In line with SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing” and SDG 4 “Quality Education” our team is focusing on screen ecology as a way for healthy living and cautious media consumption. The time that children spend using media in a young age and the habits they grow towards it matter in the longer-time and can dramatically affect children’s physical and mental health as

well as their understanding of media world.

 

We believe that growing good habits towards media consumption and reflective understanding of media should start early. This process should actively involve those closest to the child - parents. Parents need tools to help them start active cooperation with their children regarding media use, tools that can provoke a dialogue between a parent and a child and help the parent learn more about their child’s individual media usage, interests, and preferences.

 

BeKid app offers a safe space for children between 6 and 10 years old to consume media content that is relevant to their age and interests and is approved by their parents. The app has a shared account for a parent and a child with two interfaces. When a parent chooses and unlocks a piece of content (a video or a book) for their child to see, the content

becomes instantly available in the child’s app. The content is separated under categories of general education, MIL-education and entertainment.

 

Parent’s interface features:

1. What content is recommended for their child according to child’s age;

2. A timer for tracking time their child is spending using the app;

3. Real-time report for what child is doing in the app;

4. App lock function for parent to lock the exit from the app on child’s phone with a password in order to prevent the child distracting from using the app;

5. Tips and recommendations for the parents on how to teach their children about media;

 

Child’s interface features:

1. Content selected by his/her parent that is suitable for his/her age, needs, and interests;

2. Quizzes;

3. Child-friendly design;

​

The content is going to be featured in Arabic language and be marked as free or paid depending on the licence.

In order to make the app even more relevant to our audience, we will encourage parents and kids to send us inquiries about new content to be published in the app.