08/19/2021
School is right around the corner and our office would like to give parents a heads-up about 15 apps to look out for, to help keep your children safe.
This list includes popular apps like Snapchat, TikTok and KIK.
These apps aren't inherently bad, but we just want parents to be informed and know what their children may be using.
As always, it is important to speak with your children about the dangers of social media and ways to keep them safe.
The list includes:
* MeetMe: A dating social media app that connects people based on location. Users are encouraged to meet in person.
*WhatsApp: A messaging app that allows texts, video calls, photo sharing and voicemails with users worldwide.
*Bumble: Similar to Tinder, but requires women to make the first contact. Kids and teens can create fake accounts and falsify their age.
*Live.Me: A live-streaming app that uses geolocation to share videos. Users can earn “coins” to “pay” minors for photos.
*Ask.FM: This app lets users ask anonymous questions and is known for cyberbullying.
*Grindr: A dating app geared toward the LGBTQ community based on user location.
*TikTok: A new app popular with kids lets users create and share short videos. The app has “very limited privacy controls” and users can be exposed to cyberbullying and explicit content.
*Snapchat: One of the most popular social media apps in the world, Snapchat lets users take and share photos and videos. The app also lets people see your location.
*Holla: This self-proclaimed “addicting” video chat app lets users meet people in seconds. Users have seen racial slurs and explicit content.
*Calculator+: This is one of several apps that are used to hide photos, videos, files and browser history.
*Skout: A location-based dating app that is supposed to prohibit people under 17 from sharing private photos. However, kids can easily create an account with a different age.
*Badoo: A dating and social media app where users can chat and share photos and videos based on location. The app is supposed to be for adults only, but they’ve seen teens create accounts.
*KIK: Kids can bypass traditional text messaging features using this app. KIK gives users unlimited access to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
*Whisper: An anonymous social network that lets users share secrets with strangers. This app shows users’ location so people can meet up.
*Hot or Not: The app lets users rate profiles, check out people in their area and chat with strangers.
