Dangerous Apps of the month...

iFunny – This is an image based joke app. “There’s enough swearing, sexual banter, soft porn images, and rude and hateful comments to negate anything else in the mix that’s remotely funny” (Villamagna, n.d.).

Adult Player – (We did not include the app icon as it is pornographic.) This is an android app that does not appear in any vetted storefronts, such as Google Play. Instead, users install the app directly from a website. It is said to offer free porn. But it’s actually something called ransomware. The app uses the cameras forward facing camera to secretly capture an image of the user. The user is then locked out of the phone until a $500 ransom is paid. (http://educateempowerkids.org/dangerous-apps/)

I am amazed every day, working at an Elementary School of the number of kids in grades K-5 who have smartphones. I know of an incident where a 5th-grade girl took a video of a classmate acting silly, without his permission.  The boy became very upset saying that he knew she was going to post it to Snapchat so everyone could make fun of him.  He was probably right.  Kids these days are not being taught safe or appropriate behavior when it comes to cell phone use. It is very important for you to start when your kids are still young BEFORE you buy them a cell phone. They need to understand that not everyone is who they say they are online. That cute boy that's been sending you messages could very well be a creepy 45 yr old pervert. Bottom line...TALK to your kids about safety. You don't have to be crazy paranoid and make them end up hiding things from you, but you do have to be informed and have conversations with them about staying safe. Below are some tips from educateempowerkids.org.

• BE THE PARENT. Don’t allow your child to roam free in the dangerous and unhealthy environments many of these apps provide. Click on any apps you don’t recognize on your child’s phone.
• Discuss the hidden dangers of social media that teens may not recognize. On many live streaming videos, tweens and teens can be seen giving out their full names and the city and state in which they live. Kids need to be taught not to over-share on the Internet.
• Set restrictions on their cell phones and check the phone often.
• Internet filters are also a great option. But no filter will stop everything; so establishing yourself as someone your teen can talk to is vital.

Forget Facebook and Twitter, it's SnapChat now!

At the end of 2013, SnapChat boasted 26 million U.S. users according to Pew Research. With this app, users can send pictures or videos to their friends that promptly disappear after being viewed. This makes teens feel more secure knowing their message will disappear, however, there are multiple ways to capture these pics and videos from SnapChat. Teens need to be aware that this can happen. Most teen use of this app is harmless and fun, but conversations need to be held about the dangers of posting inappropriate photos or videos, sexting, etc. so that they are not unaware of what can happen should their photo or video be captured and shared all over the internet. As long as they are using it appropriately with their friends, it can be a fun app. But please have that conversation with them so everyone stays safe. As with any social media app, there are real dangers and even though SnapChat has recently updated with new safety features, it's still vulnerable to hackers. The best bet is to have honest conversations with your kids about all social media, beginning in their tween years, so that they understand the good and the bad of sharing on social media. 

 There are some great resources for Tweens and Teens at http://www.nsteens.org/. Check out the video section for some real-life stories that will get their attention. There are also some fun games for tweens that help them understand internet safety as well. I've used the Netsmartz curriculum for years and it is top-notch!

Introduction...

Parents,
Let's face it, there are a lot of apps out there that are not appropriate for our children. Some of them should be banned altogether! That's why I decided to put this blog together. I have been astounded at the number of parents who tell me on a regular basis that they know "nothing about technology". They don't know anything about Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram, or any of the other apps out there that are being used by their children and teens. Over 56% of children between the ages of 8-12 have cell phones and it's growing exponentially each year. In a survey, 70% of pre-teens say they hide their online activities from their parents. Want more statistics? Visit this site http://www.growingwireless.com/get-the-facts/quick-facts for some awesome information. The point I'm trying to make is this, you MUST understand the technology your children are using. If you don't it is no different than sending your child out into the world alone, to interact with strangers who may or may not be who they say they are, and probably don't have your child's best interest in mind. You wouldn't drop your 10 year old off in the middle of NYC and just walk away would you? I hope not! Even an older teen would need some guidance.

I've worked in educational technology for over 12 years now. I've seen it all. Trust me. I hope to include tips and information to parents to help you understand the clear and present dangers associated with unsupervised access to the internet and the world of apps. To get you started, take a look at this post from the Blount County District Attorney's Office about an app that appears to be a calculator...but is in fact something altogether different.

Does your child have this app-- Calculator%? You need to know what this app really is for--- and it isn't for adding numbers! Check out this new video (less than 2 minutes)!
Posted by Blount County District Attorney-41st Judicial Circuit on Tuesday, September 1, 2015