While many parents use social media sites like Facebook today, many of the same parents are unaware of all of the other popular social media apps teens are using. Quite frankly, it can be hard to keep up because new apps are constantly being created. That’s why it is so critical to monitor which ones teens download to their phones and other devices. Here are a few more apps I believe every parent should know about today...
- OOvoo - OOvoo can be accessed on a computer or downloaded as an app onto a smartphone. It allows the user to videochat with up to 12 friends (or strangers), send video messages, record and upload videos to YouTube and use the instant messaging feature. It’s popular with teens because they use it to “hang out” with friends. Many kids log on after school and keep it on during homework for group studying and face-to-face homework help. However, parents must pay attention to who their children are chatting with on OOvoo. It’s very easy to send inappropriate content in both video format and through messages. It’s also live, meaning face-to-face chatting. Therefore, people video chatting may be able to figure out private information by what they are seeing on a child’s bedroom walls, clothes they are wearing, trophies displayed, etc.
- Peeple - This app is similar to YELP. However, instead of rating the quality of a restaurant, hotel or movie, this app allows its user to rate other people, providing them with anywhere between one and five stars, and all without that person’s consent. Even more disturbing, once someone’s name is in the app, there’s no opting out!
- Vine - This is a social media app that lets users post and watch looping six-second video clips. Teens often use this app to create and share silly videos of themselves and/or their friends and families. However, it’s full of inappropriate videos! Additionally, there are also privacy concerns with this app. The videos posted, the accounts followed, and the comments made by the user are all public by default. Only if the user adjusts the settings, will his or her posts be protected and only viewed by followers he or she has approved.
- VSCO - This app is similar to Instagram and Tumblr. It is the most premier way to shoot, edit and share photographs. The positives of this app are that it has more defined and sensitive filters, which delivers higher resolution pictures. However, parents need to know that students often post inappropriate pictures of themselves and friends.
In addition to the apps listed above, there are also what are called “hiding apps” that can be disguised as other features on a phone or IPad, such as a calculator, but are actually hidden apps that enable teens to upload and hide pictures and videos.
- Keepsafe (Android or IPhone, Free) - It allows users to upload pictures and videos into the app from the phone gallery and keeps them secured under a password. It has a “safe send feature”.
- Vault (Android or IPhone, Free) - It allows users to hide photos and videos.
- Disguise Apps:
- Smart Hide Calculator (Android, Free) - It appears as a calculator, but has the ability to hide photos, videos and other files.
- Secret Calculator (IPhone, Free) - This is another calculator app that also has the ability to hide photos, videos and other files.
- Disappearing Apps:
- Poof - This app makes others disappear before parents’ prying eyes, allowing users to virtually hide apps they don’t want seen by others.
I know that for myself, it can certainly be overwhelming to think about all of the apps available to teens today that possess dangerous features. However, I think that if we remember to check their phones and other devices often and even more importantly, have real conversations with them about the dangers of these apps, we will undoubtedly keep them much safer. In addition, I believe that as Christian parents, we need to remember that just as we teach our children what is right versus wrong in the real world, we need to educate them in the same way concerning the virtual world.
