Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Let's be real: Brave is a fantastic browser for adults who care about privacy. It's fast, blocks the garbage, and doesn't sell your data. Gold star.

But for kids? This is the browser equivalent of handing them a car with no GPS tracker and saying 'be safe out there!' The very features that make it appealing—private browsing, VPN, tracking protection—are exactly what make it problematic for parents who need visibility into their child's online life.

The web search results tell the story: parents are literally asking 'how do I stop my kid from using Brave?' because their 12-year-olds keep reinstalling it via Discord links to bypass monitoring. That's not a bug, that's the feature set working as designed.

If you have an older teen (16+) who's earned your trust and you want to teach them about digital privacy, Brave can be a great educational tool. Have explicit conversations about why you're giving them this level of autonomy and what the expectations are. But for younger kids or those who haven't demonstrated responsible online behavior? This is a hard pass. You need visibility, and Brave is designed to eliminate it.

Age Fit

Best for 16+ teens who've demonstrated responsible digital behavior and are ready for more autonomy. For younger kids (under 14), the inability to monitor their browsing makes this a non-starter for most families. Ages 14-16 are judgment calls based on your kid's maturity and your family's trust level.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

Brave promotes privacy-first values and respects user autonomy, which models healthy digital citizenship. The built-in ad blocker and tracking protection create a calmer browsing experience without manipulative content. However, it's a tool that enables access to the entire internet—wholesome or not—so the browser itself is neutral infrastructure. The Brave Rewards system (pay-to-view ads) introduces a monetization angle that's transparent but adds complexity.

Imaginative

55

Brave is a utility browser, not a creative platform. The AI assistant Leo offers some exploratory potential for research and learning, and the privacy-focused approach might spark curiosity about how the internet works. But fundamentally, it's infrastructure—imagination happens in what you browse, not the browser itself. No building, creating, or expressing here.

Safe

42

Here's the problem: Brave is specifically designed to bypass parental controls and monitoring tools. Web search results show parents actively trying to block their kids from using it because it circumvents oversight. The private browsing, VPN, and tracking protection that make it appealing to privacy advocates also make it a red flag for parents who need to monitor their children's online activity. Kids are sharing install links on Discord to evade supervision. While Brave itself doesn't host inappropriate content, it's a tool that deliberately makes content filtering and monitoring nearly impossible. The 'kids mode' flag is misleading—there's no robust parental control system.

Enriching

68

Brave teaches valuable lessons about digital privacy, data tracking, and how the internet economy works. The built-in ad blocker and explanations of tracking protection can spark important conversations about online safety and corporate surveillance. The independent search engine (Brave Search) offers an alternative to Big Tech monopolies. For older teens learning to navigate the internet responsibly, understanding privacy tools is genuinely enriching. But it's educational in a 'learning to use power tools' way—requires maturity and context.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Teaches genuine digital literacy about tracking, privacy, and how the internet economy works
Blocks ads and trackers, creating a cleaner, less manipulative browsing experience
Fast performance and battery-saving features make it legitimately better than many alternatives
The AI assistant Leo can support research and learning without data harvesting
For older teens ready for more autonomy, it models responsible privacy practices

⚠

What to Watch For

Specifically designed to bypass parental controls and monitoring software—this is the main issue
Kids are sharing install links on Discord to evade parent oversight
Private browsing and VPN features make it nearly impossible to track what your child is accessing
Despite claims of 'kids mode,' there are no robust parental control features
You're essentially giving unrestricted internet access with no visibility

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think some people want privacy online? What are good reasons and what might be concerning reasons?"
"How do companies track what we do online, and why does that matter?"
"What's the difference between privacy and secrecy? When is each one important?"
"If I can't see what you're browsing, how can we build trust about your online choices?"
"What would you do if you accidentally came across something scary or inappropriate online?"

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