HOUSTON - Teens these days are always on their phones taking in the latest trends, but sometimes, that also means downloading new dangers.
Gone the days of AOL and instant messenger. Kids these days have way more ways of communicating.
Whether it’s texting, chatting or meeting up, there are so many apps, and most you’ve probably never heard of.
Common Sense, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids thrive in media, has broken some of them down, telling parents what they need to know.
WhatsApp is basically for messaging. It connects users by phone number and doesn’t charge fees, but most parents don’t think to look there for what their kids are saying, so it might be worth peeking into.
Snapchat is definitely one of those you’ll want to be wary of. Not only are sent messages and photos quickly deleted, but if your child's location is set to public, then pretty much any “friend” can see where they are at all times.
There are ways for you to check up on them if you feel it’s necessary. Certain apps allow parents to intercept Snapchat pictures or videos sent to your child’s phone.
Whisper is a social confessional where kids can remain anonymous but still share their feelings. The downside is most of those confessions shared can be dark or sexual in nature.
Monkey, Meet Me and Omegle allow users to connect with strangers. That last one, Omegle, is not a site for teens. Users are usually looking to have adult conversations, and some like to do it live.
Yubo is also called "Tinder for teens." Much like the dating app, it encourages users to contact strangers, and without age verification, it may lead them to meeting up with someone a little more adult than you may approve.