Calculator
This app looks just like a calculator but when teens push a button in the app they can hide nude pictures. This was an app used to hide a huge sexting ring in a Colorado High School.
Audio Manager
This dangerous app has nothing at all to do with controlling the sound or music on your teens phone as they would like you to think but rather it is an app that hides other apps and a place where teens store nude photos. When you press and hold the Audio Manager App, a lock screen will appear. This is where users hide photos, messages and other apps they don’t want you to see. If a child/teen has one of these apps such as Audio Manager, Poof or “like” apps, it is already a red flag as they are trying to be deceptive.
SnapChat
This app enables a user to send a video or photo from their phone until it self destructs. Often used for sexting, snap porn and revenge porn. It is easy to take a screenshot of these images and share them and photos are often shared on child pornography sites.
Burn Note
Just like SnapChat it erases messages but this particular app is for text messages only. It shows one word at a time adding a sense of secrecy to the message. When a user thinks it will self destruct, they are more likely to share information and let their guard down making this a very dangerous app and once again these messages can be saved with a mere screen shot.
Tinder
A popular app used for hook-ups and or dating. This allows users to rate other profiles and also locate them with GPS to hook up. This makes it super easy for a predator fo find a minor. The rating system is often used to target, degrade and for cyberbullying.
Down
This app is connected to Facebook. Users can group their friends to indicate if it is a casual friend to hang out with or someone they would “hook up” with. This app can cause anxiety and depression among kids making them feel out of place and not good enough to fit the category and may encourage unhealthy sexual values.
Line
New and up coming app for chatting, photos and videos. User can decide how long messages last in a hidden feature. There can also be in-app charges that total up to big bucks.
Omegle
This app enables a user to have conversations with random strangers. It is an anonymous chat room filled with sexual content, talk about drugs, alcohol, hook ups, violence & secrets. They often ask for personal information and can put a child at immediate risk
KIK Messenger
We do not like this app for kids at all! It allows users to exchange videos and photos. “KIK buddies” is a term used for your sexting partner. There are no parental controls and no way to authenticate other users making it a playground for predators to get to our kids.
Blendr
Another app where you can sext, share photos and videos and rate the “hotness” of other users. This app is also used with GPS allowing predators to contact minors for hook ups.
ASK FM
This is a question and answer site that is really popular with kids because you can ask anything and be totally anonymous. This is a site often used to demean and cyber-bully. It has been associated with documented cases of suicide. This is a “red flag site and should be monitored by adults.
YIK YAK
This is anther messaging app that allows you to yak with 500 closest yakers …again through GPS. Often sexting, profanity and inappropriate comments can be viewed. Because of its anonymity, this is a top site used for school violence and bomb threats.Please keep in mind apps are changing every single day and the predators are quick to come up with new and inventive ways to trick our youth. Stay informed.
Video Game Dangers are the same. Any game where your child can play against random strangers can be dangerous. We teach our children “stranger danger” but in fact once your child plays a game with someone online they refer to them as a friend and let their guard down. Any game where you can make a fake avatar character… so can a predator. They will find a common bond with your child such as a common sport they play, dance, soccer, gymnastics, football etc. They will quickly gather information on your child and track what time they play and sign off and on as well as other behaviors. They will seek kids that are easy targets and spend countless hours unsupervised.
Starbright Foundation Video Links:
https://youtu.be/3bdCxRbmeiA Starbright PSA
https://youtu.be/IEiZ9liIhkI Jacob Mueller Cell Phone Danger
Movies on sex trafficking to watch:
Stolen From The Suburbs (LifeTime appropriate for teens)
The Whistle Blower (not appropriate for kids)
Trade
The Day My God Died
Taken
Trafficked
In Plain Sight