Tech Tip # 13 Bark Helps Monitor Online Messages
Tip # 13
TECH TIP TUESDAYS!
Every Tuesday, we’re breaking down quick, helpful info about all things tech—because let’s face it, the internet isn’t always easy to understand.
Today’s tech tip:
When Online Messages Become Too Much for Kids
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When Online Messages Become Too Much for Kids
Content note: This post includes mental health and self-harm.
By Olivia Wells, LigTel Marketer, Mom, Former Educator
When we talk about online safety, it’s easy to think about screen time limits or blocking certain websites. But some of the most serious moments don’t look like “bad content” at all.
Sometimes… it’s just a message from a friend.
Here in Indiana, youth mental health has become a growing concern. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for children and teens ages 10–19, and schools and communities across the state are working harder than ever to recognize warning signs earlier and connect kids with help. (Link to news article)
And the hard part?
Those warning signs don’t always show up at school.
They often show up in texts, DMs, and online messages—places where kids are already talking to each other.
Kids Are Kids — Not Crisis Counselors
One parent shared a story with us that still sticks.
Their child received a message from a friend saying they wanted to hurt themselves. Their child didn’t know what to do. They were scared, overwhelmed, and unsure how to handle something that heavy.
Because they were just a kid.
Thanks to Bark, the parent was alerted. Instead of their child trying to manage that moment alone, the parent was able to step in, talk with their child, and reach out to the other child’s parents to make sure help was available.
That conversation could have saved a life.
Not because technology replaces a parent…
but because it can give adults the chance to act sooner.
This is an example of the kind of message Bark can alert parents to — messages kids may never say out loud.
How Bark Helps Families
Bark is designed to alert parents when it detects serious concerns, like self-harm or suicidal language, across many popular apps and platforms.
In fact, Bark has helped detect millions of severe self-harm situations, giving families the opportunity to step in when it matters most.
It’s not about reading every message or spying on kids.
It’s about awareness — especially in moments when kids may be too scared or unsure to ask for help.
That’s why tools that surface cyberbullying and other serious concerns matter—like Gerry Dee explains below.
Why This Matters to Us
At LigTel, we serve families who live, work, and go to school right here in our communities. And we believe kids shouldn’t have to carry adult-sized problems on their own.
That’s why we offer Bark to families: to add an extra layer of support in the digital spaces where kids already are.
Because some messages are too big for kids to handle alone.
And they shouldn’t have to.
If you’re a parent or guardian and want to learn more about how Bark works, you can visit our Bark page or reach out — we’re always happy to walk through it with you.
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 911 or call/text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Bark pricing: $13/month add-on, or included in our Connected Home plan.
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