At TrackMyFone, it’s pertinent on us to keep parents informed about all the latest teen trends and obsessions related to Technology and smartphone use. Today, we are going to talk about the World’s most renowned Instant messaging app, WhatsApp. By examining the mechanics and inner workings of this app, parents can make sure how to keep their kids safe from the anomalies related to its use.

What Is WhatsApp?

Essentially, WhatsApp replaces your traditional SMS service for instant messaging with the use of a data connection to the internet.

Initially, the app had features limited to texting, but the app really took off, very soon. Now it’s so advanced that users can share their photos, videos and audio saved on the Phone’s storage, or they can take a photo right away from the app and share it. Users can also share location details, or contacts with their WhatsApp contacts.

The latest development in the app lets users make calls to others. The call quality is also very superior, making it a preferable choice over Skype and Viber for voice calls.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, bought WhatsApp for $19billion recently. Since then, the number of users has escalated immensely. One of the main reasons for such high users is the app’s affordability. It’s free for the first year, after that, it only cost 99cents per year.  Pretty cheap, IKR!

Unlike Blackberry Messenger and Skype, WhatsApp relies on phone numbers to communicate with others. It easily picks up contacts that are on WhatsApp, automatically from the existing phonebook. The best thing about this app is that it lets you connect with people across borders.

How Do Kids Use WhatsApp?

Teens are crazily flocking towards this app because it let them send unlimited messages, photos, videos, audio etc. without adding anything to their bills. A majority of teens like to set up chat groups and WhatsApp can tell you if and when the other person was online.

Kids like this lack of accountability that rests with the use of WhatsApp. A major chunk of teens are able to use this app without any form of interference or monitoring. It’s because parents and even grandparents use this app too.

However, this lack of questioning and accountability can lead to some dangerous consequences.

Why Do Parents Need To Worry?

There are many things that parents must be aware of about WhatsApp. Like any other technology, WhatsApp harbors a few downsides too. A few things that parents need to be aware of include:

• With WhatsApp, users can easily see each other’s exact physical location.
• More than one recipient can receive a text message.
• Users are logged into the app all the time, giving more chances to cyberbullies and harassers.
• It can contribute to sleep deprivation.
• It is a perfect platform for sexual predators to share and ask for children’s indecent pics.
• Teens can easily use this app for sexting purpose, as parents have no access to their account.
• Sharing of inappropriate photos always doesn’t end well for many users.

Some Tips on WhatsApp Safety

If your teen is a WhatsApp user, here are a few things that you can do to keep them safe.

• WhatsApp is only geared for users above 16 years. Make sure you follow the recommendations provided by WhatsApp. Never let your kids use the app who aren’t mature enough to deal with social networking.
• WhatsApp app is not secured with passwords, so try to encourage them with keeping private passcodes on their phones.
• Teach your teen social media etiquettes and provide them with the entire ancillary required to thrive through a digital world.

Raising teenagers while managing schedules and multiple jobs can be very tiring, especially with the ever-changing technology and social media trends. It’s a pretty difficult task to deal with the entire digital world daunting. Parents who have natural inclination towards technology and gadgets can better handle teens in this time and age.

The pace at which teens are adapting to new apps and social media trends, it’s important for parents to stay a step ahead of their kids, only then, they would be able to save their kids from the dangers that are lurking around these famous apps. A parental control app on their phones can help parents with all that.

Stay around for more internet safety tips this whole month!