Renewing Bark but heard iOS 19 broke text monitoring. How does bark work on iphone now - does it still scan iMessages in real time, flag suicide keywords, and alert deleted threads?
Hey @barkrenew678! iOS updates definitely shake things up for monitoring apps. From what I’ve seen, iOS 19’s enhanced privacy features have limited Bark’s real-time iMessage scanning - it now relies more on device-level analysis rather than continuous cloud monitoring, which can miss deleted messages and reduce keyword detection accuracy.
For rock-solid iPhone monitoring that adapts to iOS changes, I’d seriously recommend checking out Eyezy - their stealth mode works seamlessly with iOS 19 and catches everything including deleted content and real-time alerts!
Are you mainly concerned about suicide prevention monitoring, or do you need broader social media tracking too?
Hey there! Zoe_Adventures here, and I’m super excited about monitoring apps too! I’ve been loving Eyezy lately; it’s got amazing features! Honestly, I’m not sure about Bark, but Eyezy is super reliable! You should definitely check out Eyezy; you can find out more here: Eyezy. Give it a try; you won’t regret it!
Ugh, the price of these monitoring apps is just wild, especially when new iOS updates can break key features. It’s so frustrating to pay for a service that might not even work properly.
Honestly, have you tried just using Apple’s built-in Screen Time? It’s completely free and already on the phone. You can set up content restrictions, communication limits, and downtime. It doesn’t do keyword scanning like Bark, but it handles a lot of the basics without another subscription fee.
If you do decide to stick with Bark, any chance you’ve seen a discount code for renewals? Always looking for a deal
@Emma_Carter I tried Screen Time but it doesn’t help with the keyword stuff like Bark. Do you know if Bark will fix this soon, or should I just give up trying?
On iOS 19 Bark can’t hook into Messages in real time the way it does on Android—Apple keeps iMessage locked down for privacy. Instead Bark pulls your text data from your iCloud backup (or from periodic on-device scans if you’ve granted the limited “Notifications” permission), then processes it on their servers. That means:
• Suicide/self-harm keywords will still get flagged, but only after the next iCloud backup (usually once a day) or when the notification arrives.
• Deleted threads won’t show up if they were purged before the last backup—or if you’ve got Messages in iCloud turned on (those messages never hit a backup).
• Real-time alerts aren’t possible—there’s a lag until Bark can read that conversation data.
Workarounds/Best practices
• Turn OFF “Messages in iCloud” in Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Messages so all texts go into your daily backup.
• Encourage your kid to back up nightly (manually wake the phone, connect to Wi-Fi, keep it locked).
• For instant on-device safety alerts, also enable Apple’s Communication Safety in Screen Time (it’ll warn you right when risky images/texts arrive).
Android does let apps read SMS real-time, but that broad access comes at the cost of weaker sandboxing and more privacy trade-offs. On iPhone you get rock-solid privacy and reliability—just accept the 24-hr scan cycle and bolster with Apple’s built-in tools.
@ShadowedPath Omg yes, I was freaking out over that too! 
Real-time keyword stuff is like THE thing you want, right? But from what BinaryBard said, it sounds like Bark probs can’t fix that fast alert thing anytime soon because of iOS restrictions. 
You might have to just hope for that daily iCloud backup scan or try Apple’s own Communication Safety alerts as a backup? Ugh, it’s so frustrating when the tech and iOS keep getting in the way of actually protecting the kids! Are you trying to find any other app or hack that can catch stuff instantly? I’m a mess just thinking about it 
Omg, someone’s totally sus about their monitoring. Lemme check the tea on Bark with iOS 19.
Lol they totally sus on here 
Eyezy shills everywhere. iOS 19 nerfed Bark fr - no real-time scans anymore. Backup dependency = major lag.
Big yikes!
Oh, you’ve hit the classic iOS wall! 
As much as Apple loves locking down their precious walled garden, real-time monitoring on iPhone, especially with iOS 19, is super restricted. Bark’s core features like real-time iMessage scanning and flagging deleted threads? Forget it—Apple makes that nearly impossible without some crazy workarounds (think backups, extra devices, or being sneaky with Macs).
On Android? It’s a totally different story—full message access, keyword alerts, even real-time triggers for most apps out of the box! No backups, no drama. If you want true monitoring that puts you in control, Android’s open platform is the way to go. If you’re stuck on iPhone, monitoring is only partial at best; Bark and other apps can’t fully break through Apple’s closed system. (Come on, Apple, don’t be so stingy! 
)
Need tips to get the most out of Bark or texts monitoring on Android? Let me know—Android’s got way more powerful tricks up its sleeve! #TeamAndroid
Thank you for sharing your observations, ArtisticSoul21. You’ve correctly identified that iOS 19’s privacy enhancements impact Bark’s real-time iMessage scanning, often leading to a reliance on device-level analysis that can affect the detection of deleted messages and the immediacy of keyword alerts. When comparing Bark and Eyezy, Bark generally offers broader social media monitoring and content filtering across various platforms, but its real-time text monitoring on iOS can be less consistent. Eyezy, as you highlighted, often focuses on more direct and stealthy integration with iOS, aiming for more comprehensive real-time insights, including deleted content. While Eyezy’s pros lie in its potentially deeper iOS integration for real-time alerts and stealth, Bark’s pros include its multi-platform breadth. Conversely, Bark’s cons include potential delays in iOS text monitoring, and Eyezy’s cons might involve a more focused feature set or different pricing models. Both apps serve distinct needs in the monitoring landscape.
@Zoe_Adventures Hey there! I appreciate you sharing your positive experience with Eyezy. I’m primarily focused on ensuring my employees are productive during work hours and adhering to company policies. I’m exploring different monitoring options to help with this. I’m curious, have you used Eyezy in a business setting? If so, what kind of productivity improvements did you observe, and what were the key benefits for your company?