Kids spend so much of their time with their smartphones these days that it’s pertinent over parents now to keep a close check on their kids online activity. The biggest threat that parents should have is with the use of internet-ready apps by tweens and teens.
You may have set codes and rules for the use of websites for the new year, but there are so many apps that your kids are using and you wouldn’t even have heard of them. Today, get to know about all these apps and why you should also blacklist them for your kids.
IM Apps
Snapchat: This app is a huge success amongst teens due to its unique way to make stories out of photos and videos and then to be able to add caption onto their stories and even add amazing filters. But if an app is providing all this, it still doesn’t tell us anything about its safety.
The app appeals to kids due to its self-destructive or auto-disappearing messages. But the reality is that nothing goes down what’s once connected to internet. Your kids may be able to hide messages from parents, but the users with whom they have shared these messages, they may have probably taken a screenshot of the conversation.Though the app informs users if a screenshot is saved, but It actually doesn’t make a difference, once someone has done it.
Teens use Snapchat to sext, and these peculiar conversations can lead to comprising situations. Don’t let your teens use Snapchat, unless you are sure of what they are up to.
Kik: Snapchat, just like WhatsApp is a Wifi based messaging service. The only difference being that it doesn’t need you to sign up using your phone number. This would mean, more chances for people to set up fake profiles. It’s the perfect platform for predators who can search for users from any age.
Dating apps
The other important genre is the dating apps. Teens are preyed especially when they go for finding a date online. Check out these apps because you will be needing to refrain your kids from using them.
Tinder and Blendr: These two apps are very similar in how they work. It’s a hookup app, to put it precisely, that uses physical proximity. Users’ location is determined using GPS and can be then sent over to other users. Tinder especially has a section for kids 13-18-years-old.
We believe that under no circumstance, kids should be given access to dating sites and apps. Most of these apps lead to risky behaviour because of their no age verification.
Down: This app will rate your Facebook friends according to their willingness in hooking up with you. This app secretly promotes hookup culture and encourages teenagers to look at others through their physical attributes.
Omegle: This is one of the most dangerous apps amongst all aforementioned. Why? Because it let users to connect with strangers for video chat. So when you do so, anyone or anything can come up on your screen and due to this, teens can be exposed to nudity and predators.
Stay tuned for part 2, we have more apps to cover.
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