7 dangerous Apps that parents need to know about

[mfcorey1]

work in public relations. It’s my job to be on social networking sites, peruse the internet and keep up with the latest Apps offered on smartphones. It’s a great job and I love what I do, but over the last couple years, I have learned so much about the dangers of Smart Phone Apps. It’s downright scary.
Technology, especially if you’re a little behind the times, can be very deceptive. Your kids may be downloading Apps that you think are innocent and just a simple way for them to keep in contact with their buddies, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
To keep your children safe, it’s best that you monitor their phone daily. Look through their apps, texts and pictures. They may feel that you’re invading their privacy, but let’s be honest… You’re paying the phone bill, so you can do whatever you want! So, as you monitor your kid’s phone, keep an eye out for these 7 apps you may not be aware of, that in my opinion are very dangerous:
Yik Yak – This App is one of the newest and one of the most dangerous. It allows users to post text-only Yaks of up to 200 characters. The messages can be viewed by the 500 Yakkers who are closest to the person who wrote the Yak, as determined by GPS tracking. Users are exposed to – and contributing -sexually explicit content, abusive language and personal attacks so severe that schools are starting to block the App on their Wi-Fi. Although the posts are anonymous, kids start revealing personal information as they get more comfortable with other users.
SnapChat – This App allows users to send photos that will disappear after 10 seconds. Once the recipient opens the picture, the timer starts. Then it’s gone. From both the sender’s phone and the recipient’s phone. However, the recipient can take a screen shot of the photo and have it to share with others. This App enables kids to feel more comfortable “sexting” with peers.

http://www.tffa.org/2014/04/16/7-dangerous-apps/

[TeamPooka]

1. It's hard out there for a parent. nt

[msongs]

2. kids do not need smartphones -parents are too bamboozled nt

[MADem]

5. I have to agree.

A tracfone is more than enough. There's not much you can't do with one and they're cheap as can be. You can take a pic, even a bit of video, text like mad, talk on the phone...and even, in a ponderous and unit wasting way, access the net in an emergency. Kids will learn to ration their units if they only get XX number each month, too.

They can always get a job and work to get one, but that's money that could be going to a college fund.

[knitter4democracy]

7. They do in schools without 1:1.

We don't have enough devices in our school, so we have kids use their devices.

[SunSeeker]

3. Snapchat seems to more popular than facebook with kids.

Scary.

[Ex Lurker]

4. Facebook is for the grown folks now

The kids don't want to be on the same social network as Gramma and Aunt Betty.

[knitter4democracy]

6. SnapChat is worse than that.

They don't actually delete the pictures, and there is a lawsuit that has revealed they started the app so they could get pictures they could sell for porn. Worse, it's not secure, and a list of users with phone numbers was published by hackers.