15 Potentially-Dangerous Apps Every Parent Should Know About
When it comes to protecting our children, there is nothing that a parent wouldn't do. But, sometimes we unaware of dangers that could be lurking on their phones and tablets.
With the school year ramping up soon for districts across the nation, now might be a good time to take a look at what your kids have on their phones and tablets.
The Madill Police Department just released a list of 15 phone apps that parents should know about. A bunch of them are dating sites that where users could be sharing explicit content with your children.
Most, if not all dating sites or adult sites on the web and their apps, require the user to create an account. Kids can easily create an account with an older age to allow them to see and receive graphic messages and pictures.
According to the Madill Police Department, these are some of the apps they warn parents about and why each one could be dangerous.
CALCULATOR %
You might see this app on your child's phone and think it is just a calculator, but it is not. Calculator % is just one of many apps that are used to secretly hide files, photos, and videos.
LIVE.ME
LIVE.ME is a live streaming video app where users can livestream each other find out the exact location of the person using the app. That's something that should immediately raise a red flag if you are a parent. Users can also earn coins that can be used to pay minors for photos.
KIK
Kik allows users to direct message your child. Kik also gives users unlimited access to anyone all the time.
TIK TOK
Tik Tok is a new app that's popular with young people. It is used for creating and sharing videos. Tik Tok leaves users vulnerable to cyber-bullying and explicit content, and is very limited when it comes to privacy controls
ASK.FM
Ask.FM has a reputation for cyber-bullying, according to Madill Police Department. The whole purpose of the app is to allow anonymous people to ask you questions.
MEETIME
Meetime is a dating app that connects people based on geographic proximity. It encourages people to meet up in person, which could open up some doors for your child that could put their safety in jeopardy.
Whatsapp allows users to send photos voicemails texts and to make phone calls and video chats.
BUMBLE
Bumble is a dating app, similar to Tinder that requires women to contact the men. Kids have been known to make fake accounts by falsifying their age.
GRINDR
Grindr is a dating app for transgendered, gay, and bi people. That's not dangerous in itself, but again kids can make fake accounts by falsifying their age.
SKOUT
Skout is a location-based dating app where kids under 17 are not allowed to send photos to others, but they can easily create an account with an older age.
BADBOO
Badboo is another dating app where people can connect, send messages, and video. It is intended for adults only, but teens have been known to create fake profiles there as well.
WHISPER
Whisper is an anonymous social network which is all about strangers sharing secrets with strangers. It could also reveal the user's location so people can meet one another.
HOT OR NOT
Hot Or Not is an app that lets people rate pictures of yourself that you upload, check out people in your area, and chat with strangers. The goal of this app is for people to hook up.
SNAPCHAT
Snapchat for the most part is harmless, but kids have been known to post videos or pictures thinking that they will disappear in a short time frame. In actuality, the pictures or videos could stay on Snapchat for up to 24 hours. Snapchat is another app that allows people to see your location.
HOLLA
Holla is an app that allows users to meet people all over the world instantly. Some people that have used this app say they have been confronted with racial slurs and explicit content.
It's important to note that some of these app are not harmful in themselves, but do have the capacity to be utilized in a negative way
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