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Dangerous Dozen, 12 apps all parents should be aware of
Technology can be an amazing tool for our young ones for learning,
researching and connecting. It can also be a parent or educator’s worst
nightmare. Although the internet and apps can be a great way for our students
to explore and learn, it can also quickly turn dangerous.
researching and connecting. It can also be a parent or educator’s worst
nightmare. Although the internet and apps can be a great way for our students
to explore and learn, it can also quickly turn dangerous.
In this ever changing world, we have to be vigilant to make sure our kids
are safe on the web. It is so easy for kids to connect and communicate in ways
that were not available when we were young; with the quick changes in
technology it can be hard for adults to keep up and keep them safe.
are safe on the web. It is so easy for kids to connect and communicate in ways
that were not available when we were young; with the quick changes in
technology it can be hard for adults to keep up and keep them safe.
In an attempt to minimize online dangers, we can monitor what our
children are doing online and try to keep up with the latest apps and online
trends. The better we understand the world of apps and online communication,
the better we can protect our children.
children are doing online and try to keep up with the latest apps and online
trends. The better we understand the world of apps and online communication,
the better we can protect our children.
Here is just a few of the most popular apps (for now) among elementary
school kids:
school kids:
1. Youtube
Youtube itself isn’t necessarily dangerous,
but without appropriate filters and parental controls kids can quickly be
exposed to a plethora of inappropriate content that they are not ready for.
Enabling YouTube’s Safety Mode Feature will filter out most of the
inappropriate videos and comments left by other users.
but without appropriate filters and parental controls kids can quickly be
exposed to a plethora of inappropriate content that they are not ready for.
Enabling YouTube’s Safety Mode Feature will filter out most of the
inappropriate videos and comments left by other users.
2. Video Games
Children playing on Xbox or Playstation may
seem harmless enough, however, kids are able to easily communicate with people
all over the world through the click of a button on a headset. Many adults that
mean to do children harm use this feature as a way to groom vulnerable children
in an attempt to meet them in real life. The same dangers are present in
interactive games such as Clash of Clans. We assume they are harmlessly playing
with other children but sometimes this is not the case. The best way to avoid
this is to hang out with your kid once in a while when they are playing and
make sure they are staying safe.
seem harmless enough, however, kids are able to easily communicate with people
all over the world through the click of a button on a headset. Many adults that
mean to do children harm use this feature as a way to groom vulnerable children
in an attempt to meet them in real life. The same dangers are present in
interactive games such as Clash of Clans. We assume they are harmlessly playing
with other children but sometimes this is not the case. The best way to avoid
this is to hang out with your kid once in a while when they are playing and
make sure they are staying safe.
Pay special attention to if your child is
playing Robolox. Perpetrators are using this game in specific to target
children due to the characters in the game having the ability to be very
sexually explicit.
playing Robolox. Perpetrators are using this game in specific to target
children due to the characters in the game having the ability to be very
sexually explicit.
3. Snapchat
Children think this app is safe because they
can send content to friends and strangers that “disappear” in about 10 seconds.
It makes children feel secure in sending pictures and videos they may not
normally send since the content cannot be saved or shared directly from the
app. Children being as smart as they are, have found a work around for this
feature. They screenshot the private content, have someone else take a picture
of their phone and there are even apps now that allow you to save the pictures
and videos without the sender ever knowing.
can send content to friends and strangers that “disappear” in about 10 seconds.
It makes children feel secure in sending pictures and videos they may not
normally send since the content cannot be saved or shared directly from the
app. Children being as smart as they are, have found a work around for this
feature. They screenshot the private content, have someone else take a picture
of their phone and there are even apps now that allow you to save the pictures
and videos without the sender ever knowing.
4. Instagram/Facebook
The problem with Instagram and Facebook is
that many kids are in competition with each other to see how many “likes” they
can obtain. Not only does this cause them to leave their profiles on public,
(public profiles have a higher probability of being followed by strangers
leading to more likes) but it also allows predators to easily access their
information and know exactly what to say to them based on their interests and
posting patterns. Based on the child’s settings, both of these have location
services that will potentially tell the world exactly where your child is
posting their photos and status updates from.
that many kids are in competition with each other to see how many “likes” they
can obtain. Not only does this cause them to leave their profiles on public,
(public profiles have a higher probability of being followed by strangers
leading to more likes) but it also allows predators to easily access their
information and know exactly what to say to them based on their interests and
posting patterns. Based on the child’s settings, both of these have location
services that will potentially tell the world exactly where your child is
posting their photos and status updates from.
5. Musical.ly
This app allows users to create their very
own music videos. They can lip sing and dance to the latest hits and then share
their creations with the world. As always, it isn’t as innocent as it sounds
and kids have used the interactive component to cyber bully each other. Many
hurtful messages are posted and shared through this app. If used correctly, it
can be very fun and entertaining, just make sure your child isn’t using it to
be mean behind the screen.
own music videos. They can lip sing and dance to the latest hits and then share
their creations with the world. As always, it isn’t as innocent as it sounds
and kids have used the interactive component to cyber bully each other. Many
hurtful messages are posted and shared through this app. If used correctly, it
can be very fun and entertaining, just make sure your child isn’t using it to
be mean behind the screen.
6. Live.ly
This is made by the same people who made
musical.ly. This app allows users to stream live video content to friends and
strangers. The ability to live stream content has flooded this app with
predators meaning to do children harm and proposition them in real time.
musical.ly. This app allows users to stream live video content to friends and
strangers. The ability to live stream content has flooded this app with
predators meaning to do children harm and proposition them in real time.
7. Kik Messenger
This app is referred to simply as Kik and is
a free instant messaging service much like text messaging. This is a kid’s
go-to app for cyber bullying since you can create an account and send messages,
photos and videos completely anonymously to either one person or as a group
message. Even if they do create an account in their name, it is easy to send
messages and hide them from parents who go through your texts.
a free instant messaging service much like text messaging. This is a kid’s
go-to app for cyber bullying since you can create an account and send messages,
photos and videos completely anonymously to either one person or as a group
message. Even if they do create an account in their name, it is easy to send
messages and hide them from parents who go through your texts.
8. Whisper
People post messages known as whispers, and
receive replies completely anonymously. People post confessions, information
about other people, gossip, etc. Once you make a post, someone cannot contact
or respond directly to you because they have no idea who posted it, they can
only respond to the actual post. This is
a hotbed for cyberbullying because it is virtually untraceable making students
feel invincible and able to post anything without repercussions.
receive replies completely anonymously. People post confessions, information
about other people, gossip, etc. Once you make a post, someone cannot contact
or respond directly to you because they have no idea who posted it, they can
only respond to the actual post. This is
a hotbed for cyberbullying because it is virtually untraceable making students
feel invincible and able to post anything without repercussions.
9. House party
House party is a way for people to be
together even when they are apart. Kids get together through the app and “live
chill” from the comfort of their own bedrooms. Kids can live chat and see each
other in real time. Beware of who your children are “live chilling” with and if
they are people you’d want them to chill with in real life.
together even when they are apart. Kids get together through the app and “live
chill” from the comfort of their own bedrooms. Kids can live chat and see each
other in real time. Beware of who your children are “live chilling” with and if
they are people you’d want them to chill with in real life.
10. Ask.fm
People can anonymously ask and answer
questions posed by other used. There is no way to increase the privacy
settings, if you block someone they can still access your profile and view all
of your interactions. This app has been labeled the worst app to communicate
bullying, abusive, sexualized content and has been linked to the highest number
of suicides among these type of apps.
questions posed by other used. There is no way to increase the privacy
settings, if you block someone they can still access your profile and view all
of your interactions. This app has been labeled the worst app to communicate
bullying, abusive, sexualized content and has been linked to the highest number
of suicides among these type of apps.
11. Omegle
This 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 out 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.
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 out 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.
12. Calculator% and Poof
As if all these apps aren’t scary enough and this information alone makes
you want to search your kid’s phone with a fine tooth comb deleting every app
you see, there is an app to hide all these apps from you. The two most popular
are calculator% and poof. Calculator% is used to hide photos and videos that
kids do not want parents to see. Poof is used to make apps disappear entirely.
You can download a brief PowerPoint presentation of these apps, including pictures of what they look like when downloaded on a phone, table or computer HERE.
I presented this information to the SAC/PTO at my school and they were shocked by what their children might be exposed to. Together, if we stay vigilant, we can work together to keep these kids safe.
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Hi, I'm Ashley!
I am a school counselor who helps educators to change the lives of students with engaging, creative, and meaningful SEL resources.
