Your child’s phone or other device can be wonderful a way to keep in touch with them through phone calls, email, and texting, but they can also be gateways to troubling activity. Most high school students have cell phones or regular access to handheld devices like an iPad or a Kindle Fire. Adolescents greatly value their privacy (just as we adults do), but when it comes to their safety, privacy needs to take a back seat.

Checking Your Child’s Phone

As a parent (and the person who likely pays for the phone), you have the right and the responsibility to check your child’s phone regularly. You should have their log-ins and passwords for any social media sites they use and their email. They do not have the right to privacy when safety is involved. Once they are fully adults and paying for all living expenses, they have earned the right to their privacy.

There are many apps that exist to allow users to chat or post anonymously, view pornographic materials, and hide other apps on the phone; these are very concerning to parents of teens. Some of these apps can hide in plain sight, often looking like a calculator. Being aware of these apps, and on the lookout for new apps that come out, will help you to keep tabs on your child’s phone

Text Apps

Whisper, YikYak – Post/chat anonymously.

Apps like Whisper and YikYak allow users to post and chat with others within a geographic area. While teens like the idea of being able to post comments anonymously, they also allow strangers to contact your teens based on proximity. YikYak has also been used in schools, as teens cyber bully other students and staff members anonymously.

Kik, Viber, WhatsApp, Text Now – Send/receive text messages that are not logged into the phone’s history.

These apps make it easier for teens to talk to friends and strangers without your knowledge. Because the apps do not share the messages in the phone, you are not able to see the history. This can mean teens can send and receive sexually explicit messages or information about drugs and alcohol from friends without your knowledge. Strangers can also send your child a “friend request.”

Video/Picture Apps

Vine – Watch and post 6 second videos.

Most Vine videos are harmless, but as teens click through their feed they may find sexually explicit material. It is also easy to search specifically for pornographic videos.

ChatRoulette, Omegle – Video chat with strangers.

Video chatting with strangers is concerning enough, but using these apps, teens can be talking with adult strangers who use images of other teens (sometimes famous ones) to get information from your child.

Snapchat, Poke, Wire, Wickr – Texts, pictures, and videos “disappear” after receiver opens them.

Kids can send and receive sexually explicit materials through these apps. Some kids feel more comfortable using these apps because the content “disappears” after viewing. There are always ways to capture the pictures or retrieve deleted materials on a computer.

Dating Apps

Tinder, Down, Skout, Pure, Blendr – Dating/Hook Up Apps

These apps are primarily used by people who are looking to engage in sexual activity. They work by pairing people who are geographically near each other, leading to strangers knowing where you are.

Hiding Apps

Poof – Hide other apps.

If your child wants to hide apps from you, this app allows him/her to do so. If you see this app, your teen is hiding something.

Strategic Decisions

Start the conversation by asking your teen why people might want to use an app like those mentioned or if your teen knows kids who use these apps. Many teens use some of these apps responsibly, but they often don’t understand the potential risks. If your teen is managing his or her life successfully (or is older and has a purpose to use a particular app) you may chose to do nothing. If your 14 year old has the tinder app on her phone, you should be concerned.

Ultimately, you are the parent, and your child’s safety is more important than his/her privacy. Communicating with your teen and monitoring his/her phone and apps can help make sure that you know about any online activities and help protect your child from using technology irresponsibly.