KidsGoMobile brings digital parenting software to the crowd

KidsGoMobile brings digital parenting software to the crowd

KidsGoMobile, a Wellington based startup company whose mission is to make the digital world safer for kids, has launched a Kickstarter campaign this week to help resource the development of their software tools for parents. The software aims to take the guesswork out of digital parenting, by combining the practical needs of parents with best practice advice formulated by industry experts.

It’s no secret that new technologies are finding their way into the hands of younger children more easily than ever before. Their ability to access the internet from anywhere can create a headache for parents as they strive to stay involved in their children’s digital lives. Parental involvement is becoming crucial with issues like cyberbullying, now affecting more than 1 in 5 New Zealand children every year.

The KidsGoMobile software is a timely development as device access is set to increase with the introduction of Bring Your Own Device policies in New Zealand schools, which seeks to put devices in the hands of every child. The KidsGoMobile software helps parents identify risky activity, and equips them to raise digitally responsible kids with scenario-specific expert advice. After installing the KidsGoMobile app parents receive email or SMS notifications with important information about their child’s device activity and provides steps for resolving potential risks.

Due to pressing demand from parents, the KidsGoMobile team are launching a Kickstarter campaign to accelerate the development of their technology.

Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform where people pledge money for rewards, launched in New Zealand earlier this month and KidsGoMobile hope to be one of the very first NZ campaigns to be successfully funded. Backers of the KidsGoMobile Kickstarter will be among the very first to get their hands on the KidsGoMobile software. The campaign aims to raise $20,000 and will run until December 29.

The team behind the idea are technology natives themselves and have recently graduated from New Zealand’s first digital accelerator programme, Lightning Lab. They are well known in Wellington’s tech start-up scene and have attracted a whirlwind of support from some of the best mentors New Zealand has to offer.

Pamela Ward, CEO and Co-Founder, shares her inspiration for starting the venture, “We grew up with mobile phones and the internet, and experienced the challenges youth face in the digital world first hand. We know that these challenges are only becoming worse as technology advances and our team are dedicated to doing what we can to see the next generation grow up with the support and tools they need to become safe, responsible digital citizens.”

“The software we’re developing is unique in the way it removes the barriers of digital parenting by helping parents not only identify risks, but also giving them practical advice for combating these challenges together with their child,” Ward says. The first version of the software for Android smartphones and tablets will be ready for parents to install by the time school commences in 2014 and the iOS version won’t be far behind.

ENDS

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