Parental Control Software Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Operating System (Windows, Android, iOS, and Cross Platform and Multiplatform), By Deployment (On-Premise and Cloud), By Application (Residential and Educational Institutes), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

The global parental control software market size was USD 797.3 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,760.0 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period.

Robust internet connection has escalated the use of social media among teenagers and children. Monitoring and keeping the kids safe from disturbing, explicit, and illegal websites and apps is quite difficult. The parental controls software platforms help parents to protect their children from illegal sites by allowing them to monitor and manage their online activities. Besides, rising online threats such as online violence, cyberbullying, and explicit content are augmenting the demand for parental control software. Over usage of social media platforms like Facebook, Tiktok, WhatsApp, and Instagram by children is driving demand for this software. In February 2020, Tiktok launched a parental control feature named ‘family safety mode’ across the United Kingdom in response to support European children data privacy regulations. Hence, government initiatives towards children’s privacy and safety are likely to fuel market growth.

COVID-19 to Accelerate Parental Control Software Demand Owing to High Demand for Online Learning

The lockdown imposed by many nations amid COVID-19 has made millions of children and youth to remain indoors. Sudden school closures and severe containment measures have enforced families to adopt digital solutions to keep their child learning. Also, most families have to rely on digital technology to keep their children entertained and connected to the outside world. However, this sudden change has become a concern for parents as the lockdown has led to massive growth in the children’s online activities. In April 2020, Qustodio revealed that European countries such as France, Spain, and Italy have showcased almost 80% growth in online activities during school time as compared with January.

Owing to the growing focus on minimizing the risk of kids stumbling on inappropriate content during the online study, several parents are contemplating the need for parental control software. Hence, the pandemic has resulted in the increasing adoption of the software by parents to oversee or control online activity and internet usage of their kid. The surging demand for the software has led the tech companies to roll out new platforms and features that can help parents to monitor and manage their kid’s online activities. In July 2020, Microsoft Corporation announced the release of its parental controls mobile application named ‘Family Safety App’ which supports Android as well as iOS devices.

Besides, market players have started offering their products and services at an affordable price or even free during the COVID-19 pandemic time. Such initiatives taken by key companies are helping them to broaden their customer base and expand their reach in the forthcoming years. In August 2020, Bark Technologies, Inc. announced its partnership with CenturyLink Communications, LLC to expand its intelligent parental control application business network. Thus, the COVID-19 global pandemic is likely to prove beneficial for the parental control software market growth.  

LATEST TRENDS

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Social Media Companies and Tech Companies in Support to Add Parental Control Features into their Portfolio

Various social media and entertainment platforms have started introducing parental control features into their existing applications in response to the compliances of child safety. In February 2020, TikTok introduced parental control features into its application that offers restricted mode, disables direct messaging, and allows parents to manage the screen time. Further, in April 2020, Netflix has announced that it has introduced a PIN code feature for Netflix profiles that can allow parents to disable children’s access to adult content.

Technology giants such as Microsoft Corporation, Google LLC, and AT&T Inc. are supporting the market growth by advancing their existing portfolios with parental control topographies. In April 2020, Google LLC upgraded its play store for android devices with the ‘Kid tab’ that highlights ‘teacher-approved’ entertaining and enriching applications. This feature helps to filter out google content based on age group.    

DRIVING FACTORS

Growing Inclination towards Online Learning to Drive Market Growth

The growing trend of e-learning in support of robust internet connectivity has compelled children to spend more time online. The children are finding it is interesting to learn things through animation and video-based mediums. However, the use of digital devices without any control can lead children to be exposed to a lot of different websites and apps. According to the ‘Ofcom Parents and Children’s Media Literacy Tracker’ report, published in January 2020, 19% of children of age group 8-11 and almost 70% of children of 12-15 age group have their own social media account.

The rising popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Facebook amongst children is becoming a concern for parents. Therefore, to safeguard their child from social media and irrelevant content access, parents are installing parental control software in their devices.

Stringent Government Regulations Regarding Children Digital Safety and Privacy to Stimulate Market Growth

Governments across the world have built stringent children data privacy and digital wellbeing laws for ensuring children’s digital safety. Stringent regulations such as Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) have been introduced to keep children safe during their online screen time. Additionally, strict action against law violations is stimulating the demand for parental control software. In February 2020, Musical.ly had to pay a fine worth USD 5.7 million to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for violation of COPPA rule. Apart from this, TikTok rolled out parental control features into its application in response to action taken by the United Kingdom government under GDPR violations. Thus, the initiatives taken by the local government to keep children safe during their online time are likely to drive the growth of the market.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Lack of Awareness and Trust Issues Might Confine the Growth of the Market

Parental control software and mobile applications are gaining much popularity across developed nations. However, this application is still unknowledgeable in various countries across the world. People from countries with low literacy rates are still unaware of the usage and features of the software. Also, many parents perceive that this software would weaken the trust in relationships with children, which is affecting the adoption of software. Therefore, trust issues and lack of knowledge are the key factors that are confining the overall market growth. 

SEGMENTATION

By Operating System Analysis

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Adoption of Android Devices to Drive the Adoption of Android-based Parental Control Application

Based on the operating system type, the market is categorized into windows, android, iOS, and cross-platform/multiplatform.

Among these, the android operating system segment holds maximum market share owing to the growing adoption of Android smartphones and tablets for educational use.

The popularity of Windows amongst PC users owing to its compatibility with most of the software programs is driving the demand for Windows parental control software.

Cross-platform or multi-platform software platforms are showcasing much demand owing to its superlative compatibility with any operating system. Hence, cross-platform software is exhibiting a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.

Many iOS devices have in-built parental control features. The growing adoption of iOS-based devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, among others is supporting the growth of iOS-based software.

By Deployment Analysis

Popularity of Subscription-Based Services to Enhance Cloud-Based Deployment

Based on the deployment, the market has segmented into on premise and cloud.

The cloud-based deployment augments the largest market share. The cloud-based parental control software offers a flexible ‘pay to use’ pricing model, which is most likely to drive the demand for cloud-based solutions. Key players are offering monthly or annual subscription-based parental control services that enable subscribers to opt for services according to their requirements.

Secure infrastructure and control over generated data is driving sufficient adoption for on premise software. 

By Application Analysis

Growing Concern of Parents about Online Safety to Drive Adoption across Residential Area

By application, the market has segregated into residential and educational institutes.

The increasing screen time, social media usage, cyberbullying, child-abusing, inappropriate content access by children are some of the major issues that parents are facing today. Therefore, parental control software is witnessing huge demand from the residential segment due to the growing concerns of parents about the kid’s online safety. Besides, the COVID-19 global pandemic has further raised concerns owing to the sudden enforcement of online learning during the lockdown period. Hence, the software is gaining exceptional demand across the residential sector.

Several educational institutes are deploying parental control features to monitor the online activities of students, to block access to inappropriate content, websites, and web applications. The government’s initiative to digital education is encouraging educational organizations to safeguard student’s online journeys, which drives moderate adoption across the educational sector as well.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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North America is anticipated to hold the maximum share in terms of revenue for the global market owing to the early adoption of digitalization in the education sector. Strict government regulations regarding the online safety of children are driving the adoption of this software across the region. For instance, in August 2019, YouTube was fined by the Federal Trade Commission for almost USD 200 million over children’s data privacy violations. Hence, strict children data privacy regulations are driving the market across the region. The growing web crimes such as cyberbullying, child abuse, sexual harassment, and many more are some of the major concerns amongst parents that can drive the adoption of software. Thus, North America is one of the major contributors to driving the growth of the market.

The South American market is expected to register sufficient market growth owing to progressive approaches towards advent-technology use. Brazil and Argentina are showcasing significant adoption of mobile devices for educational purposes. Thus, parental control software is expected to gain demand across South America.    

Europe is expected to showcase significant market growth in the forthcoming years. This growth is attributed to strict GDPR laws and regulations around children’s privacy that will drive substantial adoption of parental control applications across the region. Besides, the presence of prominent market players and opportunistic proliferation of new market entrants are likely to exhibit moderate market growth in the forthcoming years. In July 2018, McAfee LLC partnered with LG Electronics Inc. to deliver its parental control solutions for LG smartphone users across 32 European countries. Hence, with the entrance of key players into the market, the region is anticipated to drive substantial market growth.

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The Middle East and Africa would showcase the significant adoption of parental control solutions due to growing internet penetration across the region. Increasing usage of internet-based mobile computing devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and others are also likely to support the market growth across the Middle East and Africa.

Key players are looking towards Asia-Pacific as an opportunistic region for establishing their business network. Hence, Asia-Pacific is expected to hold a significant CAGR during the forecast period. In September 2018, S.C. BITDEFENDER S.R.L. has acquired SMS eTechnologies for launching and expanding its parental control application business in New Zealand and Australia. Key economies of Asia-Pacific including China, India, South Korea, and Australia have taken initiatives for digitalization of the education sector. Hence, focusing to strengthen the digital wellbeing of students, educational institutes are likely to adopt parental control software.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Product Enhancement, Strategic Partnerships, and Acquisitions are Key Footsteps towards Market Development

The competition landscape of the market is changing drastically with the entrance of new players into the market. Tech-giants such as Google Inc., Facebook, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., have started launching parental control features in their existing product or launched new software. Key players are adopting strategies like partnerships, acquisition, and collaboration to sustain their competitiveness and also for expanding their business. Apart from this, prominent players are focusing on the development of new products and features to strengthen their market position.

• In October 2019, Google Inc developed an application for digital wellbeing with built-in parental controls features.


• In February 2020, Bark Technologies, Inc acquired Router Limits LLC to develop an inclusive intelligent online parental control software solution.


• In April 2020, Bark Technologies, Inc launched new web filtering and screen time management features to enhance its parental control service offering. 

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• NortonLifeLock Inc. (Arizona, United States)


• Qustodio SL (Barcelona, Spain)


• Net Nanny (Content Watch Holdings, Inc.) (Berwyn, Utah, USA)


• McAfee, LLC (California, United States)


• Bark Technologies, Inc. (Georgia, United States) 


• AO Kaspersky Lab (Moscow, Russia)


• Google, LLC (California, United States)


• Apple Inc. (California, United States)


• Microsoft Corporation (Washington, United States)


• Mobicip, LLC. (California, United States)


• NETGEAR Inc. (California, United States)


• T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Washington, United States)


• SafeDNS, Inc.(Virginia, United States)


• Family Time. (Tokyo, Japan)


• AT&T Inc. (Texas, United States)


• Salfeld Computer GmbH (Ostfildern, Germany)


• Secucloud Network GmbH (Hamburg Germany) 


• Webroot Software, Inc. (Colorado, United States)


• S.C. BITDEFENDER S.R.L. (Bucharest, Romania)


• REVE Antivirus (Singapore)


• Avast Software s.r.o. (Prague, Czechia)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• November 2019 — Qustodio SL announced the release of a new feature named YouTube Monitoring Beta into its parental controls offerings to help parents to monitor and protect their children against unwanted videos on YouTube.   


• April 2020 – NortonLifeLock Inc announced a free 6 months’ subscription of its parental control software platform ‘Norton Family’ during the COVID-19 pandemic time to help parents oversee their children’s online activities.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The parental control software market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, product types, and leading applications of the product. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the advanced market over the recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation