New York, United States (Enmaeya News) — A new AI-powered tool called Balance is offering a novel approach to helping parents understand and support their children’s mental health in the digital age.
Developed by security firm Aura, Balance analyzes a child’s language patterns, online tone, and late-night activity to detect emotional changes. By monitoring deviations from a child’s baseline behavior, the app identifies potential distress and sends alerts to parents.
The goal is to encourage open, supportive conversations before issues escalate, not to replace emotional care.
The app’s creation is deeply personal. Aura CEO Hari Ravichandran was inspired to develop Balance after witnessing his 13-year-old daughter struggle with a mental health crisis. He realized key indicators of emotional turmoil were visible through digital behavior patterns.
Users like Rebecca Wilcoxson, mother of a 15-year-old, say Balance has sparked meaningful dialogue in their homes. “As I scroll, it shows me tone patterns and most-used apps. We’ve been able to talk through negative shifts instead of ignoring them,” she said.
Experts, however, urge caution. Mental health professionals stress that tools like Balance should complement, not replace, parental communication and professional intervention when needed.
