15 apps parents should look out for on their kids' phones

Police warn of 15 apps kids should avoid

The recent arrests of 25 men in Florida for allegedly trying to have sex with children has prompted a sheriff there to issue another 'app warning' for parents, reports CBS Miami.
The arrests happened from July 17 to July 20 after the suspects responded to internet ads, online apps and social media sites, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
During his press conference last week, the sheriff listed 15 apps as ones that parents need to know about. (Six of them were used by suspected predators who were recently arrested.)

15 apps parents should look out for on their kids' phones

sad to say we live in a world of predators

I'm going to go ahead and post the list hope that's all right

The first is 'MeetMe,' an app where teens can easily be in contact with users much older than them, with an emphasis on dating.
'WhatsApp' and 'SnapChat' are for messaging, but what you should know is teens can send unlimited messages, have video chats and even share their live location with other users, people they may not even know.
'Skout' is a flirting app that's used to meet and chat with new people. Teens and adults are in different groups, but ages aren’t verified.
[....]

I know nothing about any of these
any concerned parents out there? any teens can shed light on?

Most of those are benign messaging or dating apps. There's nothing special or unique about any of them and each of them has dozens of alternatives, so not sure why they chose those specific ones. Seems to be written by someone with no clue what any modern apps are lol.

originally posted by: AdmireTheDistance
Most of those are benign messaging or dating apps. There's nothing special or unique about any of them and each of them has dozens of alternatives, so not sure why they chose those specific ones. Seems to be written by someone with no clue what any modern apps are lol.

The list came from the sheriffs department. So yes, likely little to no clue.

Essentially:

"The following apps allow people to communicate with one another, your children will be raped if they communicate with strangers."

Honestly, the only REAL deterrent is to take your kids phone and smash it. Tech is cancer.

a reply to: ElGoobero

It's not the apps it's the parents not educating their children about the dangers appropriately before giving them a cell phone

a reply to: ElGoobero

Kids shouldn't have everything they want. And parents most of all
should limit their use. It's just another way to destroy the precious time
you have with your kids.

originally posted by: ElGoobero

Police warn of 15 apps kids should avoid

The recent arrests of 25 men in Florida for allegedly trying to have sex with children has prompted a sheriff there to issue another 'app warning' for parents, reports CBS Miami.
The arrests happened from July 17 to July 20 after the suspects responded to internet ads, online apps and social media sites, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
During his press conference last week, the sheriff listed 15 apps as ones that parents need to know about. (Six of them were used by suspected predators who were recently arrested.)

15 apps parents should look out for on their kids' phones

sad to say we live in a world of predators

I'm going to go ahead and post the list hope that's all right

The first is 'MeetMe,' an app where teens can easily be in contact with users much older than them, with an emphasis on dating.
'WhatsApp' and 'SnapChat' are for messaging, but what you should know is teens can send unlimited messages, have video chats and even share their live location with other users, people they may not even know.
'Skout' is a flirting app that's used to meet and chat with new people. Teens and adults are in different groups, but ages aren’t verified.
[....]

I know nothing about any of these
any concerned parents out there? any teens can shed light on?

edit on Tue Sep 10 2019 by DontTreadOnMe because: trimmed long quote IMPORTANT: Using Content From Other Websites on ATS

Well that guy was very dumb listing some apps to chat, you can chat on the SMS app on any phone LOL

He clearly has no clue, also most of the sexual abuse happens from family members who don't need to use a chat app to talk, i know that very well LOL

How can people continue to be so clueless after decades and centuries of this happening?

Problem is not the apps, there were no apps 20 years ago and it was still happening....

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, should be included. They're the epitome of dire things.. And while I still do peruse the twattesphere, I don't engage in it. It's simply a remnant by which to read twats twatting twattingly when otherwise you'd be met with the "This tweet is unavailable." message... at least I can read them, logged it.

We're talking about the childens...

... I remember when I was a kid, picking up a public telephone that had a bad ground, and hearing all these other voices that were on similar landlines.. we heard each other like ghosts in static.. so much "Who are you, where you from?" and "I'll fight you mate!!" and so on. It was like IRC back in the 90's..

Don't know how I survived, to be honest.. not sure I actually did *taps nose*

You should only worry if your kids are not educated on the subject. Instead of scare mongering you need to put out cold hard facts:

1. Strangers on the internet are just that, strangers. You never really know someone on the internet so you never know their true intentions

2. If you send a nude photo to a stranger there is a high chance that they will show others, that "intimate" picture you have sent someone you "trust" has now been seen by thousands of people

3. Depending on local law, if you share a nude photo of yourself and you are underage there is a possibility that you will be prosecuted for distribution of illegal material

4. Secretly meeting people is dangerous, not just because its a stranger but if something was to happen to you then how would others know where you were?

5. Social media is not the end of the world, dont live on it as you will miss out on the real joys of life because you were too busy looking for internet points.

It's not the apps, but the ways they can be used that parents should be aware of.

All too many parents are ignorant of things like that just like they are ignorant about what's really going on in some video games they buy for junior. It's a game right? They're for kids, right? Oh, what does that little "M" on the box mean ...

You need to be aware that kids can be chatting it up with anyone and everyone and you need to make your kid aware that strangers on the net are just like strangers in reality. What you wouldn't tell one, you obviously wouldn't tell another. It makes no difference that you can't see them at all.

a reply to: Malisa

It’s naive to think that technology isn’t a means of exploitation/harassment/bullying.

Go do some research on this before making an uninformed argument that these platforms are totally benign.

Because I have teen and preteen kids that think I am ruining their social life by not allowing any of these apps, I have looked long and hard at the data. And I stay up to date on it, because it’s ever evolving.

originally posted by: chelsdh
a reply to: Malisa

It’s naive to think that technology isn’t a means of exploitation/harassment/bullying.

Go do some research on this before making an uninformed argument that these platforms are totally benign.

Because I have teen and preteen kids that think I am ruining their social life by not allowing any of these apps, I have looked long and hard at the data. And I stay up to date on it, because it’s ever evolving.

You are even more naive if you think that just by having some app installed automatically the kids will be exposed

And i was a teen until recently so i know that perfectly well, and the number of times someone tried to get close in the wrong ways is like 1000 compared to dumb messages i get online from pervs.

What hard data? The one created by naive people like that guy talking about dumb apps like they are the devil?

There may be some truth to that but is not like you think, if you take the apps away they will find a way to use them anyway. It's better to teach them to think and have criteria than to hide the stuff away so that the first time they use it they fall for the traps

I don't need to go do some research, that's dumb, i have lived it on my own until this day along with my friends and that's the best research. I had facebook and instagram and whatsapp and other apps like Line and whatever for years and i got tons of crap from older people but i didn't even pay attention, the most advances always came from people who knew me in person and thought it was easy to give it a try and maybe i would allow it to happen, that's always happening in one way or another

Keep looking hard and long at the data while life passes by, you don't get it at all LOL but whatever is not my problem

originally posted by: AdmireTheDistance
Most of those are benign messaging or dating apps. There's nothing special or unique about any of them and each of them has dozens of alternatives, so not sure why they chose those specific ones. Seems to be written by someone with no clue what any modern apps are lol.

It has to do with the popularity if those apps in general. A lot if ways to hide your chats, delete certain messages within chats, phone calls via wifi, pictures, videos..and with apps like WhatsApp and the like -- they allow for group chats, and you don't have to be their "friend" on there. A lot of these messaging apps are used notoriously by some disgusting people. With dating/hookup apps like MeetMe, Tinder, PlentyOfFish (POF), when used you get an odd/creeped out feeling that they're loaded with scams, trafficking victims, and/or trafficking suspects looking for victims. Not to say they're not legitimate apps and services, because they are, but when you offer free services where anyone can sign up..yep. But I digress because every feature on those apps can be found within facebook/instagram/twitter and no one bats an eye at them.

More people should do what I do and not allow their kids access to technology like this. The only time my kids are allowed online is to play their xbox. Even then they have 0 friends besides family, and they're not allowed to use the voice chat features, or messages.

Even YouTube is a trove of disgusting bullshiza. Porn being out into the middle of videos designed for kids. Seemingly harmless children's cartoons being remade into inappropriate things for kids. Violence, depictions of sexual assault in games like Roblox.

It's just better to keep them offline unless heavily monitored and regulated. If they need a phone for emergencies etc get a cheap ass flip phone. All of this screen time between computers, phones, tablets & TV's isn't healthy anyway.

originally posted by: Malisa

originally posted by: chelsdh
a reply to: Malisa

It’s naive to think that technology isn’t a means of exploitation/harassment/bullying.

Go do some research on this before making an uninformed argument that these platforms are totally benign.

Because I have teen and preteen kids that think I am ruining their social life by not allowing any of these apps, I have looked long and hard at the data. And I stay up to date on it, because it’s ever evolving.

You are even more naive if you think that just by having some app installed automatically the kids will be exposed

And i was a teen until recently so i know that perfectly well, and the number of times someone tried to get close in the wrong ways is like 1000 compared to dumb messages i get online from pervs.

What hard data? The one created by naive people like that guy talking about dumb apps like they are the devil?

There may be some truth to that but is not like you think, if you take the apps away they will find a way to use them anyway. It's better to teach them to think and have criteria than to hide the stuff away so that the first time they use it they fall for the traps

I don't need to go do some research, that's dumb, i have lived it on my own until this day along with my friends and that's the best research. I had facebook and instagram and whatsapp and other apps like Line and whatever for years and i got tons of crap from older people but i didn't even pay attention, the most advances always came from people who knew me in person and thought it was easy to give it a try and maybe i would allow it to happen, that's always happening in one way or another

Keep looking hard and long at the data while life passes by, you don't get it at all LOL but whatever is not my problem

It's not about the apps themselves. It's about the capability of bad people to exploit the features of those apps/services to target a certain demographic. Not even just kids. They're used for sex trafficking, child trafficking, drug trafficking, organ trafficking etc. Anyone can fall victim.

originally posted by: imthegoat

originally posted by: Malisa

originally posted by: chelsdh
a reply to: Malisa

It’s naive to think that technology isn’t a means of exploitation/harassment/bullying.

Go do some research on this before making an uninformed argument that these platforms are totally benign.

Because I have teen and preteen kids that think I am ruining their social life by not allowing any of these apps, I have looked long and hard at the data. And I stay up to date on it, because it’s ever evolving.

You are even more naive if you think that just by having some app installed automatically the kids will be exposed

And i was a teen until recently so i know that perfectly well, and the number of times someone tried to get close in the wrong ways is like 1000 compared to dumb messages i get online from pervs.

What hard data? The one created by naive people like that guy talking about dumb apps like they are the devil?

There may be some truth to that but is not like you think, if you take the apps away they will find a way to use them anyway. It's better to teach them to think and have criteria than to hide the stuff away so that the first time they use it they fall for the traps

I don't need to go do some research, that's dumb, i have lived it on my own until this day along with my friends and that's the best research. I had facebook and instagram and whatsapp and other apps like Line and whatever for years and i got tons of crap from older people but i didn't even pay attention, the most advances always came from people who knew me in person and thought it was easy to give it a try and maybe i would allow it to happen, that's always happening in one way or another

Keep looking hard and long at the data while life passes by, you don't get it at all LOL but whatever is not my problem

It's not about the apps themselves. It's about the capability of bad people to exploit the features of those apps/services to target a certain demographic. Not even just kids. They're used for sex trafficking, child trafficking, drug trafficking, organ trafficking etc. Anyone can fall victim.

But that's exactly what i was saying, it's how it is used and by removing it entirely you think they going to learn how to take care of themselves without having someone always watching from behind?

Instead of talking to them openly and teaching them how to avoid the creepers let's hide the world away so they don't have a clue and when it happens they won't know what to do and fall for it. Also they will most likely not say anything to anyone for years

Like i was saying on the other post, most of the abuse happens from family or people that knows the kids in person, not online like they make it look like

See this for example

www.d2l.org...

originally posted by: Malisa

originally posted by: imthegoat

originally posted by: Malisa

originally posted by: chelsdh
a reply to: Malisa

It’s naive to think that technology isn’t a means of exploitation/harassment/bullying.

Go do some research on this before making an uninformed argument that these platforms are totally benign.

Because I have teen and preteen kids that think I am ruining their social life by not allowing any of these apps, I have looked long and hard at the data. And I stay up to date on it, because it’s ever evolving.

You are even more naive if you think that just by having some app installed automatically the kids will be exposed

And i was a teen until recently so i know that perfectly well, and the number of times someone tried to get close in the wrong ways is like 1000 compared to dumb messages i get online from pervs.

What hard data? The one created by naive people like that guy talking about dumb apps like they are the devil?

There may be some truth to that but is not like you think, if you take the apps away they will find a way to use them anyway. It's better to teach them to think and have criteria than to hide the stuff away so that the first time they use it they fall for the traps

I don't need to go do some research, that's dumb, i have lived it on my own until this day along with my friends and that's the best research. I had facebook and instagram and whatsapp and other apps like Line and whatever for years and i got tons of crap from older people but i didn't even pay attention, the most advances always came from people who knew me in person and thought it was easy to give it a try and maybe i would allow it to happen, that's always happening in one way or another

Keep looking hard and long at the data while life passes by, you don't get it at all LOL but whatever is not my problem

It's not about the apps themselves. It's about the capability of bad people to exploit the features of those apps/services to target a certain demographic. Not even just kids. They're used for sex trafficking, child trafficking, drug trafficking, organ trafficking etc. Anyone can fall victim.

But that's exactly what i was saying, it's how it is used and by removing it entirely you think they going to learn how to take care of themselves without having someone always watching from behind?

Instead of talking to them openly and teaching them how to avoid the creepers let's hide the world away so they don't have a clue and when it happens they won't know what to do and fall for it. Also they will most likely not say anything to anyone for years

Like i was saying on the other post, most of the abuse happens from family or people that knows the kids in person, not online like they make it look like

See this for example

www.d2l.org...

I agree with you. I've explained the risk to my kids and still do not allow them to have their own devices or computers. I trust my explaining, I trust my PC/Internet knowledge. What I don't trust are kids, in general, because they're ignorant to the world. Even after explaining everything and teaching them about it all -- kids are still kids. For my kids anyway the world, as far as they're concerned, is outside and their friends. Bot on the internet. When they become a suitable age then they can have it. My kids are 9 & 11 currently. The 11 year old found porn when he was 9. Hasn't touched a device since and he has no problems.

a reply to: Malisa

You sound angry and assumptive.

I would expound on where your assumptions went wrong, but I doubt you have the mind to be open to hear it.

originally posted by: chelsdh
a reply to: Malisa

You sound angry and assumptive.

I would expound on where your assumptions went wrong, but I doubt you have the mind to be open to hear it.

LMAO, if that makes you feel good then it's ok

you were the one making an asumption about me and called me something, but yeah