Wangle Technologies, with the support of The Kids Research Institute Australia, has today launched Wangle Family Insites, a unique new app to help parents keep their family safe online.
Unlike traditional parental online control software that focuses on blocking, the app protects children by monitoring behavioural patterns and offering parents alerts in real time if those behaviours change.
Parents can install the app on their children’s devices to be sent alerts based on a wide variety of specifically identified threats, including accessing inappropriate websites, late night device use after children are supposed to be in bed asleep, excessive use of particular apps or devices, and changes in historical usage patterns.
Wangle Technologies CEO Sean Smith said monitoring behaviour and offering incident specific advice based on data driven research brought a fundamental shift in the way parents can protect and support their children online to the market.
“Blocking access to apps and websites is not a foolproof method of keeping children safe online, but a majority of the industry continues to suggest this is the best and only way to manage usage,” Mr Smith said.
“With Wangle Family Insites, parents can be aware that something is going on through the app directly and immediately find more information and resources to empower them to assist with the situation and help address the issue,” he said.
“Wangle Family Insites’ partnership with one of Australia’s leading children’s online behaviour research bodies, The Kids Research Institute Australia has helped shape both the app and the advice contained within it.”
Head of Health Promotion and Education research at The Kids, Professor Donna Cross, said that unlike blocking or spying apps, it is hoped that the app will help bolster a level of trust between the parent and child.
“The partnership between Wangle and The Kids Research Institute Australia is a world first. It will enable researchers to better understand in real time what children and young people are generally doing online,” she said.
“Using this new knowledge, researchers will be able to more effectively develop and test resources that are relevant to the real-time strengths and needs of children and young people.”
The Wangle Family Insites app is now available for Android and iOS through app stores.
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About The Kids Research Institute Australia
The Kids Research Institute Australia is one of the largest, and most successful medical research institutes in Australia, comprising a dedicated and diverse team of more than 500 staff and students.
We've created a bold blueprint that brings together community, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and funders, who share our vision to improve the health and wellbeing of children through excellence in research.
The Institute is headed by leading paediatrician and infectious diseases expert Professor Jonathan Carapetis, with Founding Director Professor Fiona Stanley now Patron.
The Kids is independent and not-for-profit. The majority of funding comes from our success in winning national and international competitive research grants. We also receive significant philanthropic support from corporate Australia and the community.
About Wangle Technologies
Wangle Technologies (ASX: WGL) has developed patented algorithms to optimise data flow between devices. It allows faster data transfer and reduces data overhead, while enhancing security and privacy.
Wangle’s technology provides compelling value to consumers and service provider looking for innovative, low cost solutions to manage network capacity in the face of unprecedented growth in data consumption.