One of the questions I get asked quite often is: “What is your favourite feature on Cybertot?”
Honestly? I don't know. And that is probably the most honest answer I can give.
When we started building Cybertot, we did a fair amount of research around the features we wanted to include. But we didn't want to simply build every possible parental control feature available.
Instead, every feature was approached with three important questions:
- Will this feature genuinely help keep a child safe?
- Could this risk, if left unchecked, contribute to a potentially harmful habit or digital addiction for a child?
- Does this feature protect a child, or does it simply create intrusion without meaningfully improving their safety?
These questions helped shape Cybertot into what it is today, with 17 features across three modules: Screen Time, Location and Protection.
So, which one is my favourite? The truth is, I genuinely cannot pick one.
Because parenting is situational. And what matters most to one parent may be completely different for another.
It can depend on the age of your child, their personality, their digital habits and, in some cases, even whether you have a son or a daughter.
Certain risks also become more relevant as children get older. Which means the features you rely on today may not necessarily be the ones you find most valuable tomorrow.
For Me, Location Brings the Greatest Peace of Mind
If I had to choose a favourite feature set, it would probably be the entire Location Module.
The thought of being able to know where my child is at the click of a button is immensely reassuring.
But what I particularly like is the ability to receive instant alerts when a child reaches or leaves an important location. Whether it's school, home, a friend's house, or somewhere else identified as important, you don't need to constantly check where they are.
And then there is Safe Zones, another feature that, for me, represents simple peace of mind. Knowing that you can be alerted if your child leaves or enters an area that matters to you can be incredibly reassuring.
But Screen Time Brings a Completely Different Kind of Reassurance
Among the Screen Time features, I find App Activity particularly useful.
Browsing was relatively harmless when I was growing up. Today's internet is very different. A simple click can take a child somewhere they never intended to go. A conversation with the wrong person can create risks that parents may never even realise exist. And as a parent, I'd rather not discover too late where an innocent click, shared photograph or selfie might eventually lead.
I also find Screen-Free Time and Daily Screen Time Limit quite useful. The idea of creating simple boundaries minus the daily mini wars with kids at home helps reinforce rules while maintaining the calm at home.
Then There Are Features You Hope You Never Need, But Are Glad to Have
On the Protection side, I find Battery Alerts and Speed Alerts incredibly useful.
Knowing when your child's phone battery is running low can help you avoid that moment of worry when you suddenly cannot reach them. And speed alerts can provide reassurance when your child is travelling, particularly as they grow older and become more independent.
But Here's the Interesting Thing
My daughter is three years old today. She does not have a phone.
So the features I find most useful today may change dramatically when she gets older and eventually has her own device.
Right now, my thinking is probably governed more by the risks that exist outside: knowing where she is, whether she is safe and whether I can reach her.
Over time, that may evolve. As she grows older and develops her own digital habits, I imagine my priorities will become more balanced between external risks and her online behaviour.
Another parent may feel completely differently. A parent with a son may prioritise certain features over others. While location awareness may be valuable for almost every family, content filters or app controls may become more important depending on a child's age, interests and digital behaviour.
And that's exactly why I cannot honestly tell you what the best feature on Cybertot is. Because there probably isn't one.
Different features will matter to different parents at different stages of their journey.
What I can say is that as Cybertot continues to evolve, one thing will remain constant: our relentless focus on keeping children safe while helping them build healthier digital habits.
Because the best protection is not about controlling every moment of a child's life. It's about giving parents the right support, at the right time, for the risks that matter most.
