Police Raise Concerns About Young People Texting, Talking Via Mobile Apps

Sleepy Hollow police want parents and guardians to be aware of mobile apps that young people are using that could be subverted by unscrupulous adults

Chief Gregory J. Camp said his department learned of a recent incident where a Sleepy Hollow Middle School student was using a mobile app called Trivia Crack and an unknown person using a made-up screen name began to have inappropriate conversations with the child.

Because the student and parents had attended an assembly at the school where Internet safety was discussed, they reported the conversations to school officials and the school resource officer.

Appropriate authorities have been made aware of the incident and have begun an investigation.

Camp said it was important for parents to realize the potential dangers associated with access to sites such as Trivia Crack that their children may be using to talk or text electronically with their friends.

It could be that the person with whom the child is conversing could be dangerous, Camp said.

A partial list of sites children use that parents should be aware of are as follows:

• Ask.fm
• Vine
• Blendr
• Voxer
• Burn Note
• Trivia Crack
• Whisper
• Cydia
• Snapchat
• Yikyak
• Kik
• Vaulty
• Omgle
• Oovoo

If you are concerned or aware that your child is receiving inappropriate messages, pictures or requests, contact the Sleepy Hollow Police Department at 914-631-0800.

Photo credit: Image via Shutterstock.