Dangerous Dozen – 12 apps every parent should be aware of

Omegle is a website and an app, and its entire purpose is to connect you with strangers. Its tagline is “talk to strangers,” that alone should tell kids not to download, but alas, they still do. People can chat through text or video with people they have never met before. Beware, just because they start as strangers behind a screen doesn’t mean they stay that way for long. Predators use this site frequently to befriend and potentially harm vulnerable kids.

Tinder and Yubo are used as a dating tool among older students designed to make it easy to meet people anonymously. This app connects you with people who are close by; it makes it easy for a predator to make contact with a child. Yubo has been called the “tinder for teens” and must be monitored as well.

Calculator% and HIP are designed to hide and conceal apps, photos, and videos from parents. Both apps need a pin or a passcode to enter the app. Calculator% disguises itself as a calculator. Users need a password to enter and once in can see content that the user chose to hide. HIP disguises itself as a music manager but really it helps hide texts, videos, pictures and other apps from view.  These apps are ideal for hiding and storing inappropriate information from parents.

Line allows users to share photos, videos and video calls for a preset amount of time. Users can choose for their content to be visible for as little as two secondsto up to a week. This app is also known for in-app charges, whichcan be an issueif kids have access to credit cards.

Hot-or-Not and Wishbone are comparison tools that allow users to rate photos that others post of themselves based on their level ofattractiveness. Hot or Not has users decide if they think the pictures are hotor if they are not. Wishbone has users pick from two users photos which photothey think looks better/prettier. Both apps are prone to cyberbullying sincethe point of the apps are to rate how pretty or ugly users think the pictureslook. Hot-or-Not has a “Meet Me” component of the app allows users to connectin real life. 

BurnBook is designed to allow users to send each other disappearing messages. Kids feel the freedom to say things they otherwise would not, which can lead to serious emotional damage. This app is known for cyberbullying since kids feel there will be no ability to trace their messages. This app allows users to screenshot messages allowing them to be shared and kept forever.

Blender connects users who live in similar geographic locations. User can share photos, videos, text like messages with people who live close by. There is also a componentthat allows users to rate the attractiveness of others. Predators use this appbecause it allows them to easily connect with minors.

Whisper allows users to post messages and receive replies completely anonymously. People post confessions, information about other people, gossip, etc. Once the post is made, someone cannot contact or respond directly to the poster because theyhave no idea who posted it.  This createsa hotbed for cyberbullying because posts are virtually untraceable,makingstudents feel invincible and able to post anything without repercussions.

Tumbler is mainly used for sharing videos and chatting with others. This app exposes kids to violent and inappropriate images. This app is especially dangerous for its content that promotes self-harm and eating disorders.

SnapChatisthought of as safe because users can send content to friends and strangers that“disappears” in about 10 seconds. It makes children feel secure in sending pictures and videos they may not normally send, even though the shared content could be screenshot, saved, anddistributed. 

Ask.fm allows users to anonymously ask and answer questions posted by other users. This app has been labeled the worst app used for cyberbullying, abusive messaging, and sexualized content.

Kik Messenger, referred to simply as Kik, is a free instant messaging service much like text messaging. This is a kid’s go-to app for cyberbullying since you can create an account and send messages, photos, and videos completely anonymously to either one person or as a group message.

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