LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a world where parents are busy and children are extremely tech-savvy, WebSafety Inc. (OTCQB:WBSI) has launched a smartphone app with real-time alerts to help parents protect their children from online dangers such as cyberbullies, sexting and Internet predators. Parenting expert and award-winning author Michele Borba, Ed.D., praised WebSafety for its thorough and real-time approach to arming parents with timely information in order to initiate a discussion or intervene before problems get out of hand.
A world first, the new WebSafety app – which uses patented technology – provides parents with analytical tools to watch for alarming patterns or behaviors, while children and teens are using their smartphones. WebSafety sends parents real-time alerts about suspicious activity on a child or teen's Android smartphone or tablet so parents have the opportunity to assess information and potential threats immediately. An iOS version is in the works for early 2015.
"Research reveals a desperate need for parents to better monitor their children's smartphone activity," said parenting expert and award-winning author Michele Borba, Ed.D., "Eighty-three percent* of parents worry about children posting inappropriate content online, and nearly forty-three percent** of children reported that they have been bullied online. These numbers are too high to ignore. And many parents want to step up, but aren't sure how."
"Social media and smartphone technology have dramatically changed the way children communicate and socialize. So parenting rules must change, too," said Borba, whose 22 parenting and educational books have been translated into 14 languages.
WebSafety's founder and CEO, Rowland Day, added, "I'm a parent and a grandparent, so I understand the challenges firsthand. I know of some terrible situations involving children's experiences online and I had been searching for a solution to help me protect my family and families that have been the victims of cyberbullying, sexting and other online dangers. I developed WebSafety to provide the best product for all families. My goal is to provide parents with the best tools to protect their children in the digital age and help them determine the line between protection and privacy, and guidance and independence."
How WebSafety works:
- Download the app onto any Android device, and the activity on the device can be monitored from an iPad, laptop or desktop.
- The WebSafety app is now available on Android, and can be used across all four of the major wireless carriers in the United States and the three major wireless carriers in Canada.
- Parents can monitor multiple devices such as phones and tablets; customize alerts, and the type of the information they want to receive.
- For a limited time WebSafety subscribers will receive the service at half price. When signing up to WebSafety, those subscribers can choose any package (see pricing and package details below), either for a six-month period or for one year, for 50% of the retail price.
- Look for the app in Android marketplaces including Google Play.
Product Features:
- Dashboard: A real-time dashboard displays each child's daily activities.
- Monitors apps: Detailed descriptions of apps downloaded by the child onto their phone or tablet are accompanied by WebSafety's own summary of the app and suggestions for parents.
- Monitors text messages: Options include the ability to view all text messages sent and received, or limited to alerting parents only of words of concern or messages from specific people.
- Monitors websites: URLs for pornography and other inappropriate websites are flagged for parents' review.
- Monitors social networks: Parents can view all photos uploaded to Social Media accounts in one convenient location, and receive notifications about words of concern used on social media networks.
- Curfew: Parents can set time restrictions to disable the device, with automatic notifications of out-of-hours use.
- Notifications: Reports can be customized to provide parents with real-time, hourly, daily or weekly activity summaries.
- Track location: Parents can view the current and past locations of the device.
Pricing Packages:
$3.99 /month:
- Protects one child device.
- Includes parent Dashboard.
- Access to the WebSafety forum.
- Customer support.
- Additional devices cost $3.99/month.
- Purchase a year's subscription for $39.99, and two months free.
$11.99 / month
- Protects four children's devices.
- Includes parent Dashboard.
- Access to the WebSafety forum.
- Customer support.
- Additional devices cost $2.99/month.
$14.99 / month
- Protects six children's devices.
- Includes parent Dashboard.
- Access to the WebSafety forum.
- Customer support.
- Additional devices cost $2.49/month.
- Purchase a year's subscription for $149.99 and save over 16%.
For more information, images, pre-launch testing opportunities or an interview with parenting expert Michele Borba or WebSafety CEO Rowland Day, contact:
Kate Talbot
Tel: 310-745-3778
Email: kate@klickcommunications.com
Notes to Editors:
* Source: The Social Graf , April 2014.
** Source: Moessner, Chris, Cyberbullying, Trends and Tudes NCPC.org. Accessed February 10, 2014.
About WebSafety
WebSafety's vision is to provide a constant window through which concerned parents can monitor what their child has been doing on their mobile phone, Internet, social media and texting. WebSafety protects children and notifies parents of risks or inappropriate behavior through advanced multi-platform monitoring and analysis. For more information visit www.websafety.com
About Michele Borba, Ed.D.
Michele Borba is an internationally recognized expert and award-winning author on children, teens, parenting, bullying and moral development. Her work aims to help strengthen children's character and resilience, build strong families, create compassionate and just school cultures, and reduce peer cruelty. Her practical, research-based advice is culled from a career of working with over one million parents and educators worldwide. For more information visit www.micheleborba.com
