Updated
Updated · westbendnews.net · Aug 24
Paulding Putnam Adds Free Bark to ParentProtect Internet Starting Sept. 9
Updated
Updated · westbendnews.net · Aug 24

Paulding Putnam Adds Free Bark to ParentProtect Internet Starting Sept. 9

2 articles · Updated · westbendnews.net · Aug 24

Summary

  • Sept. 9 marks the rollout of a free monthly Bark subscription for every Paulding Putnam ParentProtect fiber internet package subscriber.
  • Bark monitors more than 30 apps and platforms, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, and alerts parents to cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, violence and other online risks.
  • ParentProtect packages run on 500x500 Mbps or 1 Gig fiber service and already include managed Wi-Fi with built-in cybersecurity, free standard installation and no contracts or hidden fees.
  • Cyberbullying among teens has risen from about 19% in 2007 to nearly 55% today, while the CDC says roughly 1 in 10 elementary schools faces weekly bullying incidents.
  • Paulding Putnam is promoting the offering at local school open houses ahead of the launch, framing it as a community safety effort rather than a profit driver.

Insights

Will integrating parental controls into home Wi-Fi finally curb the cyberbullying epidemic, or simply force tech-savvy teens to hide their digital lives?
As internet providers begin bundling chat-monitoring tools to protect kids, where exactly is the line drawn between vital safety and invasive surveillance?
Could a free internet add-on actually save a child's life, or does it merely create a dangerous false sense of security for parents?