usage (including FaceTime and iCloud Photo Stream)
App Store, In-App Purchases

WebWatcher Screen Time Manager does not block access to iMessage, Phone and other default apps like Calendar, Calculator, Notes, News, Compass, and Contacts. "Safety concerns are at the heart of our app and we designed every feature with that in mind. We want children to always have the ability to communicate via phone or text, in case of an emergency," added Ms. Miller.

For years, WebWatcher has enabled parents to stay aware of their children's computer and mobile activity with its comprehensive, best of breed parental monitoring solution. Compatible with iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android, PC and Mac, WebWatcher allows parents to remotely supervise their kids' online activities. With the addition of Screen Time Manager, parents can now also control app usage and screen time. "We understand parents have several concerns with their kids' online activities," said Ms. Miller. "Our main goal is to offer options to help parents keep kids safe online while also creating a healthy balance between real life and screen time."

About WebWatcher
WebWatcher, the #1 rated Parental Monitoring Software by PC Magazine, offers a full family of computer and mobile monitoring software compatible with PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, Android & BlackBerry All WebWatcher products install easily in 5 minutes or less and are 100% tamper proof. All recorded data is sent to a secure web-based interface which allows parents to monitor kids at their convenience from any Internet connected computer. WebWatcher also allows parents to monitor multiple devices (such as a PC and an iPhone) from the same user interface in order to get one unified view.

SOURCE WebWatcher