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Apps and Young Users: Warnings and Safeguards
LaTanya S. Clark
Liberty University
EDUC 730
Issues and Trends in Learning Technologies
Dangerous Apps for Kids
Children are vulnerable to the dangers and risks associated with some apps if they are unregulated or monitored.
Snapchat, HouseParty and Hoop are social media apps parents may not be aware children use.
Generally, social media adversely affects children mental health such as depression and anxiety.
It also causes addiction. Kids experience eye fatigue, poor sleep and
reduced physical activity. Moderating the use this apps is vital due to the
dangers and risks associated with them.
Snapchat Parental Concerns
Snapchat allows users exchange of videos and photos among users.
However, videos and photos disappear after view. It encourages kids to send and receive discreet and silly
photos due to the privacy. The kids can take screenshots of inappropriate snaps when
it is viewable. Children are tempted to engage in sexting (Horowitz,
2022). Monitoring tool may be ineffective when the texts
disappear (Protect Young Eyes, 2022). Thus, parents should engage children on the risks of
Snapchat.
Hoop Parental Concerns
The app connects with snapchat profile to allow child connect with strangers and develop friendship.
Kids share more private data on hoop to get more diamonds (Protect Young Eyes, 2023).
It consumes more time, extended screen time. Kids have increased risk to predators who
create accounts using fake credentials (Jones, 2022).
Parents should caution on using hoop.
HouseParty App
The HouseParty app allows kids to hold group video chat with a maximum of eight friends.
It infringes the children privacy. The app is out of parental controls. It allows non-friends to kids to enter chats
increasing predating (Nulsen, 2022). Kids can view the discreet stories hidden in
snapchapt (Protect Young Eyes, 2023). Parents should regularly monitor the children
use on such risky apps.
FBI Reports
The FBI protects Americans against security risks though extensive investigations and arrests.
Hence, FBI investigates cases associated with inappropriate app uses among children.
The referenced case involved inappropriate snapchat use by predators on children (Justice.gov, 2022).
FBI investigated the case and filed the charges against perpetrators.
The link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/sexual-predator- used-snapchat-grindr-solicit-teenagers-boarding-school-southwest
Georgia Attorney General
A Georgia (Valdosta) man was involved in producing child pornography, shared via social media. The United States Attorney’s office, Middle District of Georgia filed charges against the offender. The man pleaded guilty for the charges against him. Link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/valdosta-man-pleads-guilty-production-child-
pornography Parents seeking more restrictions and safeguards to enhance their children safety from social
media apps, please contact the Georgia Attorney General via the contact information below.
40 Capitol Square, SW Atlanta, GA 30334-1300
Website: (404) 656-3300
https://www.naag.org/attorney-general/chris-carr/
Warnings and Safeguards
Parents should improve their understanding of social media to know the risks.
Regulate children social media use. Parents should access their children social media using secure
passwords (Ravichandran, 2022). Decide the age limit for accessing social media. Allow free interaction with your children. Keep you child’s profile private to avoid access by predators. Regularly check your children privacy settings. Block some apps and restrict usage for others.
Conclusion
The apple parental control is effective in monitoring as well as blocking children from using some risk apps.
The app is free to download and use. It has features that monitor the screen time, app
preventions and use. Android users can also have similar parental control app
with similar features.
References
Horowitz, E. (2022, September 14). 18-year-old faces possible 70 years in federal prison for Snapchat sexting crime. Reason.com. https://reason.com/2022/09/14/kansas-sexting-crime-teenagers-snapchat-children/
Jones, T. (2022, August 16). Hoop App Review: Find Dangerous Strangers on Snapchat. @Famisafe. https://famisafe.wondershare.com/app- review/hoop-snapchat-app-review.html#:~:text=The%20predators%20hide%20in%20the
Justice.gov. (2022a, March 16). Sexual Predator Used Snapchat, Grindr to Solicit Teenagers at Boarding School in Southwest Virginia. Justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/sexual-predator-used-snapchat-grindr-solicit-teenagers-boarding-school-southwest
Justice.gov. (2022b, April 12). Middle District of Georgia | Valdosta Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography | United States Department of Justice. Www.justice.gov. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/valdosta-man-pleads-guilty-production-child-pornography
NAAG. (2023). Chris Carr. National Association of Attorneys General. https://www.naag.org/attorney-general/chris-carr/ Nulsen, C. R. (2022, December 1). A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps for Kids - FamilyEducation. Www.familyeducation.com.
https://www.familyeducation.com/entertainment-activities/online/a-complete-guide-to-potentially-dangerous-apps-all-parents-should-be-aware- of
Protect Young Eyes. (2022). Snapchat Parental Controls and App Review. Protect Young Eyes. https://protectyoungeyes.com/apps/snapchat- parental-controls/
Protect Young Eyes. (2023a). Hoop. Protect Young Eyes. https://protectyoungeyes.com/apps/hoop-parental-controls/ Protect Young Eyes. (2023b). Houseparty. Protect Young Eyes. https://protectyoungeyes.com/apps/houseparty-parental-controls/#:~:text=If
%20it Ravichandran, H. R. (2022). How To Keep Your Kids and Teens Safe on Social Media | Aura. Www.aura.com. https://www.aura.com/learn/social-
media-safety-for-kids
Credits for Images
Jones, T. (2022, August 16). Hoop App Review: Find Dangerous Strangers on Snapchat. @Famisafe. https:// famisafe.wondershare.com/app-review/hoop-snapchat-app- review.html #:~:text=The%20predators%20hide%20in%20the
Nulsen, C. R. (2022, December 1). A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps for Kids - FamilyEducation. Www.familyeducation.com. https://www.familyeducation.com/entertainment-activities/o nline/a-complete-guide-to-potentially-dangerous-apps-all- parents-should-be-aware-of
- Apps and Young Users: Warnings and Safeguards
- Dangerous Apps for Kids
- Snapchat Parental Concerns
- Hoop Parental Concerns
- HouseParty App
- FBI Reports
- Georgia Attorney General
- Warnings and Safeguards
- Conclusion
- References
- Credits for Images
