Kids and teens love to use technology and they are more likely to pick up the latest ones. Obviously, they need to cope up with the world, but still, some of these latest technologies are harmful to them and you even don’t know that they are using these.
1. Snapchat
Snapchat is a picture messaging app which claims that the messages only last for a few seconds once they are opened, and then they just disappear. So, in total, the user can send anything they want to the other person and there will be no proof of it. This is the reason Snapchat has become so famous and teens are using it more and more. But, the claim of disappearing messages is not true. Anyone can take a screen shot of the picture or message they receive keep it in their possession. A lot of teenage boys have got into trouble because of these illegal pictures sending and receiving in the USA. Besides, last October, a group of hackers hacked a lot of “deleted” pictures sent on Snapchat and stored on a third-party server. So, the “deleting” theory is actually not really true. If your kids are using Snapchat, check how they are using it, and let them know that the messages are actually not deleted and hopefully they will lose interest after knowing it.
2. Vine
Vine is an app which allows users to share videos of only six seconds. It seems like a totally safe app at first, but you’ll find it harmful when you’ll consider the importance of recognition for teens in social media. Teens and kids do whatever it takes to get attention and they don’t even think about what they are doing. The most famous video of last year on Vine was a kid putting himself on fire. And yes, this actually happened, and that kid became obviously famous, so he got what he was looking for. So, if your kid is using Vine, then be sure to be friends with them in the app, and check what videos they are posting and watching.
In response to the dangerous fire video, Vine has developed another app “Vine Kids” which is only for kids and it doesn’t allow recording any videos. Furthermore, it only shows videos that are appropriate for them.
3. Whisper
Whisper allows you to post secrets anonymously and allows you to chat with other users in your geographic area. Many children are drawn to communicating with strangers, feeling that their secrets are safer with them than with their friends. This app is a perfect tool for ill-intentioned strangers looking to connect with young people because it allows you to exchange messages with people nearest to you. Cyberbullying is much more hurtful when the person bullying your child moves from online to in-person abuse. And, In this case, Whisper seems like it could cause teens more harm than good.
4. 9Gag
9Gag is one of the most famous apps to share memes and pictures online. It shows all kinds of pictures in random and it doesn’t customise content for young adults.
So, make sure to check if your kids are using it, and if they are using, then explain to them why it’s harmful.
Keeping kids away from technology is not easy. But you can explain the hazards of technology and ask them to evaluate their own behaviours and actions.
You can ask them these questions and give your children some food for thought.
1. Why do you want to send a picture that would disappear?
2. How would you feel if anyone sees the picture?
3. Why would you tell your secrets to a stranger?
4. If you are struggling with something, is a stranger able to help you or your family and friends?
5. What kind of things you want to post anonymously and if someone knows that you posted it, would you be okay with that?
At the end of the day, we can do little to prevent our kids from walking on the path they want to walk on. We can teach them the right morale and hope that they follow it.