How Does the App Work? What Do the Experts Say About It?
BARK LETS PARENTS SEE POTENTIAL ONLINE THREATS TO THEIR KIDS
Our advanced technological age, with its plethora of online platforms to connect people all over the world, is riddled with obvious benefits as well as unfortunate side effects. Nearly 60% of children ages 8–12 have a smartphone, so cyberbullies and online predators pose a legitimate threat. Parents now wonder what they can do to preserve their child’s safety without completely invading their privacy, and many have turned to Bark for help. According to Bark’s website, the app was created in collaboration with child psychologists, youth advisors, digital media experts, and law enforcement professionals to deliver a research-backed way of safeguarding families using technology. Once purchased, the app connects to 24
platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.) to monitor text messages, emails, and social activity for signs of harmful content and interactions. When Bark’s algorithms detect potential risks, it alerts parents via email and text and sends them snippets of flagged content paired with recommendations from child psychologists on how to talk to their kids about it. Since its launch in 2016, Bark has scanned more than a billion messages from 2 million children and claims to have helped prevent dozens of potential suicides, school shootings, and bomb threats through its detection of problematic language. While the app’s claims are certainly advantageous, many parents wonder if they are infringing on their child’s privacy. According to Jasmina Byrne, a child protection specialist at UNICEF, the privacy concerns get exponentially worse if parents don’t inform their kids about the app. Other experts claim parents should let their child know they are using the tracking app, but, as a result, the children might feel forced to express themselves differently, which poses a threat to their online freedom. While there has yet to be 100% consensus among child psychology experts regarding parental smartphone-monitoring software, all seem to agree that if a parent deploys these types of apps, the experience can lead to better family communication if they let their kids know about it, and Bark might be the safest and least invasive option on the market thus far. After an accident, it’s important that all drivers remain at the scene until the police arrive to take their statements. The driver who caused the crash could be charged with criminal hit-and-run charges if they leave the accident scene before the police arrive. Even if the law doesn’t require you to call the police after a car accident, we still recommend doing so. Police reports can be a crucial part of filing a claim with your insurance company to cover the damages. This is why you should call the police even after minor accidents, like low-speed fender benders. An official report can help you get an adequate estimate on the dollar amount of the damage done to your vehicle. Furthermore, while it might appear that there are no injuries at the time of the accident, many injuries, such as whiplash, aren’t immediately apparent. Having a police report can help you prove your injuries were caused by the accident and not some other incident. This gives you a better chance of having your medical bills paid for by the insurance company. If you are in a car accident, first call 911 and make sure all parties involved stay until the police arrive. Then call 404- 596-8044 to speak with an experienced car accident attorney. Learn what you need to do to get compensation for your injuries and damages after an accident. How Leaving the Scene of an Accident Can Ruin Your Case
It happens in a blink of an eye: One moment, you are driving to work, and the next, you lose control after being hit by a guy who ran a stop sign. Thankfully, nobody was badly hurt, and your vehicle is still driveable. You quickly exchange insurance information with the other driver. “I really need to go,” the other driver says suddenly. “You have all my contact info and my insurance. It’s just a fender bender, so we don’t have to get the police involved. Is it okay if I leave?” It’s a reasonable request. If there are no major injuries and both vehicles can still drive safely, why take more time out of your day waiting for the police? But before you do the “nice thing” and let the other driver go, you should be aware of what happens if you don’t call the police. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, if you are physically able, you are required to notify the authorities after a car accident if the crash involved at least one of the following situations. WHEN TO CALL 911
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Personal injuries
Death
Property damage that exceeds $500
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