Hundreds of new applications spring up every year in our digital app stores to make our lives easier. Many of them are safe to use and many aren’t. Being a parent, you may not have enough time to sift through all of them to check whether they are safe to use for your children.
Over the past few years, technological advancements have resulted in the availability of an unending list of new applications that are freely available to entertain the digital masses. Some of these apps that can have a negative impact in the lives of your children. There are new applications popping up everyday so things change however at the moment, here are the top 10 apps you should be careful about if your children are using and why you should care:
- Tiktok
Tiktok is an app where users can record and share short videos of around 3-60 seconds. Thirteen is the minimum age for users, however, there isn’t an authentic method to validate the age. Anyone can download and there is a lot of inappropriate language the posted videos for young children. That’s why parents are more concerned about this application. Lastly, all the accounts are on the public by default and so strangers can easily contact your children.
- Tellonym
It is an anonymous messenger application that allows you to send and receive messages anonymously. This app is popular among middle and high school students to ask and answer questions anonymously.
This results in cyberbullying, privacy threats, and sharing sexual content. The age restrictions don’t seem to authenticate the age of the user. However, this app is not good for any minor age children to use for any purpose.
- House Party
This is a video chatting application that allows friends to chat and video call with each other in the group. This application is pretty open as there is no screening for messages and video is live. There isn’t any check to keep people away from inappropriate content. People can also take screenshots of the chat or call and anyone can join the group who knows only a single person of that group.
- Tinder
The developers of Tinder describe it as “a fun way to connect with new people around you”. But it is used mainly as a dating and hookup app by college students and even teenagers. It states as an app for 17+ age but kids of age 13 can join it too. It allows people from the same geographical area to connect with each other and share information with each other. This may result in sexual harassment, catfishing, stalking and even worse.
- Askfm
This application allows users to interact with each other in a question-answer format and is more popular in Europe and setting grounds in the U.S too. Some cases have been reported that children used it for cyberbullying which results in suicidal attempts. It lacks monitoring and screening of the content being shared.
- Kik
Kik is an IM app that allows people to send messages at high speed to friends giving them a face-to-face feel as compared to the regular texting. The app is for 17+ age group but anyone can download it as there is no age verification method. It allows teens and children to connect with others by just using the username. But a question arises that should children connect with anyone beyond their phone contacts? The most probable answer is NO.
- Holla
Holla is a self-proclaimed addicting video chat application that allows people to connect with anyone around the globe in just a few seconds. Some reviewers say that they have confronted racial slur, cyberbullying, explicit content and many more.
- Whisper
This app is for 17+ age group and its motto is to “share secrets, express yourself, and met new people”. It let users set up anonymous accounts and to share messages and confessions overlapping an image or a graphic. It allows creative expressions as well as can viral personal information. Many cases of sexual assault have been reported for the people who met on Whisper.
- YouTube
YouTube is a place to view and share videos with the public. Privacy settings can also be changed and it is a great source for watching educational and entertaining videos. However, inappropriate content has been sliced in for all age groups whether children or adults. People post hurtful comments on the videos too and there is a known pedophile problem which is the prime concern for parents.
- Bumble
It is a dating app that requires women to make the first attempt. It is basically for adults but many teenagers also use it and falsify their age. You should be concerned if your children are using this app as they can be easy prey for a pedophile or can be exposed to inappropriate content.
You should sit down with your children and find out which applications they are using, how these apps work and discuss with them whether they have faced any cyberbullying. Keep a check on their activities and emerging interests. You should try to limit their use of smartphones and other devices. Talk to them about the pros and cons of these kinds of applications and try to befriend them so that they can share their problems with you at any time.
These dangerous apps can have overwhelmingly negative effects on the mental health of your children. Guide your children about cybersecurity and related matters to keep them protected in every possible way.