Kids & Apps – Parental Education
As kids get older, they become more interested in using apps on their smartphones and tablets. While some apps are perfectly safe and age-appropriate, others can be dangerous for children. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the most popular apps your kids are using, so you can make sure they’re staying safe online.
Understanding the app landscape
It’s no secret that kids love using apps. In fact, a recent study showed that kids under the age of 8 spend an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes per day using mobile devices and teens over 7 hours per day. That’s a lot of time spent on screens!
As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the most popular apps your kids are using. Some apps are age-appropriate, while others can be dangerous and inappropriate for children. Here is a list of the top 5 app categories parents should know their kids are using:
The top Apps parents should know their kids are using
As kids get more and more tech-savvy, it’s important for parents to stay on top of the latest apps and games their children are using. While some apps are perfectly safe and age-appropriate, others can be dangerous and expose kids to inappropriate content. Here are five of the most popular apps parents should know about:
Tik Tok
This popular video-sharing app allows users to create and share short videos of themselves Lip-syncing, dancing, or performing other creative acts. While Tik Tok can be a lot of fun for kids, there have been concerns about its safety, as the app has been known to host inappropriate and even pornographic content.
Snapchat
This messaging app is extremely popular with kids and teens, as it allows users to send disappearing photos and videos. However, Snapchat also has several safety concerns, including “Snap Map” which can show your child’s location to anyone on their contact list.
Fortnite
This online multiplayer game has taken the world by storm, with kids and adults alike spending hours upon hours playing. While Fortnite can be a fun and harmless game, there have been concerns about its violence and addictive nature.
This photo-sharing app is extremely popular among young people, but it can also be dangerous. In addition to the potential for cyberbullying, Instagram also exposes users to a constant stream of ads and sponsored content.
YouTube
This video-sharing platform is one of the most popular websites in the world, with billions of users. While YouTube can be a great resource for educational and entertaining content, it’s important to monitor your child’s activity on the site, as there is a lot of inappropriate and even disturbing content available.
Other Dangerous Apps Parents Might Not Even Know Kids Are Using
In addition to the above five apps, there are several other popular apps that can be dangerous for kids. These include:
This messaging app is extremely popular among kids and teens, but it has a number of safety concerns. In addition to the potential for cyberbullying, WhatsApp also allows users to share their location with others, which can be dangerous.
Houseparty
This video-chatting app is popular among kids and teens, but it has been known to allow strangers into chats, which can lead to inappropriate content being shared.
Hoop
This social media app is popular among kids and teens, but it has been known to allow strangers into chats, which can lead to inappropriate content being shared.
Kik
This messaging app is extremely popular among kids and teens, but it has several safety concerns. In addition to the potential for cyberbullying, Kik also allows users to share their location with others, which can be dangerous.
Discord
This chat app is popular among gamers, but it has also been used by predators to groom and exploit children. According to Bark’s 2021 annual report found Discord consistently in the top five platforms for bullying, suicidal ideation, body image, and more.
