Set Up Contact Approval
To manage your child's contact settings from your dashboard, click on the Bark Phone tile and then on Contacts.
Types of contacts
✅ Approved Contacts - allow calls and texts to and from this number except at bedtime or when paused.
Emergency Contacts - always allow calls to and from this number.
🚫 Unapproved Contacts - block calls and texts to and from this number.
When an unapproved contact reaches out...
- All of their texts will be hidden from your child.
- Their calls to your child will go straight to voicemail.
- Your child will be able to see their phone number and request approval.
When your child requests approval...
- You will get a notification.
- A task to review contact requests will appear under the child's name.
- Texts sent or received while the contact was unapproved are not saved.
When you approve a contact request...
- Your kid can now send and receive texts from that contact.
- Your kid will get a push notification.
- Your kid will see an option to add the contact.
How your kid can block numbers themselves
If your child wishes to block phone calls and texts from a specific individual, they have the ability to do so directly from their Phone app, Contacts app, and/or Messages app. It's important to note that this action is independent of the settings within your Bark dashboard for Contact Approval. These built-in tools are designed to empower your child in managing unwanted calls and texts on their own.
If the number you'd like to block called the phone, your kid can follow these steps to block future calls and texts from them:
- On the Bark Phone, open the Phone app.
- Tap Recents on the bottom.
- Find the recent caller and tap on the number.
- Tap (ℹ) information.
- Tap 🚫 Block.
- (optional) tap 📝 Report to submit a report about whether that number is spam, not spam, telemarketing, or similar.
- That's it! When the number is blocked in this way, it automatically hides any text conversations between your kid and that particular number.
If the number you'd like to block texted the phone, your kid can follow these steps to block future texts and calls from them:
- On the Bark Phone, open the Messages app.
- Tap on the conversation with that number.
- Tap the three dots on the top right.
- Tap Block number.
- That's it! When the number is blocked in this way, it automatically hides any text conversations between your kid and that particular number.
If the number you'd like to block is already a contact on the phone, your kid can follow these steps to block future texts and calls from them:
- On the Bark Phone, open the Contacts app.
- Find the contact and tap on it.
- Tap (ℹ) information.
- Tap More on the bottom right.
- Tap Block contact.
- That's it! When the number is blocked in this way, it automatically hides any text conversations between your kid and that particular number.
If your kid blocked a number by mistake, they can undo it with these steps:
- On the Bark Phone, open the Messages app.
- Tap on the ⚙ Settings on the top right.
- Tap Manage blocked numbers.
- Find the number in question and tap the three dots next to it.
- Tap Delete.
- All done. Texts that were sent by the number while they were blocked will not re-appear, but texts going forward should appear in the Messages app!
How your kid can block spam themselves
Not only can you use contact approval to block or allow contacts your kid can call or text, your kid also can also block spam calls and texts by following this guide:
