Spam calls and texts are today's version of junk mail. Here are a few ways to reduce the number of unwanted calls and texts your child receives.
Bark Phone
- On your parent phone, visit donotcall.gov.
- Follow the FTC's instructions for registering your kid's number to no longer receive unwanted calls.
- When you're done, open the Bark parent app / dashboard.
- Tap on your kid's avatar at the top.
- Tap Bark Phone.
- Tap Contacts.
- Consider turning on Require contact approval so that any number that tries to reach your kid is blocked until approved.
- Set your parent phone aside for now.
- On your kid's Bark Phone, open the 📞 Phone app.
- Tap Keypad.
- Tap the ⋮ three dots on the top right.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap on Block numbers.
- Turn on Block calls from unknown numbers.
- Tap Block spam and scam calls.
- Turn on Caller ID and spam protection at the top.
- Scroll down and optionally select to block all spam calls or only the high-risk ones.
- Tap the ⏹ square button to go back to the Home Screen.
- That's it! You've done everything you can to cut down on the number of spam calls / texts your kid receives. If your kid ever wants to block a number themselves, they can do so right within their Phone and Contacts app.
Android
- On your parent phone, visit donotcall.gov.
- Follow the FTC's instructions for registering your kid's number to no longer receive unwanted calls.
- When you're done, set aside your parent phone.
- On your kid's Android, open the 📞 Phone app.
- Tap the ⋮ three dots on the top right.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Spam and Call Screen.
- Turn on Filter spam calls (learn more).
- Tap the ⏹ square button to go back to the Home Screen.
- That's it! You've done everything you can to cut down on the number of spam calls / texts your kid receives. If your kid ever wants to block a number themselves, they can do so right within their Phone and Contacts app.
iPhone
- On your parent phone, visit donotcall.gov.
- Follow the FTC's instructions for registering your kid's number to no longer receive unwanted calls.
- When you're done, set aside your parent phone.
- On your kid's iPhone, open the Settings app.
- Tap Phone.
- Turn on Silence Unknown Callers.
- Turn on Silence Junk Callers (learn more).
- That's it! You've done everything you can to cut down on the number of spam calls / texts your kid receives. If your kid ever wants to block a number themselves, they can do so right within their Phone and Contacts app.